Learning from experience
Apparently networking at a Bridal Shower when you bring a baby just is not possible. Because the baby requires most of your attention and all everyone asks you about is the baby, nothing else. Which is fine, because Juliet is adorable and a very good baby. But needless to say, there was no networking happening. Only once was I able to mention needing a job, and it was then commented that parenting is more work than a job, only it doesn’t pay. Which is true. It was a really fun shower, though. One of the games was a list of 20 Jumbled wedding related words and I won by unscrambling 16 of them. I am really good at Jumbles. 🙂 I also experienced the bus system in Tacoma, which is nicer than the bus system in Seattle. Nicer buses, nicer drivers, better marked stops. I still got on the bus going the wrong way at first, which was a little confusing, but I switched buses and still made it to my destination on time.
Job search related activity on Saturday, 1/2: I did apply to three jobs when I got home from the shower. All three of which I could easily do and am qualified for.
Job search related activity on Sunday, 1/3: I filed my unemployment claim. That’s a necessity. I guess it doesn’t necessarily count as searching, though, as it does nothing to actually further my quest for employment….
Job search related activity today, Monday, 1/4: Well I’m posting a blog. I also publicized this blog on LinkedIn and Facebook. I browsed the new job postings in the WSBA Bar Journal and on the WSBA website. Starbucks has a new opening that I’d LOVE to have. It’s an Intellectual Property position dealing with trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Right up my alley. I need to find a way to meet people who work at Starbucks corporate. I know someone who used to work there. I wonder if she’d be able to help me out. Never hurts to ask, right? There’s a good task for me!
I also started working on all the paperwork for my yearly license renewal today. Maintaining a law license is ridiculously expensive when you are unemployed. My bar dues this year are $480 total (that’s without the optional charitable donation). They are due by 2/1 with no grace period. Which means if I pay them late, I have to pay a $135 late fee as well. I normally pay my dues late because I don’t have $480 just lying around. I pay them when I get my tax refund, which tends to come in mid-February. I also have to pay another $150 because I didn’t earn all my MCLE credits by December 31. My problem with this is that the vast majority of CLEs (or at least CLEs with multiple credit hours) are almost $200 and there are no scholarships or hardship tuition. Yes I’ve had four years to earn these credits, but I’ve only been gainfully employed as an attorney for one year out of those four. And my position at MEI did not afford a lot of opportunity to go to CLEs. I don’t know when I have to pay that late fee by, though. Probably when I finally earn all my credits. Three days listening to seminars online and I’ll be mostly there. It’s the 4.25 live credits I still need that may take awhile. Fortunately, tomorrow is the meeting of the WYLD-CLE committee that I plan to attend. It’s by phone, but I hope to bring up creating a scholarship program or some other cost lessening program for unemployed and underemployed attorneys or those working in public service. You know, those attorneys who aren’t really making all that much money. Cross your fingers for me.
Introduction & Statement of Purpose
I have decided to start this blog as a motivation tool for my continuing job search. I plan to post almost every day until I find a permanent position. My goal is to do something to further my job search every day, whether that be blogging, participating in discussions on LinkedIn, applying to jobs, or the all important, networking. It is a new year and there are many opportunities to network out there. I have to take advantage of them. I also need to start thinking of every interaction as an opportunity to network. For example, tomorrow I am going to a bridal shower. I know the bride and maybe a few other people attending the shower, but there will also be people there I do not know. But these people could potentially help in my job search, so I need to be sure to talk to people at the shower who I do not know, instead of only talking with those I do.
I also need to practice and refine my 30 second elevator speech (that’s what we called them in the WSBA job group I was in). Here’s the current draft: “Hi, I’m Gayle and I’m an attorney focusing on employment law, with an interest in assisting the creative community with employment contracts, government compliance, and licensing issues.”
I feel like I need to explain more about the licensing aspect of that statement, but it’s supposed to be a short introduction to hopefully spark conversation, so I don’t know. Do I throw in my interest and background in trademarks & copyrights or do I just stick with employment law? Or should I say business law and then specify employment and IP issues (as well as real estate)? I don’t know.
Job Quest 2010 