Hello planet earth, let's play ball!!
As stated in the previous post, I will go over what has happened to me in the past few months. Next, my employment phases.
After I graduated in May, I did not want to sit around and become a statistic. I did not want to be another college grad who sat around without any hope of finding a job. That being said, going into my Senior year, I was proactive. I applied for a few positions and hoped that I would be given an opportunity to interview for them. Because I was going to be graduating with a degree in political science, obviously I applied for a whole lot of political positions, and a few that I thought was a good cross, such as sales positions. One of the first positions that I heard back from was a city administration job. I wasn't qualified, but I was hoping that I would be given an opportunity because I knew how small government functioned, and because I was young and they would potentially be willing to teach me if I was willing to stay for an extended period. I was informed that I was not qualified, and the only way to be qualified was to have 3+ years of experience. When I replied how do I get experience, they said that it wasn't their problem, and that I should consider specialized schools and a graduate degree in order to better my chances.
I thanked them for the opportunity, and didn't think much of it. After that, I heard back from a few sales positions. One allowed to keep my resume on file until after I graduated, and would give me a call (they never called again). I finally heard back from a sales company that would allow me to interview over Christmas break. I was ecstatic! This was my opportunity to get a job and have everything set for me before I finished. I went and interviewed, and they thanked me for coming in and said they would call me. They did, and they wanted me to come back in for a shadowing day to see how they go about their business. I did, but it was so cold out that they did not have anyone going out and actually going on sales calls, so I didn't see first hand what they job was like, which was too bad, because I would have not taken the job had I seen what it was like.
I accepted the job, and started one week after I graduated. I started with a day of learning what to say to businesses, and who to look for, and filling out paperwork. It was an easy day, and I didn't have any misgivings. After the paperwork, I got to go out into the field and experience the business for myself. I trained with an older sales exec, and he taught me how to talk to business people. In general, it was tough work, and most business people hated the sight of us. Often times, we were told to leave and never come back (only in stronger language). That treatment was unfortunate, and I learned really quick that if I were to keep going with the job, that I would need think skin. I eventually got to go out on my own, and what my day consisted of was waking up at 5:30, driving to work so I would be there at 7 and prepare for the day ahead, at 8 was a sales meeting, and released into the field at 9. From 9 until 5, I visited between 80 and 100 businesses, often times skipping lunch in order to try to meet as many people as I could so that I could try to make a sale. At 5, I would drive back to the office, and then discussed the day with the rest of the office. There was a lot of negativity among the other sales execs, and I stayed as positive as I could for as long as I could, but the long days and working on 100% commission was extremely difficult, especially when I was trying to save up so that I could pay for a marriage and pay off my student debt. After 2 months of working this nonsense, I saw the writing on the wall and got out before the company went belly up. I quit. Shortly after, the company went under. I am not bragging that I was what kept the business afloat, I am saying that I saw what was possibly going to happen, and I got out before something bad happened.
After quitting my job, I entered the job pool. I applied for a few political positions, but most wanted free work, and as stated above, I couldn't afford to work for free at this time. I also applied for a few sales jobs, because I had the tough experience, and lots of businesses were looking for that grit. I went on a few interviews, and nothing really sparked my interest. Additionally, I got the great experience of being rejected from a few. I am not saying this sarcastically, I am being sincere. I had not had the opportunity to be rejected from an interview because I was given the first job that I applied for. It taught me to be tough, and what many people that are interviewing are looking for in a candidate. I learned how to be persuasive and how to convince people that I can do the job. After 4 months of interviewing, I was given an opportunity to apply for a sales consultant position at a car dealership. I got the job, and have been working there since late October. It's a great opportunity to grow and to learn a new industry. We will see where this new opportunity takes me.
What I have learned in my brief working experience, and the interviewing process that has proceeded it is as follows:
First, don't you ever get discouraged. You never know when a new or different opportunity is just around the corner. If you get down on yourself, if you sit and are stagnant, there is no way that you can or will improve or get what you seek. You have to stay positive.
Second, you need to put in the effort if you want to get anything. As I stated in the previous post, if you don't work, you don't eat. You need to put in the effort in order to get anything in life. If you want to skate by, have fun sitting at home in your sub par home, with your sub par car, and your sub par life. Do the work. It's not fun, and it's not for the faint of heart, but if you put in the work, if you put in the effort, you can better yourself and your life.
Finally, be the person you want yourself to be. Obviously, if you want to be a top executive in a high level company and you can't afford it or aren't in a position to be there, you need a change. Do the little things that will get you to that position. If you need a suit, go get one from Salvation Army, or get one from a family member. Do the little things first, before you do the big things. Work from the bottom up, learning how the company works in order to grasp the whole of the company its self. Make yourself indispensable by doing the little things, so that you are more necessary to be kept than to be released.
