Job Search Update...

A couple of my regular readers have been asking for an update on my job search. Namely Alicia and Sharon--thanks for the kind words of encouragement ladies!

Search by the numbers, if I've counted correctly:

Total Applications Completed: 38
Interviews Completed: 3
Still Active: 13

I know some people I have talked to say it can take 50-100 applications before something sticks. My challenge is that the kind of work I want to do either seems to require more experience than I have, more education than I have, or both. Admittedly, I have only met minimum qualifications for many of the positions to which I've applied, but I've gone for it anyway because I have very little to lose. I just want to get my foot in the door someplace and get some experience somewhere in the field.

I've also heard it can take six months to find a job in one's field. I've been looking for a little more than four at this point, but I won't be able to last much longer in the world of the unemployed for several reasons:

1) I am bored.
2) My bank account is shrinking.
3) Large periods of unemployment look bad on resumes, and I need experience doing something.
4) The parents are starting to worry.

So, at this point I see a few scenerios developing:
1) The stars align in my favor and I'm able to secure student affairs work very shortly.
2) I get a retail job in the short term, and hope for a grad assistantship somewhere in the fall.
3) I apply to work in the call center at the company where my mother works. We've floated this almost as a joke in the past, because we didn't think it would be the best option. But, as the weeks wear on, she's brought it up again...the pay is OK, benefits are good and it would be easy to get to work.
4) Something else entirely, TBD.

I still would like to be in a Masters program either full or part time next fall. Exactly where or whether it is FT or PT is dependent upon where I end up working.

I have an interview Monday for an Admissions Representative position with a private business school. As usual, I won't say which one unless I get hired someplace, but suffice it to say that if you live within viewing area of Twin Cities TV stations, you've likely seen their ads and know the jingle that goes with them, which begins "One Day, One Night, Saturday's all right..."

We'll see how it goes.

Another Convert

I want to welcome Steph to the wonderful world of Mac.

The grass is greener in the "Apple Orchard", isn't it?

Missing College Life...

Some observations...

The other day, Dad said something to me about my odd sleep habits. You see, I still stay up pretty late and in turn sleep later in the morning. He wants me to start rising earlier...

My response was that I'd like nothing more than to have a REASON to get up earlier. I'm starting to realize how much I miss having a somewhat predictable schedule of getting up between 6 and 7 because I had to be somewhere at 8 or 9. There was always a meeting, or class, or work to go to and things to do that pretty much occupied my days on campus.

I miss classes. Not the homework, but the feeling that I was using my brain, my storehouse of knowledge on a daily basis.

And I think I miss my monthly travels. As much as conferences were work and drama filled, they were fun...and an excuse to get away from one's daily surroundings. As much as I griped when Cody called them "vacations" I think there was an element of truth to it. I haven't been out of town in a couple months and mentally I feel like I should be going someplace soon.

Things must change soon.

MSUSA's 40th, Other News

Attended the MSUSA reception last night. It was good to see folks again...some for the first time in over a year...fun to catch up. I was reminded, as always, what an excellent group of students, alums and staff they've got. I put a lot of myself into that organization over the course of five years, did a lot of great things and met great people in the process.

In other news:

• Realized I left a couple of folks out of the list when I redid my links. Should be fixed now.
• Discovered The Apple Blog...check it out.
• In other Apple news, the iPod Hi-Fi is dead. Personally, I found it to be overpriced, bulky and only OK sounding. Obviously, people shared my view or they would have bought it. Declaring it "end of life" is a smart move by the company.

Happy Birthday, MSUSA!

In case you missed my earlier post on this...

This afternoon, The Minnesota State University Student Association marks 40 years of student advocacy with a reception at its office, 23 Empire Drive in Saint Paul.

If you're an alumnus, friend or supporter of MSUSA who's in the Twin Cities today, stop by to help celebrate this milestone.

For more info or directions, call their office at 651-224-1518.

It's Time to Nail This Guy...

CNN reports that OJ Simpson has been arrested in connection with a Las Vegas robbery.

