Aspiring Poet, heartfelt thoughts.I have Just Discovered that I can write

Ah, job hunting. That magical time when you wake up every morning, grab a cup of coffee, and prepare yourself for another day of sending résumés into the abyss—where they will never be seen, acknowledged, or even pitied. But don’t worry! The job boards have a solution for you. No, not actual jobs—why would they do that? Instead, for the low, low price of "only" $19.99 a month , you can boost your visibility and stand out to top employers! Oh, fantastic! If only I had $19.99 to spare , I’d definitely spend it on making my résumé sparkle. But funny enough, I don’t have $19.99 because, oh yeah— I DON’T HAVE A JOB. The “Only” Scam I love how these services always say the price is only a certain amount. Only $9.99 a month! Only $29.99 for premium! Only my remaining will to live and a pint of my own blood! Wow, such a bargain. Let me just check my financial situation real quick—oh look, I have exactly four cents and a crumpled receipt from Taco Bell. Here’s a radical thought...

These would be Mine;  10 BIGGEST INTERVIEW WINNERS ✅ (Guaranteed to Impress!* Maybe.)  Arrive Fashionably Late Show them you’re in demand—your time is way more valuable than theirs, right? Rock That Unique Outfit Who needs boring business attire? A Hawaiian shirt and flip-flops scream confidence! Master the Art of Whispering Nothing says “hire me” like mumbling and avoiding eye contact. Mysterious vibes = job offer. Stress It Out Sweating profusely and nervously laughing at everything will definitely make you memorable. Talk About You, You, You Forget qualifications—regale them with tales of your cat’s Instagram fame. They’ll be hooked. Stay Connected Keep your phone on. Better yet, answer a call mid-interview and say, “Hold on, I’m with someone less important.” Wing It Like a Pro Why research the company? Just ask them, “Wait, what do you guys do again?” They'll love your curiosity. Spill All the Tea Trash-talking your last boss? Perfect. They'll totally trust you to do the s...

 Let’s talk about recruiters, those elusive creatures who promise to guide you to the golden gates of employment. You know the type—they call with enthusiasm, throw around words like “shortlisted,” and make you feel like you’re the chosen one. But then, poof! They vanish faster than my self-control at an all-you-can-eat buffet. In my experience, dealing with recruiters has been like trying to date a ghost. You get that initial spark of connection, the promise of something meaningful, and then radio silence. I imagine them sitting in a dimly lit room somewhere, surrounded by stacks of resumes, cackling maniacally as they hit "archive" on yet another email. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been told, “I’m here to help you find your dream job,” only for them to pull a Houdini and leave me hanging. Here’s how it usually goes: The Call of Promise It starts with an upbeat phone call or email: “Hi there! We’ve come across your resume, and we think you’d be a perfect fit for [...

Act 1: The Confusion in the Ranks At InnovateTech, the hiring process for a new software engineer was supposed to be an opportunity to bring fresh talent into their growing AI and machine learning team. But somewhere along the way, things went off course. The job description had been hastily written, with vague buzzwords like “innovative problem-solving” and “adaptability in high-pressure scenarios.” It was broad, nonspecific, and, frankly, confusing even to the managers tasked with conducting the interviews. They wanted someone “technically brilliant,” but they also wanted someone “creative” and “visionary.” In truth, no one on the hiring panel could clearly articulate what they were looking for. Despite this ambiguity, the interview schedule was finalized. Rohan, a software engineer with five years of experience, was one of the top candidates. His resume gleamed with quantified achievements, like “Increased system efficiency by 35%” and “Developed an API that reduced client-side load...

 Resumes: the bane of job seekers everywhere. You’d think condensing your entire professional existence onto a single sheet of paper would be straightforward, right? Wrong. If resumes were an Olympic sport, I’d be the undisputed champion of listening to contradictory advice. Here’s the story of how my quest for the perfect resume turned into an epic game of “Whose Advice Is It Anyway?” Too Long “Your resume is too long!” one expert said, peering at my magnum opus of work experience. “No one has time to read a novel.” Okay, fair point. I trimmed it down, cutting out the fluff, the font embellishments, and, unfortunately, the joke about my award for “Best Office Coffee Brewer 2018.” What was left was a streamlined masterpiece… or so I thought. Too Short Enter Resume Guru #2: “This is way too short. You’re selling yourself short!” Wait, what? Wasn’t I supposed to keep it concise? Apparently, now I’m supposed to highlight every little detail. Did I mention I once organized the supply c...