If you do these things, you will be successful. I believe in you.
Until next time,
Best of luck in your future endeavors!
Sunday, February 8, 2015
I'm back Pt. 1 of 3
Hello world, lets play ball!!!
Sorry for the extended hiatus, I was a little preoccupied with things that I will get into in a little bit. To start, how are you? How have you been? It's been a while, everything been good? I'm giving you a chance to vent, so if you want to, I suggest you take the open invitation.
Now that we got that out of the way, time to continue. Since my last post, I graduated from college (GO Cougars), got a real job, quit said real job, was unemployed for an extended period of time, found another real job, and got married. With all of that happening, I will cover each one chronologically in the following posts in order to allow you to digest each one individually.
Let's begin with the first one. I graduated from college. This has to be one of my most proud achievements to date. I was never an outstanding student, mostly because if I showed up to class, I was able to remember anything that was said. That helped me get by with an above average gpa. I finished up with a 3.01 gpa, and I graduated in a four year span. I did change majors in that time. I also worked two+ jobs in that time. I also played football and was given a few athletic honors in that time. I worked harder than I could have ever imagined.
I am not saying this because I am boasting, I am saying this because of the negative connotation that exists currently on the people of my generation. Lots of people say that my generation is lazy, and that we have no work ethic. I understand, and have seen many people that fit the mold of the current stereotype. There are plenty of people that show up hoping to get credit, and don't want to put in the work. Those that fit the stereotype and have a history of doing such things, I do not feel that they deserve the benefit of the doubt. If they are having problems, or have been lazy or unaccountable, get rid of them. until they are ready to accept their actions, and be held accountable for actions, let them loose. as the old saying goes, 'If a man does not work, he does not eat.' We as a nation have been allowing those that do not work to eat. And this does not go for my generation. It goes for the previous generation, and the upcoming generation. If people want to be lazy, if they want to get by while putting in the least amount of work, let them reap the benefits of what they have put in.
Additionally, do not judge a book by its cover. If someone like myself, who has a beard, and has longer hair comes into your place of business looking for a job opportunity, do not write us off. You do not know our history, you do not know our work ethic, you do not know where we come from and what sort of upbringing we have had. Just give us a shot. Just that simple act could change the whole outlook of your company. We can infuse youth into your business, a fresh take, and it could be the little jolt that you need to take your business to the next level. If in the end, we don't work out, then let us know and we will completely understand. We are reasonable. We understand that you need to make money, and if we aren't helping you to get there, we will part ways as friends. No hard feelings. Just don't judge us based on our lack of experience or our appearance. Judge us by our work. All we need is a shot.
Until next time,
Best of luck in your future endeavors!
Sorry for the extended hiatus, I was a little preoccupied with things that I will get into in a little bit. To start, how are you? How have you been? It's been a while, everything been good? I'm giving you a chance to vent, so if you want to, I suggest you take the open invitation.
Now that we got that out of the way, time to continue. Since my last post, I graduated from college (GO Cougars), got a real job, quit said real job, was unemployed for an extended period of time, found another real job, and got married. With all of that happening, I will cover each one chronologically in the following posts in order to allow you to digest each one individually.
Let's begin with the first one. I graduated from college. This has to be one of my most proud achievements to date. I was never an outstanding student, mostly because if I showed up to class, I was able to remember anything that was said. That helped me get by with an above average gpa. I finished up with a 3.01 gpa, and I graduated in a four year span. I did change majors in that time. I also worked two+ jobs in that time. I also played football and was given a few athletic honors in that time. I worked harder than I could have ever imagined.
I am not saying this because I am boasting, I am saying this because of the negative connotation that exists currently on the people of my generation. Lots of people say that my generation is lazy, and that we have no work ethic. I understand, and have seen many people that fit the mold of the current stereotype. There are plenty of people that show up hoping to get credit, and don't want to put in the work. Those that fit the stereotype and have a history of doing such things, I do not feel that they deserve the benefit of the doubt. If they are having problems, or have been lazy or unaccountable, get rid of them. until they are ready to accept their actions, and be held accountable for actions, let them loose. as the old saying goes, 'If a man does not work, he does not eat.' We as a nation have been allowing those that do not work to eat. And this does not go for my generation. It goes for the previous generation, and the upcoming generation. If people want to be lazy, if they want to get by while putting in the least amount of work, let them reap the benefits of what they have put in.
