Dude Craft: Ladder Bookshelf

Dude Craft: Ladder Bookshelf - I love this idea, but would want to use a funky, old ladder. Books rule!

Job Hunting

  So, as I troll around for a new job there are several things that seem to pop up on various job listings. There are quite a few employers that want much more than a cover letter, resume and references. A new requirement for employment includes essay writing, unpaid, required trainings and group interviewing.

  Since employers have the upper hand, as the job market is flooded with qualified candidates, it seems like some employers want to pit candidates against each other to see who is left standing.
  I recently applied for a job, a great job. After going to the orientation, I wanted this job. It was a school that sounded so amazing that I would have been honored to be a part of it. Then...thunk, the other shoe dropped.
  This job required all of the listed, new requirements. It required two essays to be written; one about team work and the other about a guest speaker at an upcoming meeting. It also required 12 days of training, 3 hours a day, dinner hours, for a span of twelve weeks. (Which means if you get a job offer in the interim, you cannot accept it because you have committed to 12 weeks.) In addition, the supervisor would sit above the group of candidates, watching to see who would fit the best.
  I understand and can appreciate wanting to make sure an employee is a good fit. But after doing the math of babysitting fees, tolls and gas, I discovered it would cost me about $800 for 12 weeks of unpaid training, without the promise of a job at the end. In addition to that, I had to take into consideration that if I left on time, while others were willing to stay late, it would look like I wasn't a team player and could be counted as a strike against me. But, my main team is my family, and my primary responsibility is my son. Yet, I wanted that damn job.
  Rather than just bailing, I wrote to the supervisor and offered the following: the two essays, 2-3 unpaid trainings, as many references as she wanted, (I have up to 10, not including personal references), as well as an offer to give a presentation to anyone/group she wanted.
  It was a no go. It was either commit to 12 weeks of unpaid trainings or I wouldn't even be a consideration. How far do you go for a job that feels like a perfect fit? How much do you eat in order to get it? Or, is it unreasonable for employers to expect people to jump through hoops AND come out of pocket with the mere hope of getting a position.
Disappointed, I passed.



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Dear Real Estate Agents...

Dear Real Estate Agents,
I write this to you as a home buyer, in hopes of helping you a house in this lousy market! Here's a few tips and some honest critiques:

1. 70% of your photos suck some major ass. They are shaky, blurry, too dark or too bright. Are you sneezing when you take these photos? Or it is a ploy in hopes that the pictures will suck so bad that the buyer will be pleasantly surprised when they see the house and it is not fuzzy and dark? By the way, be dressed if you are going to take pictures near a reflective surface.

2. Speaking of pictures, if you only have two pictures, both of the outside, or better yet, one outside shot and one of a random corner, makes me worry. It makes me think either the inside of the house is a train wreck or you are just uber lazy and won't take the time to take some photos.

3. When you take one home shot and the rest is of the areas attractions...well, see above.

4. Ask the sellers to put away about 25% of their crap. Seriously, people have a lot of crap. I do. You do. We all do. Putting away at least 25% before taking the photos makes the house look decent. Putting away 50% of toys, clothing and books allows me to picture MY crap in the house, instead of the seller's.

5. No matter how modest someone's budget, don't be snarky. Money is money, and in this market, be happy you have a buyer with good credit and a VA Loan. After all, word of mouth can make you or break you. Speaking of big mouths....

6. Don't be a dick about the VA Loan. Seriously. My hubby served his country. The first 10% of the VA Loan is insured by the freakin' military/government. Don't tell me you "don't do" purchases that use the VA Loan. You will find yourself and your company slathered all over the news and my hot and bothered indignant little face waving a flag and my baby in any camera that will look at me. I will crush you. So just suck up the fact that there is paperwork attached to the VA Loan and shut the fuck up about it.

7. Showing me homes $25,000 and up past my budget is not cool. Don't hope I'll fall in love with a house and throw my common sense out the window. My budget is set for what I can afford and I will not be tempted.

8. You don't have to write poetry, but it helps if the description is informative. i.e. square footage of the home. If it is a hobbit house, I need to know before I take the time to check it out. Knowing if there is a basement is helpful. Including either a map, zip code or some location information would be helpful as well. Remember, plenty of people have kids. Including the school information of the area rocks!

9. Know one interesting thing about the property. ONE thing, that's all. Don't give me that you have soooo many properties you can't possibly keep things so petty in your head. It doesn't have to stay in your head. Write yourself a note. That way you can say to me, "Oh, I remember that house! It has the cutest...finish able attic/yard/reading nook." Pique my interest.

10. What is with the turquoise? I've seen numerous homes covered in turquoise paint. I'm an artist. I love color. But for the love of Mike, advise the seller to pick a neutral color for at least one of the walls! It will take a zillion coats of paint to cover those walls. Humor the buyer.

11. Don't assume that my husband is the money and makes the decisions because he has a penis. Surprise, surprise, I control the money and know how much we can afford. Treat me like an equal. Boobies does not equal stupidity.

12. Don't deflect when I ask you a question. It makes me thing you are either full of crap or that you are being dishonest. Answer a question asked rather than sliding off the subject. If you don't know an answer, just say so.