It’s been a year since I set out on this epic quest for employment. At first, I approached the job search like a wide-eyed optimist. Now? Let’s just say I’ve developed a sense of humor that borders on the cynical, and my coffee consumption has reached Olympic levels. Armed with a slightly battered resume, a Wi-Fi connection that feels like my only ally, and a dwindling supply of patience, I’ve trudged through the trenches of the job market. My dignity? Let’s just say it’s on an extended vacation. Month One: The Honeymoon Phase Ah, the early days. I was so naive. My resume was polished, my LinkedIn profile sparkled, and I was ready to take the professional world by storm. Every job posting seemed like a golden opportunity. I even got excited about generic confirmation emails. "Thank you for applying!" they said. Little did I know, it’s the job-hunting equivalent of being ghosted after a first date—minus the free dinner. Month Six: The Slow Descent By month six, the cracks star...

In my journey through various jobs and experiences, I’ve often wondered: what do hiring managers truly want? Is it the “yes-man” who agrees with everything, follows every rule to the letter, and never questions the status quo? Or is it the thinker, the one who brings fresh ideas, innovation, and a willingness to challenge norms? You’d think the latter would be the obvious choice. After all, progress and success often come from creativity and diversity of thought. But in reality, it seems more complicated than that. I’ve worked in environments where ideas were encouraged—on the surface. “We value input from everyone,” they’d say. But when push came to shove, the unspoken rule was clear: fall in line or face the consequences. Any deviation from the prescribed way of doing things was met with resistance or outright dismissal. (At one job, I swear I saw an actual eyebrow twitch whenever I used the phrase “What if we tried...”) Then there are the jobs where being a “yes-man” is practically ...

 For years, I was the guy in IT who could reboot your computer, untangle your network cables, and, on a really good day, remind you that your printer wasn’t working because it was unplugged. Let’s face it, tech life had its moments—some of them even rewarding—but eventually, I found myself staring at screens and servers wondering if there was more to life than explaining “Have you tried turning it off and back on again?” Spoiler alert: there is. Enter writing. Now, before you assume this was some grand epiphany where I threw my hands in the air and declared myself the next Hemingway, let me assure you, it wasn’t. It started small. I’d always loved words—telling stories, writing blogs, and making my wife laugh at puns that were so bad they could qualify as dad jokes. Eventually, I realized that the stories and words I was scribbling down had the power to do more than amuse me. They could connect, inspire, and even help others. Suddenly, writing wasn’t just a side hobby anymore. It f...

Well, here we are, folks. Week 55 of the Job Search Extravaganza. That’s over a year of resume tweaking, application submitting, and endless waiting for recruiters to "circle back." Starting tomorrow, a new week of opportunities, rejections, and possibly some hilariously tragic LinkedIn interactions awaits. I wonder if I will have any more qualifications this week than I had last week, except I am getting better at rejections. Seriously, I could teach a masterclass: "Rejection Emails 101—How to Spot Them Before You Even Open the Message." The Resume Riddle Will this be the week I finally crack the code to the perfect resume? You know, the one that doesn’t make hiring managers wonder if it was written by an overly caffeinated squirrel? There’s a fine line between "detailed" and "please don’t make me read your life story." Maybe I’ve been walking that line like a tightrope artist with questionable balance. Or perhaps the hiring managers will look f...

 Picture this: you’re in a job interview. You’ve dressed to impress, perfected your handshake (firm but not bone-crushing), and answered every cliché question like a pro. Then the hiring manager picks up your resume, glances at it for a grand total of 4.7 seconds, and says, “Well, we’ll be in touch.” Translation? You’re a piece of paper. Congratulations! You’re officially in the running for “Most Overqualified but Still Unemployed.” It’s 2025, folks. Why are we still acting like employees are data points and prospective hires are nothing more than walking resumes? Somewhere along the way, the workplace traded human connection for efficiency. But spoiler alert: ignoring humanity is the least efficient strategy out there. From Human Resources to Just Resources Remember when HR stood for Human Resources? Somewhere along the line, “human” got dropped. Now, it’s more like a Department of Spreadsheet Jockeys and Policy Sticklers. Employees are reduced to productivity stats, and anyone wh...

 At this point, job hunting feels like a twisted game show. Week 54 of sending out résumés and carefully crafted cover letters, only to face the eerie silence of recruiters who vanish faster than Houdini after a phone interview. Take Monday, for example. I spotted a job posting that seemed tailor-made for me—almost suspiciously perfect. "Flexible hours! Competitive pay! Work-life balance!" It had all the buzzwords. I eagerly hit "Apply Now," tailoring my résumé until it practically sparkled. Hours later, I got an email inviting me to a phone screen. Progress! The recruiter called me the next day, and we had what I thought was a great conversation. She "loved my enthusiasm," said I was a "great fit," and promised to follow up with next steps. Spoiler: she didn’t. By Friday, the silence was deafening. Meanwhile, I had a phone interview with another company—a role that seemed legitimate, at least until the hiring manager asked me the same questions ...

