ARE YOU HIRING? - PART 2

As promised, I'm here to discuss more resume faux pas.

You shouldn't have a blanket resume you just send for every job posting you see.  You should fashion your resume to fit the description of the job you're applying for.  If I don't see key words like "customer service," or "team player," or any other descriptive that could be applicable for the job, I'm not going to give your resume a second thought.  Please make your resume stand out (in a good way...don't send it in with blood on it or anything) and make me want to call you for an interview!

Learn how to attach a document to an email.  When you cut and paste it just looks all cy-goggly and it's hard to read.  Therefore...automatic "NO" pile.

If you've applied for a job, got an interview, and didn't get it, only apply for that job one more time. Everybody deserves a second chance.  But, there was a reason we didn't pick you the first time.  If you're not picked for an interview the second time, it's time to forget about said position.

Job posting is for Accountant.  You send me a cover letter proclaiming how excited you are to be a teacher. Automatic "NO" pile.

If your email address is sk8ter4life@gmail.com or playfulpixie@yahoo.com:  Automatic "NO" pile.
As I said in Part 1, email addresses are free, folks.  If you have a silly, flirty, or just plain stupid email address, that's fine.  Just don't put it on a resume.  Get an email address strictly for business purposes.

ARE YOU HIRING?

By day, I am a Human Resources Director.  I love my job.  Great company.  Great people.  I want to preface this post by saying these are things I have observed over the years.  None of these are about current employees.  So to all my coworkers who are reading this (none of them are):  you are in the clear.  I won't write about you until you leave us!

THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS HALF THE BATTLE...

If you're going to drop off a resume with a potential employer, please dress appropriately.  If you're walking in with dirty hair, no makeup (remember too much makeup can be even worse!), and blue jeans to drop off your resume, you might as well take that resume, wad it up, and throw it out the window.  Because that's what I plan to do with it.  Only I'll throw it in the trash.  I don't litter.

Spelling.  C'mon people.  For the love of God, please proof read your resumes.  If you don't know anyone who can proofread for you, take it to the library.  People there usually know how to read. You'd be surprised how many people would be willing to help you!  If I get a resume with a spelling error, it automatically goes in the "NO" pile.  If you're not taking the time to double check something that could potentially impact YOUR ENTIRE LIFE then you're probably not going to double check your work either...which is a big problem.

Don't have someone that doesn't even know you call your potential employer to put in a good word for you.  I seriously had someone call to recommend someone and they said:  "I don't know her personally but I know her momma and daddy and they are both fine people.  I'm sure they raised her right."  Listen folks, this is true in many cases (my parents and me, for instance) but it's not true all the time.  I know plenty of "fine mommas and daddies" who have raised pure heathens.  They may think they're child is the best, but to everyone else, they are actually spawns of Satan himself.  And then there are some of those fine parents who know their child sucks.  I appreciate that they can admit that.

Speaking of your mother...don't make her call your potential employer.  Don't make her email/mail your resume for you.  Email addresses are free.  Get one.  Adults have their own email address.  If I have any correspondence with you mother, that is only making one thing certain:  YOU WILL NOT GET THE JOB.

That's enough for now.  But there's plenty more to come!!

This kid...

...is amazing.  I cry every time I watch this.

In the Thunder...

I always look forward to opening my email to see what the K-Love Encouraging Word of the Day is going to be.  In the midst of work emails, and tons of junk emails, this is the one email list I'm on that I actually read.  In a busy world where I don't spend enough time with Him, this is my sacred 5 minutes of reflection and thankfulness for such an awesome God.  Just to be clear:  this is not the only 5 minutes I spend in His presence.  I try to be in a constant state of prayer/thanksgiving throughout the day.  This is just 5 minutes of studying the Word :)

Often, there are verses that seem to fit my current situation.  If I've had a rough morning, I open the email to find "This is the day The Lord has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it" as the encouraging Word.  If I'm overwhelmed, I find "Do not worry about anything..." Everytime this happens, I just have to smile and thank God for knowing me better than I know myself.  He knows my every need, every desire, every thought and has proven to me over and over that He's got it under control.

This morning, the Encouraging Word of the Day is Job 37:5...

"God's voice is glorious in the thunder.  We can't even imagine the greatness of his power."

On any normal day, this might not have spoken to me like it did today.  But today, I just had to take an extra few minutes to give Him glory.  Recently, it seems like so many people around me are battling with cancer.  I have been earnestly praying and seeking The Lord for healing and encouragement on their behalf.  Each situation is different in respect to the type of cancer and treatments, but ONE thing is constant:  GOD.  I can see Him at work in each one of their bodies.  Tumors are shrinking; tumors are GONE; surgeries are successful; there are only minor side effects from treatments.  I give HIM all the glory and honor and praise for these reports because HE is the ONE who made it happen.  In the midst of their times of thunder, God's voice is glorious.  Where we asked for the tumor to shrink, He made it disappear.  Everything we've asked for, He's taken one step further just because He can.  God really does have a sense of humor.  He's probably just shaking His head at us and thinking "If they only knew what I could do, they'd be asking for a whole lot more than that!"

Father, I thank you for your Word.  I thank you that you have us in the palm of your hand.  And I thank you that your power is greater than we could ever think or imagine.  I give you praise as my friends and family who are battling with cancer are being healed and delivered as we speak; that they're hearing your glorious voice in the thunder around them.  I thank you that their testimonies will be used to exalt you and glorify YOUR NAME.  In Jesus' mighty name.  Amen.

