Discovering the best shampoo/conditioner + a solid interview = a good day :-)

First things first: Shampoo and conditioner. Giovanni 50/50 Balanced shampoo and conditioner: best. stuff. ever. And the best part? It's affordable! I got it at Ulta for $7 each. Considering that the average cost of a "high end" shampoo can run for $20+, I am digging this product. I have naturally curly hair, which means it is naturally dry (lucky me). I have been on an endless quest to find a balance of natural, gentle ingredients combined with cleaning power that won't dry my hair out. This shampoo leaves my hair silky soft and shiny, and virtually frizz free! After shampooing and conditioning, I use a dime sized amount of John Frieda's Frizz Ease and A few pumps of Curls Up! foaming mousse, and I have soft, shiny curls. Hallelujah! It only took 13 years :-)  Giovanni has a whole line of hair care products for any hair type. Check out their website: http://www.giovannicosmetics.com/. No, I'm not getting paid to sing their praises, although I think I should :-)

Now, about the solid interview: Today I had the opportunity to interview for a proposal writer position at Savtira, a fresh start up company that specializes in Cloud commerce. Check out their website: http://www.savtira.com/. Located in the heart of Ybor City, this up and coming business exuded a great vibe as soon as I walked through the door. The two women I interviewed with were really nice and easy to talk to.  What I like most about this possible opportunity is that I would have the chance to grow and learn with the company. The position I applied for sounds challenging, fascinating,  and exciting, and I am ready for a new chapter in my life. I have been to three interviews before this one, but I can honestly say this one feels good. I truly hope this opportunity comes through for me, and all of my hard work over these last 7 weeks pays off!

40+ job applications (yes, really), 3 interviews, and 6.5 weeks later...

<---- ...This is me.






Seriously, it has been a long and winding road to say the least. On June 20, I was laid off and my carefully planned world was turned upside down. I felt cheated. I had worked countless hours of overtime, put in 150% for every endeavor, and looked for opportunities to learn new skills whenever possible. I'd like to think I helped win some of the projects I was involved in. And yet here I was, bawling pathetically at 3:30 pm while driving home with no job and an uncertain future. What the Hell happened? I don't know the answer to that, but I know I'm not alone. A lot of people are unemployed right now.  If I printed out the plethora of job applications and cover letters I have submitted over the last 6 1/2 weeks, I could make a disturbing collage that would adequately represent how cut throat the job market is. Everyone is vying for the same jobs.

Fortunately, I have found a silver lining: I have landed 3 interviews, with a 4th coming up this Thursday. Nothing has come of said interviews, but I am trying to remain optimistic. During my job hunt, I have found a job posting site that is a bit different than the others. It pools all job posting sites together into one list, which is very nice and convenient: simplyhired. Although the name is an oxymoron, it is a pretty useful job searching tool. I am also aware that the job search method is swiftly moving toward LinkedIn and BranchOut. I must admit, I am a bit frustrated with these networking sites. I haven't found any solid leads from them. Does anyone know the coveted secret to connecting with professionals who will hire me? I've tried just doing a job search to no avail, and I don't seem to be connected to anyone in the Tampa Bay area who is hiring. Any input would be appreciated :)

This rant is all I have for now, but I'm sure I'll be back tomorrow with more useless banter. Thanks for reading!