Let's try something new

I have been reading so many things about how technology has helped people land their dream job. I have also read and watched things about people renting billboards and walking around with signs and t-shirts with resume stuck on them. I'm not to that point yet. I feel like it somedays. However, I am feeling the need to get myself out there. So, I am going to link this post to my twitter and put my resume and try some new keywords to get it out there. Hopefully someone will let me show them my "passion," "dedication" and "desire" to help and serve whoever they serve on a daily basis, even if I don't have that one or two years of experience that they advertise.

Ashley Shute
ashley.shute at gmail.com
http://www.twitter.com/ashleyshute

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Objective:

To join an organization that encourages growth and family through peace, contentment, respect, tolerance, and self-control.

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Education:

Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology
Texas Lutheran University, Seguin, Texas, May 2007
Bachelor’s of Arts in Spanish Texas Lutheran University, Seguin, Texas, May 2007

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Related Skills:

Bilingual (Spanish), Proficient in Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Publishers, Excel, WordPress and Social Networking.

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Related Experience:

Alpha Lambda Delta: National Honors Society
Texas Lutheran University, February 2004-Present
Alpha Mu Gamma: National Honors Society for Foreign Language
Texas Lutheran University, April 2004-Present
Alpha Phi Omega: National Service Fraternity Service Vice President
Texas Lutheran University, February 2005-May 2007
Psi Chi: National Honors Society for Psychology
Texas Lutheran University, February 2005-Present

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Work Experience:

Foreclosure Prevention Outreach Coordinator: ACORN April 2008-Present
Coordinate foreclosure prevention outreach throughout the developing successful community outreach. Utilized specific databases and recording systems to maintain contact with families and other organizations.

Sales Associate: West Business Services October 2007-April 2008
Demonstrated understanding of small business needs through negotiating sale of telecommunications.

Intern: Project Transformation (AmeriCorps) May 2007-August 2007
Responsible for planning and teaching daily components of bible study, arts and crafts, afternoon enrichment, and morning singing. Created a team environment with other co-workers to ensure the satisfaction of children and parents. Set up home visits with families and children.

Cashier: McCoy’s Lumber June 2006-August 2006
Completed cash transactions on daily basis. Demonstrated understanding of company specific DOS program, Mac 21. Created relationships with specific customers who may otherwise not be able to communicate by speaking Spanish.


Cashier: Shipley’s Do-Nuts May 2005-August 2005
Responsible for transactions and helping customers find any items that they may need. Established and maintained individual routine to close store in timely manner.

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References:

Available Upon Request

Under Employment and it's joys

It's been just over six months since I started working for the non-profit. I have learned a lot. I've done some traveling and met some pretty influential people. But, here I am, sitting in my bedroom, the same place I was a year ago, waiting for something to happen because that same person who I thought was going to be so cool a few months ago pretty much fired me on Thursday.

It went down like this: "Hey, we have to meet a little later about what I found out over this week..." I knew it wasn't good news when she put it off for a while. She went into her office, sent some e-mails and even ate lunch before she called me into the office. She then looks me in the eye, then looks down, and says, "So, while I was in Houston this week (she goes between here, Austin & Houston frequently for work), we went over the state budget... and we just figured that we can't keep you or your co-worker full time. We have tax season coming up and we have to pay them too..." Point being, I'm working still, but at half time...29.5 hours instead of the close to 45 that I was working previously. Well, I really wasn't working...I was on facebook, myspace, and a handful of forums during the day while working (lol).

Point being, I'm back at the "unemployed" status. I don't quite think it's as bad as it was before. I still semi have a job. I don't have health insurance. I did run to the pharmacy and grabbed my last set of medications before my pay period ran out on Saturday just to be safe...but I could be drowning in bills and be living on my own. I am still at the parents house and they did say they would help me. I just have to keep on living the dream. That's all.

I did send close to 10 e-mails over the weekend. Hopefully at least one of those will turn into an interview. If they don't I can always go back to the training room.

$3.29

Usually I will get up at 8:15 am, get dressed, eat breakfast, and drive five minutes to work. Today, things were much the same, get up at 8:15 am, get dressed and eat. However, the drive was different. The way to the new job was only ten minutes more, but in a different world. There were no id cards swiped, no treks up and down hills to the car, and no one watching over my internet usage. It was an amazing day. I did good things as well. I worked to help the community, through various methods. It put a smile on my face. Not as big of a smile as I would have had if I had bought the gas I saw across the street for $3.29 instead of $3.39 everywhere else in town, but a big smile nonetheless.

I left for home at an usual time for me. It was still light outside and there were still many people driving, unlike the usual five minute drive home where I would be luck to run into three or four cars. The drive home gave me time to reflect upon my future in the community. A whole thirty minutes. It was pretty amazing how long it took to get three tenth of a mile down the road, almost 15 minutes. It took me only 15 to get 10 miles on the highway. Talk about a waste of gas. Too bad I didn't get that gas for $3.29.

My First Job as a sitcom

If you have ever watched five minutes of the show "The Office" you should understand the dynamics of my office. I have worked at the same place for almost five months now. Referring to the post "Training Room: Episode 1," we'll see I started this job on October 15th. So, pretty much exactly five months. In that post I created a reality show from this adventure I like to call my life. From the time of my last post to about today, the tone, pace, and general atmosphere in my work place has changed into more of sitcom.

