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Unexpected Benefits of Retirement, Time for Party Preparations

Monday, February 22nd, 2010
Blue box with yellow bow, with gift, low DOF

Last weekend we hosted a 60th birthday party for my husband’s brother. We had invited 25 people all of whom graciously accepted the invitation. This list included surprise guests from California that we had not seen for several years. My husband was worried about me handling all the work and stress of such a large event in our home, but in addition to my husband, I had the best helper available. I did not have to do all the planning, shopping, cleaning, visiting, cooking and airport runs while holding down a full time job. What a relief!

No full time job, what a relief!

It is amazing how smoothly everything went because I had the time to do a task each day and not try to cram all the chores into the Saturday prior to the party. I had the time to go to different stores and compare prices. I could weigh the value of certain products versus their competitors, not just toss stuff into a shopping cart to get done as quickly as possible and get out of the store. I actually left one party store (way too expensive) to check out the local dollar store for comparable items and was greatly pleased that I had done so. I had the time to discuss the food selection and quantity needed with the deli manager at the grocery store and then make changes as the guest list grew. I was able to take three days to clean the house and set up for the party both indoors and out in the backyard. I had time to decorate and make the house festive.

Having the work all done made the party more fun

By the Sunday of the party I was ready. I actually got to visit with my guests and enjoy their company. I was able to get through all the hard work involved (with my husband’s help) and have fun. My husband said it was the most relaxed he had seen me when we’ve hosted a large group. He wanted to know why I was so upbeat when I was dead tired from entertaining.  I told him that no matter what happened on Sunday, I knew I would not have to get up on Monday morning and go to work.  That simple thought made anything pleasurable.

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The Curious Case of William P. – Part 06

Friday, February 19th, 2010

Stage 1 – (Still) On the Verge of a Professional Job Search

William and I had a long conversation where he admitted that he was living out of his car.  His mailing address was that of a former co-worker at the hardware store.  He had some messages on his phone that he asked me to retrieve for him.  One was for a doctor’s appointment for that day, he was sure, but he was unsure of the time.

Huge job search challenges: bad phone, impaired hearing, no home

3D render of a mobile phone

 

He brought in his phone and I listened to his messages.  He did have an appointment that day, but it was at the VA hospital in Menlo Park.  That is quite a drive for him.  I am still not certain that he can find the hospital in Livermore, because Chuck has taken him there every time.  I called Menlo Park and they wanted to reschedule the meeting, which was a godsend.

There was another call from a VA administrator saying that his VA card had been returned, so I called her and found out that she had resent it.  He went over that day and retrieved his card from his friend.

No interviews, but still progress – ID card found, appointments rescheduled

I asked him why he did not take his phone with him, so people could reach him.  And why he never called Chuck back.  I asked him to show me that he could call Chuck on the phone, while I was there and make plans to go out together to the VA hospital.  He admitted that something was wrong with his phone and he could not make outbound calls.  I tried to call Chuck using his phone and I could not figure it out.  Something was definitely wrong with his phone.  He agreed to go over to the phone company office and get it serviced.  I also asked him to check into text messaging, because he could read those.

The next day I received a heartening call from Chuck.  William had retrieved his VA card and they went out to the hospital and rearranged all of the appointments that he missed.

The two headed monster that strikes every job hunter

I asked William why he was so reluctant to disclose his problems to Chuck and me.  He said that he was afraid.  And I think he has been depressed, but coping.  Slowly he has been retreating from society.  Fear and depression, the two headed monster that strikes every job hunter.  They are cunning and baffling emotions, cut from the same cloth.  No job hunter, regardless of age, can escape these two.  What makes the difference in the job search is how fast a person rebounds and gets back to conducting a professional job search.

William needs a place to live just as badly as getting his hearing restored.  I placed a call to the Alameda County VA Helpline and got in touch with a case worker who will help Chuck and me.  Next I checked in with a recent JobLink Alumni who recently landed a job.  This person is connected to the real estate community and to the City of Dublin.  He has agreed to help find a room for William to rent.

I would like to say we are into Stage One, but we need to take care of first things first.

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Volunteering Again

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Since I have stopped working I have been looking for meaningful ways to help out in the community. My last venture into the volunteer world did not go so well. I was going to participate in the Share-A-Pet project where you bring your pet to visit with the sick and elderly at various health care facilities.  DeeJay, our eight year old Cock-a-Poo, just wasn’t up to the task and my doctor didn’t like the idea of me being exposed to people who were ill.  I know the dog and I both would have enjoyed it, but I guess it was not meant to be.

