Dear Potential Employer

Dear Potential Employer:

Since relocating back to the Bay Area four months ago, I have been actively searching for employment but have been unsuccessful in finding a job. I have applied for hundreds of jobs based on postings for open positions or submitting my resume to the human resources e-mail address listed on your website. I have even submitted my resume via employee referrals, but yet again I’ve been ignored.

You think that just because the economy is down, the unemployment rate is high and thousands of candidates are applying for the same job at your company that you have the right to be rude and disrespectful by not acknowledging that I’ve applied for an opening in your organization or that you ever even received said application. Worse yet is that you’re not even willing to pay me what I’m worth! You’re too busy giving the upper echelon a six-figure income to even notice that the salary you are offering me isn’t one I can survive on. That’s poverty-level in this geographical area considering the high cost of living. Most times companies don’t list the salary range hoping that a candidate will submit their resume anyway. When they do post a salary for any given position, it’s a joke. I mean, $12 an hour for an administrative position? Are you kidding me??? Where do you suggest I live in the Bay Area at $12 an hour? One cannot even live in a one-bedroom apartment in San Jose on that salary!  Why, Mr. Big Shot Corporation, are you being so cheap?

As an experienced administrative assistant, I keep the wheels well-oiled in order to keep the organization going. The big wigs need me in order to enter information into the computer. They need me to compose a letter for them because either they can’t type faster than a hunt and peck or they don’t know how to use basic computer software systems. How is this possible in Silicon Valley? We created the high-tech industry. I do the support work that makes your job easier. I manage your calendar, I book your travel and I prepare your correspondence. I make sure you have reservations or lunch delivered for meetings, I answer your phone and take messages and I help you prepare for presentations. I help you run your life and make sure there is balance between work and home, many times at the sacrifice of my own family. I do everything for you just short of wiping your rear end.

The other day when I was speaking to a representative at EDD to discuss whether or not I would qualify for unemployment benefits, the incompetent woman told me that when she had contacted a friend of mine “she hunged up on me.” Why is it that these people can’t put together a basic sentence in the English language yet they can work for the State of California and make major decisions regarding my future benefits? Not to mention, they make pretty decent money! As noted on the EDD career site (http://www.edd.ca.gov), an Unemployment Program Representative makes somewhere between $2817 - $4256 per month. I’ve applied for this position but guess what? I’ve never been contacted and I believe I’m more than qualified. I speak English, I have a college degree (that I was told would move me ahead in the employee job pool but has done nothing for me), I know how to use a computer, I have customer service training and I know how to deal with people. What gives?

Signed,

Unemployed and Sick of It

Great Weekend and Happy Monday

Hope you had a great weekend. Mine was packed with things to do. Friday night I went with my old college buddy Cathy to see the Vinyl Trees (Mark Smith, former SJ Shark) at a dive bar, BLVD Tavern in Los Gatos. What an eclectic group of people! The band was better than I expected considering the music on the guys' myspace page doesn't show off their abilities as artists. They are a 3-piece band but added electric guitar at the show which really was a bonus. This was a pleasant surprise. Saturday morning, after barely sleeping, I was up and at 'em early to watch my niece's final soccer game of the season in S. San Jose. It was overcast and cool so I had no idea I'd get burned. Not the brightest move to no wear sunblock. The game was good - they tied. The ref let them teams do a battle of kicks at the end and her team kicked butt. Saturday evening a friend from the Radio, TV & Film department at SJSU drove back up north (another Los Angeleno officially moves back to the Bay Area). We met for drinks following dinner and drinks with my former professor. Lots of laughter. Up and at 'em early again on Sunday morning. I went to my sister's house for our final attempt at making some money off our old things at a yard sale. It was a total bust! Hint: Sundays are not the day for a yard sale. I made $2.50 for 5 hours of my time. Not exactly worth it. In the end, all my old items went to a good cause. We dropped off two carloads worth of stuff to the American Cancer Society so at least something good came out of it. Sure feels good to be rid of all the boxes. :) Monday morning and back to looking for jobs. Ahh, life's good.