The story line would go much like this: monotonous in the beginning, almost predictable, damn near canceled because there already is a brilliant show called "The Office" on NBC. But, then in walks two STAR employees, a recovering alcoholic who won't drink in public but gets plastered at home by himself, a metro sexual who knows the exact shipment time of clothing at ROSS, Marshall's TJ MAXX, and Burlington Coat Factory, a compulsive liar, two mediocre bosses, the guy who got the job because of the metro sexual, and college graduate who happens to be working with all these people because it was the only place that would hire her at the time of her job hunt. Which one am I? Oh, the last one. There is a word of the day, sometimes, many inside jokes, some secrets, drinking, and some occasional Office Olympics when the bosses away. The show replaced Beach Day with River Day. The compulsive liar even said he cussed everyone out because the rest of the cast didn't approve of his outside shenanigans.

These characters have evolved into lovable and likable people because there is a connection to each and everyone of them. The connect has only grown recently, because I realized that this is my now and I need to embrace it, whether it's a cold miserable day or I'm having a blockbuster day. Just when the cast is settling in for the second season (the second season started with the entrance of the guy who got the job because of the metro sexual and the split up of the cast because they were too loud during the day), the college graduate took a half a day off to interview for another job, one that was better than the office. So, she comes back and gives one of the two bosses her two weeks notice. The rest of the cast is devistated. Who will replace the college graduate? Will there be a spin-off? Will she be alright? What will happen in two weeks?

Back to real life.. We really do joke that our work environment is a sitcom, with inside jokes, names, and antics. The whole nine yards. And I really did get that other job. I'm ebullient (part of my vocabulary ... thanks wordsmith.com). I can't wait. It's for an organization that works with lower and middle income families to be their voice in the community. Their voice could range from listening, rallying, or even going to the government. I'm stoked.

When I read over my previous posts I found some recurring themes; specifically patience and faith. I was worried in 2007 that I would never get my answers. I don't even know if this is my answer, I prayed for something to be my answer. I knew that somehow that where I am currently when lead me to where I wanted to. It discouraged me when I saw so many people leaving for bigger and better things while I was still sitting in that cubicle waiting for the answers. It just came when it needed to. If I had moved on to that other job, I would never have become part of that sitcom. It would have stopped at some stupid reality TV show. And you know, if it were on CBS it probably would have been canceled after the first twenty minutes of the first episode a la Secret Talents of a Celebrity.

Well, whatever this does become, in a little less then two weeks I'll have to change the title of my blog to something else.

Adventures in the land of PeopleSoft

On New Year's Eve I went to work for half a day. Since I received a gift of a good parking spot I got to the office rather earlier. I hadn't checked internal job postings for quite some time, so I just figured, "Why the hell not?" So, I clicked on several options and found a good position outside of the current office, in another state. Well, in this land of PeopleSoft, where I found this job, applying for the job was very easy. It took literally three steps...find the job, copy a resume, and then click submit.


I didn't think this submitting would have any side effects, they haven't it the past, but come Tuesday, two of my four managers, somehow, "managed" to slip in the job in daily conversations. Oh my. It actually happened. There was a phone interview and tomorrow there will be a face to face interview with a person that makes the same types of decisions at the other location.

The idea of moving away is scary, but a new adventure is also exciting. I would also have one more additional interview to go about, which involved a speech in front of an audience. That would be kind of intense. We'll just have to see.

Whatever the outcome is, it'll be the right outcome, I believe. Just prayers. Just prayers and adventures in the land of PeopleSoft.

Times are a changin'!

It was recently noted at work that "they're dropping like flies!" Yeah. I mean, that's not even an understatement. If there was a mass elimination challenge in a reality TV show and my managers were the writers, this would have been the best ratings weeks the Nielsen's ratings have ever seen.

With all the pressure applied to "do this, and do that, and if you don't you'll be fired...." lots of people have quit. So many that we've gone from about 30 people to about 15. Yeah. So, my mediocre performance is now amazing and my dedication to the job that I do have is just damn near admirable. This all came after the manager we were hired on with, left this job for another cushier job a few blocks away in the medical fields.

In come Captain Amazing. He champions a positive environment, an actual bonus, and lesser expectations (the older higher ones were even too high for a kiss ass like me). We'll just have to see what Captain Amazing has in store for the job, because hopefully, someone will call me soon about a job I actually enjoy coming to on a daily basis

Weather and its impact on life

This week's weather has been horrible. I don't think I've seen the sun at all. It's been under 65 degrees four of the five work days and rainy/foggy for all five. Driving in it is horrible and working next to a window with a constant reminder of the crappy world outside is even worse.

So, I chose not to think this weather would affect my work ethic, but in some aspects it did. By the time I could feel the temperature dip below 60 I felt like curling up in a little ball, saying "I quit," and leaving. Well, that would be ridiculous, but I know some people did it because we lost some more people, again. I just don't understand that. Anyway. This window seat I have looks out to the highway and everyone driving on it. I want to go shopping every second of the day instead of doing my job. I just daydream about being in one of Lexuses I see driving by at 3 in the afternoon on a Tuesday. Do those people work? Have they ever worked a day in their lives? Were they just lucky? Do they know what we do in the office they drive past to get to their ritzy shopping center? Most probably not...but the weather just gets me thinking about how horrible life can be sometimes.

Then, I snap back into reality and say, "What the heck are you thinking? You have a house, a family, a job, and most things you want in the world." Quit your whining. I thank God every night that I have the things I have. I also ask for the strength to continue on with what I'm doing. It may not be where I will be in the future, but I do have the faith that it will lead me to where I need to be in my life. I don't know where that future is, and honestly knowing where that future is kind of scares me. All I know is that the sun will come out, some time. Maybe not tomorrow, but sometime. I just need to be patient.