Dear Max: I Love You!

Today I learned of the passing of a young boy named Mitchell.  I'm not sure of his age, or the name of the disease he suffered from, but it broke my heart.  He had a Facebook page where his parents kept everyone updated on his status.  I just happened upon his page when I saw one of my Facebook friends had "liked" his picture.  This picture was of Mitchell and his mother.  Mitchell looked as if he was sleeping, but his mother was just the opposite.  She sat by his bedside holding his hand in hers as she kissed it while she had her other hand on his chest.  Her eyes were closed as if she was praying, and though you couldn't really see all of her face, it was obvious she was heart broken.  The caption on the picture informed us that Mitchell had passed around 1:30 in the morning and this picture was just taken about an hour before he took his last breath.

I've looked at this picture several times today.  And each time I've cried a little bit harder.  I can't imagine what this poor family has gone through.  I can't imagine, as a mother, the hurt that she is feeling.  I just looked at it again and Max caught me crying.  He asked in the sweetest, most innocent voice, "are you sad?"  All I could do was hug him and tell him how much I loved him.  And how I will always love him.  And how I thank God everyday that He gave me such a perfect little boy.

I never want to take this for granted.  I sometimes get so overwhelmed with life that I forget how good I've got it.  It's pitiful that it takes something like this to bring me back to reality, but I know God has already forgiven me for being so silly...and I'm so thankful for that.

December 14

Yesterday morning, I got mad at Max because he was being whiny.  I yelled at him and put him in time out.  Then I saw the horrible report of what was unfolding in Connecticut.  My heart was broken.  20 children were the innocent victims of a lunatic.  They hadn't done a single thing to deserve to die yesterday.  They were children.  Pure, innocent children with their whole lives ahead of them and that opportunity became impossible within seconds.  I thought of those parents who sent their kids to school that day never imagining that it would be the last time they would see their precious child.  And I felt awful for getting upset at Max for something so silly.  I was away from him for most of the day but I found myself constantly thinking of him and how I couldn't imagine my life without him.  I suddenly became thankful for the whines because that meant he was here with me.  

Tragedies such as these are things I have never, nor will ever understand.  I don't think God "let this happen" and I don't blame Him.  I don't think God abandoned any of those innocent lives yesterday.  I believe He was right there with them.  He was there holding them and comforting them and not letting them feel any of the pain the gunman set out to inflict on them.  People want to ask "Where was God?" but I am trusting that He was there the whole time. He said "I will never leave you nor forsake you" and I think He has proven time and time again that He is a man of His Word. 

My thoughts have been consumed with this horrific situation since yesterday.  My heart is so heavy for these families who have lost their loved ones.  I've prayed prayers of forgiveness for feeling relieved that it wasn't me who had to deal with this first hand.  I've prayed prayers of thankfulness for God's angels that have charge over His children.  I've prayed prayers of comfort and peace for those families and also those of us who are feeling a little scared of what is going on in this world.  I have prayed for the gunman because he had to have been in a dark, dark place to have done something like this.  

I'll conclude this post the same way I concluded each of these prayers: God, I thank you that you are still God and are in complete control of this world.  Allow us to see that You are here in this situation and every situation we face. Amen

Our First Trip to Koala Kuts

Disclaimer:  I don't know why these pictures are turned sideways.  They're the right direction everywhere else.  Any suggestions on how to fix will be greatly appreciated :)

I took Max to Koala Kuts a couple of weeks ago for his first haircut.  Those of you who know me know that this was a big deal.  I was completely against cutting off those luscious locks of his because they were just so darn cute!  And then, people started saying HE was "such a pretty girl" and I'd had enough.  It wasn't until this picture though, that I finally made the decision:  he needed a haircut...

So, off to Koala Cuts we went one rainy afternoon. The weather certainly matched my mood. It was a very melancholy moment for me. I knew getting his hair cut was going to take away that sweet baby look and I just didn't want that to happen. I asked the lady who was cutting his hair "Have you ever had a mom cry on you before?" She looked at me as if I'd asked her to stand on her head and cut his hair. "No (insert sideways glance/eye roll here)." I wanted to punch her but I refrained. "Oh, okay" was all I could muster up as a reply as I pushed my tears back a little farther. I knew she was lying. But I guess she was just trying to save my dignity by keeping me from breaking down in the middle of all those kids in their little Barbie Jeeps and Fire Truck seats. So instead of crying, I snapped this one last picture of his long hair…

Kudos to those ladies who work at Koala Kuts. It has to be the hardest job ever if other kids were as *not still* as Max was. He didn't cry. Nor did he act scared. But he wanted to get down and play with the other 50 kids in there. He jerked his head around the whole time. We bounced from seat to seat hoping to gain the least bit of focus from him but it only seemed to last about 2 seconds. She was so patient and then she generously handed her scissors over to another lady to finish the job she had started. She'd had enough. I felt awful but I was so pleased with the outcome. He still has his curls – only they are these tight, little course curls that I think he may be stuck with for life. I don't see these going away anytime soon away =D. This was one of the best pictures I could get with my phone. It normally doesn't stick up like this (only everyday), but this is one of the least blurry pictures I had. And that smile is just too cute not to post ;)

And this picture just makes me laugh…