The Job Hunt

So....

I have been searching for a job for what seems like forever but has realistically been about two months. I feel that I have had a dozen interviews and killed over a dozen trees with how many resumes I have given out to no avail.

It's been a long time since I have felt so discouraged in pursuit of anything, really. It's interesting how something that seemed like it would be so easy at first is swiftly becoming the most pervasive problem in my life currently.

If anyone has any suggestions or knows anyone who is hiring over the summer and even into Fall please let me know!

Sigh.

Chelsea

Introduction

June 11, 2011 (Sorry I missed you in Seattle, Amy)

So my first post will be a copycat of Amy's or something close to that nature (:

Following my finals and a long drive back to the west side, I've been helping my family move into our new home next to neighbors with dogs the size of motorcycles.

I'm a 3.98 student majoring in journalism, English, and communications with a minor in political science. I've worked for The Easterner for two quarters, ending spring as one of two senior reporters. I'll return in the fall as a senior reporter, alongside Kyle Harding, the other senior reporter.

I'll be venturing three classes at Highline Community College beginning June 20 because my mother doesn't believe in a summer vacation without school.

About two weeks ago, I got a job offer from my local paper, The Federal Way Mirror, as a staff writer... I didn't take the job. Last week, I got a call from someone from The Seattle Lesbian asking if I was interested in contributing with no pay; I'm thinking about it.

I can (fluently) speak three different languages, but only write in one... and I love food.

kristiehsin

Extra Credit?

Okay, I missed some points in an assignment recently. I was missing some proofs in my VCD 1 class.
So I did this today for some extra credit. (I hope!)

This is from a photo of my youngest daughter. I took it in 2008.



Breaking the Ice

Someone has to begin.
I think you'll find that blog posts vary from personal, like this one, to formal. In my previous project, washingtonat2400feet.blogspot.com, I wrote the latter. (And if you read this and it doesn't make sense, please remember that I'm still behind on sleep.) Whichever style you decide to post will be welcome. Please add your first and last name as a one-word label under your posting box. (Tag it with your name as I did below.)

Who is Amy Meyer? (If you're wondering--otherwise, skip this section.)
I have an advantage here. I've read everyone's resumes, but none of you have read mine.

I'm a 4.0 student (quick, get me some wood to knock on) double majoring in visual communication design and journalism. The last journalism class I need will be law of journalism, which I will take in the fall.

This year I worked under the title of Program Aide II for the Office of Information Technology at EWU. My tasks included thawing and updating computers, troubleshooting the 17 poorly-behaved Power Macs in the Digital Arts Lab (ART 207) and assisting students with Adobe software like photoshop, illustrator and a little InDesign. (Desiree will tell you that I did some Dreamweaver too, but I tell you that I flubbed through it.)

I volunteered at The Easterner copy desk during spring 2010 and I was hired as a staff writer for spring 2011.

Last November I worked the Associated Press call center in the PUB MPR with data entry. The big skill I developed was to repeat information that was spoken to me so that the caller knew whether or not I had the right numbers. (You're yawning now, I can hear it.)

I've volunteered with the Cheney High School Band Parent for five years now. I've been in charge of the spring jazz night fundraiser for the last four years, which brought in around $3,000 for the musicians this year.
During the spring a couple years ago, I headed up an audit of the Band Parent's account.

In the past, I've assisted with their apple pie fundraiser; this year I headed up the effort. I orchestrated around 100 parents and students to assemble around 1100 apple pies from scratch. I purchased ingredients, others I negotiated bargains for and networked with parents to discover how we could acquire donated ingredients. We assembled and froze those pies over two weekends. It was a huge endeavor.

In 2001, I started the Habitat-for-Humanity Spokane homeowners' association. I was awarded homeowner of the year and was invited to join the board of directors as a homeowner consultant. I accepted the invitation and was on the board for six years, which is the equivalent of two terms.

Plans this summer:
Aside from planning out the year and working on improvements like a new website (Stuart) and lighting kits (Doug), I'm interning at The Cheney Free Press. I'll lay out two pages per week and write one article, or so I'm told. I'm pretty excited about that.

I'm going to Seattle for a reception on June 10 with the Washington News Council. I've won the Dick Larsen Scholarship for 2011-12. (No, I'm not loaning you money.)

I'll fly to Anchorage for my adopted stepdaughter's wedding within a week after that, to Minneapolis for a journalism conference at the end of July and to Portland for the OCW writers' conference (fiction) in Salem (?) in the the middle of August.


In the meantime, I need a nap.