Additionally, do not judge a book by its cover. If someone like myself, who has a beard, and has longer hair comes into your place of business looking for a job opportunity, do not write us off. You do not know our history, you do not know our work ethic, you do not know where we come from and what sort of upbringing we have had. Just give us a shot. Just that simple act could change the whole outlook of your company. We can infuse youth into your business, a fresh take, and it could be the little jolt that you need to take your business to the next level. If in the end, we don't work out, then let us know and we will completely understand. We are reasonable. We understand that you need to make money, and if we aren't helping you to get there, we will part ways as friends. No hard feelings. Just don't judge us based on our lack of experience or our appearance. Judge us by our work. All we need is a shot.
Until next time,
Best of luck in your future endeavors!
Sunday, March 30, 2014
The second coming of Jim Calhoun
Hello world, lets play ball!
Kevin Ollie is the best thing to happen to UConn since the hire of Jim Calhoun.
Kevin Ollie played 13 years of pro ball. Bouncing around the league, from Philly to Dallas to Orlando and everywhere in between, he can be considered a journey man to say the least. After his final season in the NBA in 2010, Ollie signed on with Calhoun to be an assistant coach. Ollie, in my opinion, was never that great of a point guard, but he was one of those players that knew the game and was a better coach-player than a player-coach. He was a heady guy who was brought in to show young players what to do, what they needed to do to be successful, and what needed to be done in order to be a positive professional in the league.
Kevin Ollie brought that type of class UConn. After seeing Calhoun run the team and how to be a good coach, Ollie replaced Calhoun after his retirement. UConn had a successful season in Ollie's first season, but was banned from post season play due to an NCAA sanction that was placed upon the program. And then came this season. A new conference, and a tough schedule led the Huskies getting a 7 seed in the NCAA tournament. After an exciting first few rounds, the Huskies advanced to the Final Four in Dallas. That's what has happened up to today. The reason that Ollie is the best thing to happen since Calhoun is because of the most important players on the UConn roster...Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright.
Both Napier and Boatright are guards. Both can be considered combo guards, with Napier being a more true point guard, but still considered a combo. Both are fantastic players, and would be okay under most coaches, but Ollie is no ordinary coach. Ollie has NBA experience, and has the ability to show these players what they need to do to get to the next level. Ollie is a classy guy, and can lead this team in a way that most could not. He can show these players that even if they are down, even if they are close to the brink, he can bring them back, they have the ability to be great and can take a game into the closing seconds with no fear.
Kevin Ollie is the best thing to have happened to the UConn basketball program.
Stay classy planet Earth
Kevin Ollie is the best thing to happen to UConn since the hire of Jim Calhoun.
Kevin Ollie played 13 years of pro ball. Bouncing around the league, from Philly to Dallas to Orlando and everywhere in between, he can be considered a journey man to say the least. After his final season in the NBA in 2010, Ollie signed on with Calhoun to be an assistant coach. Ollie, in my opinion, was never that great of a point guard, but he was one of those players that knew the game and was a better coach-player than a player-coach. He was a heady guy who was brought in to show young players what to do, what they needed to do to be successful, and what needed to be done in order to be a positive professional in the league.
Kevin Ollie brought that type of class UConn. After seeing Calhoun run the team and how to be a good coach, Ollie replaced Calhoun after his retirement. UConn had a successful season in Ollie's first season, but was banned from post season play due to an NCAA sanction that was placed upon the program. And then came this season. A new conference, and a tough schedule led the Huskies getting a 7 seed in the NCAA tournament. After an exciting first few rounds, the Huskies advanced to the Final Four in Dallas. That's what has happened up to today. The reason that Ollie is the best thing to happen since Calhoun is because of the most important players on the UConn roster...Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright.
Both Napier and Boatright are guards. Both can be considered combo guards, with Napier being a more true point guard, but still considered a combo. Both are fantastic players, and would be okay under most coaches, but Ollie is no ordinary coach. Ollie has NBA experience, and has the ability to show these players what they need to do to get to the next level. Ollie is a classy guy, and can lead this team in a way that most could not. He can show these players that even if they are down, even if they are close to the brink, he can bring them back, they have the ability to be great and can take a game into the closing seconds with no fear.
Kevin Ollie is the best thing to have happened to the UConn basketball program.
Stay classy planet Earth
Friday, March 21, 2014
let the boys play
Hello world, it's game time!
Sports are a fantastic use of time for any young person. It keeps people occupied and out of trouble, it keeps them active, and away from any problematic issues that may arise in their lives. It distracts people from troubling issues that may be going on in their lives. That being said, please, "just let the boys play!"
I am quoting Denzel Washington in his role as Herman Boone in the movie Remember the Titans. He is referring to strong racial discrimination that his team is encountering, and he is telling the refs to just let his team play.