Yet another piece of proof that the guy is a lowlife. While I believe in the tenants of our justice system, I believe he did get away with murder in 1995, and has done little since to convince the public otherwise, even going so far as to pen a book titled "If I Did It."

I hope they nail him this time and he ends up where he belongs--in jail.

"Berne's World" Refreshed

After the issues I had yesterday with Blogger layout, You'll notice that the template and sidebar look a little different, as I basically chose a new template, deleted all the existing page elements, and started from scratch.

I suppose since the blog just turned three it was time for a refresh.

Check the "People" list for several new additions as well.

HELP!!

Is Blogger being funky for anyone else?

I tried to make changes to my layout and it looks TOTALLY messed up. The new improved layout tools have mutinied on me! Everything is still there but I can not move anything within the sidebar...every page element is piled on top in the center, no matter which I select.

So, until I get this figured out, enjoy my really old "classic" template that was archived before the switchover to "new" Blogger.

Any thoughts, readers??

Mom Discovers YouTube

Last night, Mom was talking about how some of the people in her training class at work were referring to a video called "Chocolate Rain" they'd seen on YouTube. She'd never been on the site, so we checked it out. Honestly, I haven't figured out why they found it so funny, but we did stumble on to some other humor:

• Mac/PC ad spoofs like this one, OS
• The now-famous, over the top, freak out defending Britney Spears
• Spoofs of the Britney freak out, like this one
• Pez humor (Mom collects the candy dispensers), such as this Simpsons moment

Two Items in the News

I thought I would take a moment to comment on two things that have been in the news recently.

Larry Craig:
Let's get right down to it...this guy is a bozo. I don't care if the guy is gay or straight, the fact of the matter is that no upstanding, self respecting person should be crusing for sex in an airport bathroom. Three words: dirty old man. Now he says he did nothing wrong and only pleaded guilty because of media scrutiny.

Sorry Larry, innocent people generally don't plead guilty, and the amount of press you've received as a result of your about-face is as much or more than there would have been had you chosen to fight the charges. Take your lumps and ride off into the sunset...people have had enough of you.

Britney Spears:
I did not see her bomb at the VMAs, but there's been so much about it in the media that it's pretty clear there was a trainwreck. But honestly, what career is there to save? The woman has not had a hit in years and now gets more attention for questionable parenting skills and her failed marriage than her music.

Yes, she was once a hot ticket...as a teen pop star. How long did she think it would last? She's already had a longer run than most of her counterparts, e.g. N'SYNC and the Backstreet Boys. Perhaps it's time for her to accept the fact she's a bit of a has-been.

Found a little haiku over at Road Less Traveled that pretty much sums her up. Definitely worth a couple of chuckles.

Take The Poll

I can't decide which template I like.

Readers, take the poll on the sidebar...

Still Searching...

Summer has come and gone. The last two weeks have been weird--I have had the feeling on more than one occasion that I am supposed to be someplace else. After all, this is the first time since I was five years old that I have not been in school somewhere.

The job search continues. It is slow going...lots of applications are out but nothing has materialized yet. Had another interview last week, but would say it's probably a long shot. I guess the upside is that I am getting better at interviewing.

I'd hoped something would've happened by now, but that's life. A major change in strategy has to be undertaken soon, but first I must figure out what that is going to be.

For the moment, all I can do is keep plugging away and maintain a positive outlook.

Minnesota Weather

Never ceases to amaze me. It's been in the 80s and 90s so far this week, and humid as can be.

And this weekend? 60s.

Inconsistency is the name of the game.

New iPods

Apple released new iPods today. They look pretty cool.

Check Them Out.

"Blogiversary" Number Three

It was three years ago today that "Berne's World" began with some fairly mundane test posts.

Obviously, I took to blogging and have found it to be a great way to get thoughts written down, keep a journal of sorts, and keep up with people.

Here's to another three years!

"The Holiday"

The Holiday

Did not meet expectations. Skip it.