 Let me set the scene for you: it was about a month ago when I applied for a job that seemed tailor-made for me. My resume checked all the boxes, my experience aligned perfectly, and I could practically hear the sound of my imaginary office chair swiveling as I prepared for my future in this role. Everything was lining up like the stars were rooting for me. And then, it happened. The letter arrived. At first glance, it had the usual polite opener: "Dear Applicant, Thank you for your interest in this position." But as I read further, the mood shifted dramatically: "Unfortunately, due to discrepancies in your polygraph test results, we regret to inform you that we cannot proceed with your application." Wait… what? Polygraph test results? That was strange because… I was there for the polygraph, but due to medical issues, they said it wouldn’t be a problem. They would move to the next phase! Now, I’m no detective, but it’s pretty hard to fail a test under those circumst...

  The Employer’s Gauntlet: An Interview Saga Imagine a parallel universe where employers must endure the same endless gauntlet of interviews that job seekers face. In this world, a hiring manager named Mr. Dingleberry found himself nervously adjusting his tie as he prepared for yet another interview—not to hire someone, but to keep his job posting open. As he waddled into the sleek glass conference room, he was greeted by a panel of sharply dressed candidates, all armed with clipboards, tablets, and icy glares. One of them, a stern-looking woman named Ms. Patel, motioned for him to sit. “Mr. Dingleberry,” she began, her tone sharper than a paper cut, “why should we trust you with the power to post jobs? What makes you think you’re qualified to run this job listing?” Dingleberry blinked rapidly, his mind racing. “Well, I’ve been in hiring for over 15 years—” “Ah, but how many quality hires have you made?” interrupted a bearded man with a clipboard. “We’re looking for someone...

Career Change The Adventures of the Job-Seeker Extraordinaire This week marked yet another chapter in my year-long journey through the labyrinth of job hunting—a journey filled with more twists, turns, and dead ends than a soap opera plotline. My trusty resume, which I thought was a beacon of professionalism, seems to be the equivalent of a Rorschach test for hiring managers. One employer told me my resume looked like AI had crafted it, which, frankly, felt like a compliment. I mean, who doesn’t want the latest in silicon-based perfection? Another decided I was overqualified. My favorite, though, was the company that said, "Your values don’t align with ours." Bold of them, considering they’ve never even met me. Did my resume accidentally include a paragraph about my stance on pineapple on pizza? At one point, I thought, "Maybe I should let AI actually rewrite my resume." But that idea evaporated faster than SpongeBob’s thought bubbles in that one episode wher...

 Living with mental illness or caring for someone who does is a journey that requires resilience, patience, and understanding. Unfortunately, even well-meaning comments can be hurtful or dismissive, especially when they stem from misconceptions. If you're seeking to support someone in this position, here are a few things you should avoid saying—and why. 1. “I understand what you’re going through.” No, you don’t. Unless you have personally experienced the same mental illness or caregiving situation, you cannot truly understand what someone else is enduring. It’s okay to empathize—to acknowledge their pain and show that you care—but claiming understanding can come across as dismissive. Instead, say something like, “I can’t imagine how hard this must be for you, but I’m here to listen and support you.” 2. “Just think positive.” Mental illness is not a mindset issue; it is a medical condition. Suggesting that someone can overcome their struggles through sheer willpower minimizes the se...

 The turn of the calendar brings with it a bittersweet mixture of reflection and hope. Last year’s burdens felt like an unrelenting storm, a tempest that tested not just my endurance but also my faith. Each day seemed longer than the one before, and each night was filled with whispered prayers—pleas for relief, peace, and understanding. Sometimes, those prayers felt like they disappeared into the void. Yet, they were the only thread that kept me tethered to hope. I’ve recently found solace in the simplicity of haikus. Their compact elegance has a way of expressing the inexpressible, of condensing emotions too large for prose into three short lines. As I reflect on the past year and look ahead, this haiku poured out of me: Through the tears of a rough year!  A year of trials, Heavy storms and quiet grief, Each day stretched so thin. Night brought restless prayers to God, Seeking mercy, peace, and strength. Now a new year dawns, Shadows lift with fragile hope. Still, I bow and p...

 As the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, I didn’t feel the usual sense of hope or renewal that many associate with the start of a new year. Instead, I found myself reflecting on the year behind me—a year filled with challenges that have left me feeling like I am crawling into this new chapter with one hand and one leg missing. Last year was, without a doubt, one of the most difficult I’ve faced. It seemed like every step forward was met with two steps back. Moving to the family farm to care for Harvey, my father-in-law with dementia, was a decision rooted in love and necessity. It was a move that marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, one filled with trials I hadn’t anticipated. Coupled with being laid off from my job, the weight of responsibility and uncertainty felt like an anchor pulling me deeper into uncharted waters. Physically, mentally, and emotionally, I was stretched to my limits. My own battles with manic depression, schizophrenia, bipolar di...