Aunt Rosalie's Stuffing

It’s November. Thanksgiving is just 5 days away..snow is itching to start falling on us (have we seen our last 60 degree day in November?)…Irish coffee season is under way…college basketball has featured some excellent match-ups this week, for those of you that don’t wait until March to follow it.

And, each year, about now is when I hear “it’s horrible looking for a job during the holidays”; “I’ll take a break until after the new year”; “nobody is interviewing for the next few weeks”. I always think of the incredible scene from the film, “Kramer vs. Kramer”, when Dustin Hoffman has to find an Advertising Agency job in one day.

Share your thoughts here about searching during the holidays. Do you turn up the effort? Do you take a break for a few weeks? Does the search during the holidays bring your mood down in the midst of so many happy people celebrating?

Among the pieces of wisdom I’ve picked up during these job searches I’ve gone through is this: Every month of the year can be seen as a really bad month for job hunting, and I also firmly believe that every month of the year can be seen as an excellent time to be hunting. I can see either side’s point of view. Your thoughts?

A new blog worth looking at has begun. The writer is very sharp, wise, funny, and a good friend. It's called "Career Chatter", and here's the link: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/career-chatter/ Have a look and let us know what you think of it. You can also find it in Twitter at: @Career_Chatter

More homework for you - a nice article about using Twitter for your job search can be found in US News and World Report at: http://t.co/WYE8lrB

Finally, yes, even here: Interesting Thanksgiving trivia, I know, it's almost a requirement this time of year. Share with us yours, or even a quirky (I know, rhymes with...) memory. Here's something I picked up that I absolutely don't remember learning 1,000 years ago when I was in school: Sarah Josepha Buell Hale, author of "Mary Had a Little Lamb", and a magazine editor, is credited with being most responsible for making Thanksgiving a national Holiday!

Here's to a very fun, happy and safe holiday for you all! I look forward to your comments,

larry

When we last met here..

Today is November 10, and my computer tells me it's 66 degrees outside. In Chicago. In November. What? As someone said to me at a networking event last night, "this is the new normal". On her mind wasn't weather - she was talking about the economy, the part time jobs we endure as our job searches continue. For me, it means I'm a bit tardy since my last posting here.

My networking has picked up lately, so it's timely that this morning I was forwarded this column from MSNBC.com which is a good reminder for us all when we network. Please comment, share anecdotes, tell us your thoughts about the no-no's listed in the article:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40028263/ns/business-personal_finance

Some of you might be thinking, "Ok Larry, so...where have you been since the last posting?" One of the reasons for the huge gap in posts on this blog: working 3 part-time jobs. Ok, maybe it's more an excuse, than a valid reason. Those who are also in a job search, please update us, tell us how your search has been going. I've heard all kinds of opinions lately about the job market: it's turning, it's much better, it's the same...what about for you?

And for those still in the hunt, I can't recommend strongly enough pursuing part time work at Trader Joe's. Like Starbucks, Trader Joe's offers health care benefits to those working 20 hours per week. And reaffirming my belief that "you never know"...there are many, MANY interesting and wonderful people to meet when you work there. And if I may pause for a crucial endorsement: their Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups...only one word aptly describes them: PERFECT!

Last: for those of you in marketing or those interested in networking and social media...The University of Chicago Marketing Roundtable's monthly FREE meeting is on Wed. 11/17 at 6pm. You do not have to be a U. of C. alum, and again...it's FREE! The topic this month: Work Your Network: Relationship Building Strategies for On & Offline Sales Success. Two experts speaking, networking before and after, at the Gleacher Center.

Register here: https://survey.chicagobooth.edu/ViewsFlash/servlet/viewsflash?cmd=showform&pollid=alumni_roundtable%21Marketing%20Registration

Enough of an update, there will be many more posts soon. Please share with us how the end of summer and alleged change in the job market has affected you...is your job search bringing you more bites? If you're fully employed, is the pace and work load as insane as ever?

We look forward to your comments, opinions, challenges, new followers, and please always feel free to share this with everyone in your network.

larry