can this please be my office?

Isn't this an awesome, cheery, and very well organized cubicle? Can it please be mine?

Maybe I should re-do my cube! Do you have any decorating/organizational tips for me? I need some!

(Photo credit: I forget, please forgive me!)

from a HR perspective...

Every single day, I review resumes -- right now I have 68 resumes that I need to save, much less, countless others to review. In almost every resume, I see a slight mistake. Whether it's a misspelling, an extra space when there shouldn't be one, or a lack of information -- it's there.

I understand myself. I had several editing errors, and I forgot to indent a section of my resume when I first created it in college. All of the mistakes seemed "right" after I reviewed it several times. It wasn't until someone else edited it that I noticed those mistakes.

Here are some things to be aware of:


-Create a professional email address. There are several different free email services out there (Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, AOL, etc.). Please do not submit a resume with the email: sexxymama542@whateveremailservice.com. (*Please note: this is not a real email address that I have received. I have seen some email addresses that are very similar though).

-Please do not attach a picture to your resume. We will immediately delete this picture, due to discrimination laws and for our own company's policies.

-When someone calls for an interview, please don't have a rap song with expletives, or a country song about getting drunk on a tractor, etc. playing as your ring tone before you answer the call.

-Please have a professional voice message instead of "This is Lauren - you know what to do!"

-Please arrive promptly for an interview. Please don't blame anyone for not finding the office. If you are unsure as to where to go, try to drive to the office the day before. That way, you'll be cool, calm, collected, and confident as to where you're going.

-Bring copies of your resume on resume paper for the interview, just in case. Bring this in a professional folder, and include a pad of paper and pen -- that way you can write down anything you want to remember about the company.

-Research the company before you arrive for the interview.

-Always ask questions, especially if the interviewers ask: "Do you have any questions about us?"

...these are just some things that I've been noticing lately. Just thought it might be a helpful reminder, especially to job seekers during this economy!

(*Sample resume, not an actual one that I've received.)

(Photo credit: CG Services.)

recap!

Randi, Erin & Lauren

Saralyn, Erin, Quincy, Randi, Hannah, Lauren & Catherine

I haven't blogged in forever, due to the on-and-off internet that we've had at our house (*further investigation lead us to learn that we hadn't fully plugged in a cord.*).

Let's recap:

Thursday night: Girls Night Out (GNO) first at my house, and then out for drinks & dancing!

Friday: Date Night with my love -- started with delicious pizza, then my car was towed ($150 later and a lot of cursing), and it ended with us watching New Moon (I cried at one point during the movie)

Saturday: Grocery shopping, purchase of a Wii for Ryan (his Christmas present I'd been saving for), shopping for my Secret Santa, Kentucky v. Georgia game with good friends

Sunday: Painted some of the bathroom (from a hideous lilac to a light, stone gray), celebrated Ryan's Dad's birthday (which included eating a delicious Italian creme cake from The Cheesecake Factory), and some light reading before hitting the hay

cavity central

A picture I took on my phone in Walt Disney World -- I wish I would have bought one!

lesson of the day

Take this quiz:

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor or actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do? The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel, appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you. Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

poodle inspiration

Ideas for my house! Love the poodle lamps :)

(Photo credit: absolutely beautiful things.)

lindylady

"Never interrupt someone who is doing something you said couldn't be done."

"No kind action ever stops itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves."

-Amelia Earhart

(Photo credit: NASA.)

friendly disclaimer

Someone recently asked me if I blog at work, as that is when some of my posts are "published" (aka: when my posts appear on my blog).

The answer = nope!

The great thing about Blogger is that you can have scheduled posts. The night before or on the weekends, I try to have a scheduled post for most days throughout the week. I can even modify the date and time that they post. Love that feature on Blogger!

tuesday pet peeve

On Facebook = please do not ask me to be a "Fan" of your band every single day (literally). I don't really care for the music (eek!), but I wish you the best of luck!

What are your Facebook pet peeves?

(Photo credit: Markiac.)

halloween pics of the pups!

My parents dog, Sparkles, ready to play with the wild boys.

Ollie, dressed up as a Lil' Devil -- apparently he didn't like the costume so much.

Poor Gus as a Lil' Stinker...he looks so uncomfortable, bless his heart! Lucky for him, we left the costume on long enough to take a picture and then took it off. :)

fill your bin and win

Awhile ago, I went on my city's website to read about leaf collections and happened to see a "Fill Your Bin and Win" contest for our city's Clean & Green Campaign. I filled out my personal information, which included the serial number on the bottom of our recycling bins (I didn't even know those bins had a serial number!), and pledged that I would recycle. Thursday is trash day and Ryan and I always recycle anyway, so this was just a fun incentive for us. It's easy: bottles/glass/plastic one week, then paper the next.

Last week I got a phone call that said that Ryan and I had won for our section of the city! :) We win $100 and we are going to our City Council meeting tonight and will be recognized by the mayor. We will also have a sign put in our front yard for two weeks, saying that we recycle. How awesome! :) I'm pumped. This is a great way to raise awareness about recycling.

(Photo credit: David Coethica.)

book review: the art of racing in the rain

The Art of Racing in the Rain, written by Garth Stein, is told through the eyes of Enzo -- a loving dog named after Enzo Ferrari. Enzo's master, Denny, is a struggling race car driver who's trying to support his wife, Eve, and their daughter, Zoe. A man with a good heart, Denny dotes over his wife, who seems to battle depression and has many medical ailments that she refuses to see the doctor for. The apple of Denny's eye is little Zoe, who he would do anything in the world to protect. Eventually, Eve discovers that she has cancer and the family's world slowly crumbles -- with Eve's parents blaming Denny for her illness and insisting that Zoe should live with them.

I won't outline the end of the book, so I won't spoil anything; however, I'd like to know what people thought of the final chapter? Did you think it was really touching or cheesy? I'm torn between the two.

And the readers that said that I would cry -- they were right. Enzo is so lovable.


In summary: read it - you'll love it.



(Video, photo credit & for more information: Garth Stein, Planet Books.)