Working to elect our judicial candidateGold scales and auction hammer. Objects over white

Now my husband and I are going to try a different type of volunteering. We will be working to elect a judicial candidate who is a member of our extended family. The election is in November so we have almost the whole year to help. My husband and I believe that it will be beneficial for us both. We can put our communication and interpersonal skills to a good use, plus make some new friends. The additional benefit is that our son will be able to earn community service credit for helping in the campaign so it will be a winning situation for the whole family. Maybe we can even have DeeJay wear a campaign bandana. With his cuteness factor going for us, we surely will win over a lot of voters.

A new experience plus a good use of our time and skills

Our first meeting is next week. We will get to select how involved we want to be, what tasks we would like to perform and how much time we are able to devote to this endeavor. Hopefully this will be a good use of our time and skills, give our son a hands on experience with government in action and help us all understand the political process a little better.

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Why won’t that HeadHunter call me back? Tip VII

Friday, February 12th, 2010

Didn’t get the interview? Don’t get defensive.

casual man in absolute despair and stress - is...

Don’t get defensive! This should be rule number one in dealing with HeadHunters. When the HeadHunter tells you that you are not exactly what the client wants, don’t get defensive.

Understand that the whole idea of “transferable skills” is not in vogue today. And because of that, it is hard to make a business case that 80% of what you did in past jobs is directly transferable to the new job you’re seeking. Because HeadHunters have been beaten up so badly themselves by their clients with this short-sighted view, don’t beat us up if we’re not willing to go to battle for you on the transferable skills argument. Yes, we can do this sometimes, but we may have already done that with this client and are not willing to have that same argument again. Recruiting at this moment is not as much about transferable skills as it should be.

If the HH is not receptive to your persuasion, trust me, the job is not for you

The idea that you might bring a “fresh set of eyes” to an existing situation or bring new blood into an industry that needs it is another argument I hear from candidates. While these ideas are often true, you don’t know what conversations I may have already had with the client on these topics. Don’t beat us up if we are not willing to pursue these ideas just because you put them forward.

Only the job candidate who takes “no” graciously, gets reconsidered in the future

Your best approach to a HeadHunter where you do not meet all of our criteria “spot on” is a soft one – note that you understand that you don’t meet all of the criteria exactly and then talk to me like a human being. I’m smart, and I’ve been in this business a long time. I know when to push clients and when to back off. And your understanding of that process will go a long way to making you a preferred candidate with me – that may not translate into placing you in the current opening, but it will certainly help in keeping you top of mind when I see other opportunities, and in consideration you for the next search that I have. While this goes back to the good manners tip, it is also important that you demonstrate a smart interaction style with me – that’s one of the things my clients depend on me for – producing candidates for them that will be successful in the new job because they demonstrate a smart interaction style all of the time.

I write this blog today as I was inspired by communications with an excellent candidate in the Midwest who pulled my name out of a recruiter directory based on the kinds of positions I often fill. His interaction with me was the textbook for how to get onto the list of positively memorable candidates. So, thanks to Asif in Illinois.

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Learning Financial Restraint After I Stopped Working

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Personal Finance. Hand and Coins. Money and fi...

Several weeks prior to the beginning of 2010, I read an article by financial columnist Humberto Cruz of the Chicago Tribune. He stated that if you have never written down your daily expenditures you should try it to see where your money is really going and what better time to start than the beginning of a new year. It was simple. Write down every penny you spend each day (even for a pack of gum), tally the results at the end of each week and total them at the end of the month. The key is to be consistent. I decided to try his plan because since I am no longer working I need to be much more aware of where my money is being spent. I am not referring to monthly recurring bills like my Cobra insurance, but shopping trips to the grocery store, lunches out with friends, visits to the beauty shop, gifts, plus all the little expenses that happen whenever you venture out of the house.

When I had a job, 15% of each pay check went directly into my 401k

I am embarrassed to say that I have never followed a budget. Somehow there was always enough going into my checking account that allowed me to spend what I chose to and still save for my retirement. I was disciplined in putting 15% of my pay into my 401K while working for a major hospital corporation. I invested wisely and benefited from the market boom years. As soon as I was eligible at my last job, I made do with less money each pay period but once again put 15% into a 401K. Now that I am no longer working, I must rely on Social Security and my savings to supplement what I need each month so not only am I interested in knowing where and how my money is being spent, it is imperative.

My new job is to create and follow a reasonable retirement budget

After only one week I was shocked. It is amazing how quickly small amounts add up to large sums. I was living in blissful ignorance. Now that I know I have to write down what I spend I think twice before making any purchases. With retirement comes stricter fiscal responsibility and as I am quickly learning it is tougher than you think.

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