That quote should be kept in mind when parents, students, and other fans show up to a game. Parents; let your children play. They are trying their hardest, and any intent for you to "coach" them when they are in the game is hindering any potential growth that they may have during the game. Their coaches are paid to do the job that you are trying to do from the bleachers. You are confusing your children, and setting a poor example for everyone there. When you yell at the coach or at the ref, you say to others that yelling at a coach or a ref is okay, and should be done more often. Yes, everyone yells at the refs, and yes, they do miss some calls, but there is no need to jump down their throats on every little thing that happens. Sometimes, things happen that are out of their control. Sometimes, they miss things. You are embarrassing your children and yourself if you make a spectacle at a sporting event. Please, just let the boys play.
Students and fans; let the boys play. There is no need to get on the case of the other team. There is no need to use foul language. Cheer for your team, and show your support, but there is no need to yell obscenities when someone misses a shot, or shanks a kick. You paid good money to get into the game, and yes, you do have the right to (mostly) do what you like, but some things should be refrained from (obviously). So please, fans, students, let the boys play.
I understand that this may not go over as well as some may like, and that this is just a simple blog, but if I can get one person to realize that some of their actions at a sporting event were crass and careless, or even shameful, and that they will change in the future, I have done my job. Please, I implore you, if you go to a game in the future and get the urge to yell something at a ref or coach or opposing play, think before you speak, and then... Let the boys play!!
Best of luck in all your future endeavors!
Sports are a fantastic use of time for any young person. It keeps people occupied and out of trouble, it keeps them active, and away from any problematic issues that may arise in their lives. It distracts people from troubling issues that may be going on in their lives. That being said, please, "just let the boys play!"
I am quoting Denzel Washington in his role as Herman Boone in the movie Remember the Titans. He is referring to strong racial discrimination that his team is encountering, and he is telling the refs to just let his team play.
That quote should be kept in mind when parents, students, and other fans show up to a game. Parents; let your children play. They are trying their hardest, and any intent for you to "coach" them when they are in the game is hindering any potential growth that they may have during the game. Their coaches are paid to do the job that you are trying to do from the bleachers. You are confusing your children, and setting a poor example for everyone there. When you yell at the coach or at the ref, you say to others that yelling at a coach or a ref is okay, and should be done more often. Yes, everyone yells at the refs, and yes, they do miss some calls, but there is no need to jump down their throats on every little thing that happens. Sometimes, things happen that are out of their control. Sometimes, they miss things. You are embarrassing your children and yourself if you make a spectacle at a sporting event. Please, just let the boys play.
Students and fans; let the boys play. There is no need to get on the case of the other team. There is no need to use foul language. Cheer for your team, and show your support, but there is no need to yell obscenities when someone misses a shot, or shanks a kick. You paid good money to get into the game, and yes, you do have the right to (mostly) do what you like, but some things should be refrained from (obviously). So please, fans, students, let the boys play.
I understand that this may not go over as well as some may like, and that this is just a simple blog, but if I can get one person to realize that some of their actions at a sporting event were crass and careless, or even shameful, and that they will change in the future, I have done my job. Please, I implore you, if you go to a game in the future and get the urge to yell something at a ref or coach or opposing play, think before you speak, and then... Let the boys play!!
Best of luck in all your future endeavors!
Thursday, March 20, 2014
introduction time
Hello world, its game time!
A quick introduction is obviously in order. My name is Zac. I am from Minnesota, and I am about to enter the real world. I am a senior in college, and thus am hitting the screw it part of my academic career. I have a job lined up for after graduation, so I am struggling to finish off everything academic. I played sports since I could walk, and so I live and breath everything sports. I have an opinion on everything sports (as is to be expected), and have some interesting views (as I'm sure you will see in the future). Overall, I am exceptionally average. I have some distinguishing qualities, such as being obsessed with Superman and everything superheroes, and have played college football, but again, am exceptionally average. I have no real opinions to share at the moment, just wanted to give you a brief intro to me and what you will be reading in the future.
Be prepared for sports and superheroes in the near future!!!
Best of luck in all your future endeavors!
A quick introduction is obviously in order. My name is Zac. I am from Minnesota, and I am about to enter the real world. I am a senior in college, and thus am hitting the screw it part of my academic career. I have a job lined up for after graduation, so I am struggling to finish off everything academic. I played sports since I could walk, and so I live and breath everything sports. I have an opinion on everything sports (as is to be expected), and have some interesting views (as I'm sure you will see in the future). Overall, I am exceptionally average. I have some distinguishing qualities, such as being obsessed with Superman and everything superheroes, and have played college football, but again, am exceptionally average. I have no real opinions to share at the moment, just wanted to give you a brief intro to me and what you will be reading in the future.
Be prepared for sports and superheroes in the near future!!!
Best of luck in all your future endeavors!
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