Building Your Skills, Online Classes

In a time when everything is changing at fast pace I find that there are always things you must keep learning. I have said before that I am looking to build my skills, here is how I am going about it. The internet is a marvelous thing. Many of us have heard of online classes, but most people brush them off as something you must be enrolled in a school to take advantage of. Others feel that the classes are of less worth as they do not always provide a certificate or diploma.

However a number of years ago a few schools such as MIT and Harvard offered the chance for people anywhere in the world to sit in on some of their classes. Online virtual classrooms were made for the students to attend and people that were not enrolled in the college were allowed to join for no charge or pre-req. This was something as a college student myself I thought to be very interesting. Now that I am not in school any longer I still find that it is my job to brush up on skills that I may not use as often as I should and become informed about new programs that are coming out.

I have found that online there are still a number of free workshops, and even online education sites that are free for anyone’s use. These schools may not be accredited or offer you a degree in the field, but if you are like me you already have that diploma. You just want to brush up or expand your knowledge. Programs such as free.edu.net offer classes for homeschooling all the way to college level classes perfect for the Post Grad refresher. Even picking up a few new skills that I was not able to take in school and are now available for me to take and build on. I will not be able to offer a sheet of paper saying the University of Wherever provided this training along with all of my others though that does not make the information less usable.

This is a chance to build my knowledge base and provide a more well rounded education.

Any Job will do?

I have come to a bit of a crossroads. When without a current job it makes it hard to think that there is reason to turn down a job. However there are some circumstances that make this concept hard. While finances may be in need of a boost I have to think of the future. Many have said to think of a part time position that will be temporary.

This may help so long as it is more then the funds I receive at the moment from unemployment, but also I have to think of the possibility of me not being a good long term fit. If the position is one that I would not like to have seen on my resume the question is should I take it to help me until I find another job? Though if I do this there is the chance of this becoming a long term position due to the lack of job opportunities. Is this something that I can do for months, or even years?

If I were to take a domestic position would that make it harder to find something more professional in the future?

These are all questions that I try to take into account when looking for a job. We do not want our fear of unemployment to place us in a situation that can make things worse.

Out of work Blues?

Out of work Blues?

Pride in your work, it is a simple enough concept, but one that is often enough not seen in the work place on a day to day basis. Though it is highly sought after by the employer and when you have it a seemingly meaning job can become far more bearable. But does it have a dark side?

I personally have always tried to take pride in everything I do. I may not always be the best, but I do my best for myself and my employer. However this same work ethic is also the one that can make you have a hard time when you are on the market. Often this sense of pride in your work can become part of your daily positive affirmations, with means that it is much harder to keep the smile on your face without it.

Many people find themselves in a case of the “Out of work blues” when they have lost their job. A career is part of our identity and we feel as though we have lost part of ourselves in the loss of a job title. A path that we built for our selves has changed. We hope to get back up on the horse, though the job market is a hard one and it takes much longer than planned to get back to work. Many people are out of work for months and sometimes years. However this does not mean we have to fall into a funk.

The trick is to find ways to keep your self esteem up and moving in the right direction.

One trick is to keep a plan, daily/weekly/monthly goals. Set goals like making a set number of contacts in a week. Update your resume or online profile. Take the pride you have had in your work and put it into your networking.

Another chance is to take this time to build on your skills. In your extra time take a class locally for a certificate that can help build your skills for the future. Take time to read up on new techniques that you may have missed out on while you were in the office all the time. Now is the time to not just look for a new job but the next step in your career.

While these things in and of themselves will not remove the blues, they will keep you going in the right direction. We all have days when it would be much simpler to watch TV rather then take steps to build our network and find our next career.

A little inner peace.

Well another day is winding down and a lot has happened. This morning was one of those that involves me waking very early as I have a lot of things running through my head that will not let me sleep. Often I am up in these cases a good hour before the morning call of my alarm. This was one of those days, not a bad way to start the morning really, I get to check emails, and get an early start.

I readied myself for another interview, that is the second this week. This one seems interesting and a position I am exited about based on the information I have found online about this company. They are one of the top in their field though like to keep as small office feel with less then 2 dozen employees.

I really like that concept, a small workforce gives you a closer relationship with your coworkers, and able to better understand what is needed to meet a goal.

I follow my morning routine for the interview, lay out my clothes, get ready, have all my documents, and the sit and relax. This is not out of laziness, but a need to center myself, and be ready for the day to come. As I recently heard from a local expert at a seminar recently if you do not center your self into this moment your mind can get stuck on problems that are out of your control. I try to relax into the moment.

OK, this does not involve colored crystals or burning of herbs. I just like to sit for a moment and let my mind stop its inner monolog for a few moments. It is nice to just let your mind float there, only hearing the sounds around you, and not that nagging voice telling you that there are a million things that have to be done.

I attended the interview, and will not bore anyone else with all the ins and outs. Personally I think it went well, I am even more interested in the company now that I have spoken with someone that works there, when normally I am less interested.

I went then to assist my husband with his job, I know more then required for most people. However he has only a small crew to rely on and the folks at corporate asked him pull off another miracle, so here I am. I help him pack boxes of equipment that has been back ordered for months. Working until there is no room left to for those boxes to be set.

So the day winds down, lots done, but little change today. Overall it was not a bad day. Let's see what will happen in the next few days.

The Beginning of another day.

Yet again I find myself in a state of flux. Changes are constant, always happening, though it seems only when the change is one that is not what you expected that we see them. I once offered for a professor who asked me for the definition of life this statement:

Life is change; growing, learning, moving, dieing, falling, getting back up. It is be new each day, as you can never be the same two seconds in a row. It is being in as single moment, even if you do not realize it, and never being able to return to that moment. Anything else without those things, is merely existence.

Well I am here to say this is still the case. In the last two years my life has flipped around and started walking a whole new path, I was an art instructor and working part time jobs. Then due to family shift was moved from my home in Charlotte NC to Salt Lake City Utah. 


Now do not get me wrong, I love the location, it has the benefits of the city with the openness of country and outdoors activities to enjoy. Though when I first arrived I had a very hard time finding work, once I did it was not a location I found unsustainable. After a shift I found a position I liked and hoped to stay with, though management changes also changed my standings with that company. 


So here we are again. I am on week 6 of a job hunt, hoping each day to get that magic call. Do not get me wrong, it is great getting calls each week for interviews, though the waiting for a callback that dose not come is not the most optimistic task.


Well today is a new day, I will get back out there yet again and offer my self and skills to the world. In the mean time I will go about my daily life of changing, building, and growing.