'"Hungry, But Not Starving!" (or What to Keep in Mind in Job Hunting During A Downturn Period!)
In today's job market situation, you get to encounter a lot of ridiculous postings on Craigslist (and perhaps, other job sites as well). They make you think twice or do more pondering as to how these employers or prospective clients have sensed to figure out how to take advantage of people's desperation to get jobs...well, to tell you honestly, and from my previous experience doing HR work for nearly 20 years, you won't ever get a job because you are in a desperate situation. You get the job because you're the best fit, nothing more, nothing less.
And here's more: the more you allow yourself to be taken advantaged of because you're in a desperate situation, the more you keep away from getting what you think you deserve.
Of course, employers are almost always in search of those who are hungry, but they'd definitely won't deal with someone starving. Most employers are starving themselves, given the thin profit margins of most businesses nowadays (even those in most stable industries). Just observe how people react to beggars asking for money from strangers who we assume will take pity on them as they leverage on their expectation that people will eventually hand them money out of pity or disgust at viewing such a site of not of their choice. Most employers will take in someone who looks less starving than themselves; they're on the look out for someone who can bring a value or two to sustain the operations of their business.
Well, this cycle of giving and receiving in all its manifestation does not work that way as it seems to be on the surface. People give out and share out mainly because they'd like to be reassured that they still have a better situation currently that the one who's in dire straits in front of them (whoever the case maybe). It's the principle of acting out your natural curiosity, and behaving parasitically about it such that you actually go out of your way to provide support in a way you can afford or extend on what's available on hand in the belief you're still doing better, despite of. Some writers I read have labeled this behavior: "parasitically supportive curiosity." See it for yourself in practice. Such behaviors happen even in environments where the wealthiest linger, or live. The rich will usually just extend help just as to reassure themselves "they're not doing worst at all despite the bad economy, or the lousy business results."
So what do you need to keep in mind? Some pointers I've collected, tested, and re-used myself:
1) Be strategic. Work on your own strengths, and focus on what you can deliver.
2) You don't really need to understand everything, as long as the system works to your advantage.
3) Face and enjoy changes. Evolve. This, too, shall pass.
4) Be happy with yourself, given all the limits you have, given all the brickbrats you're getting even from well-intentioned friends, family members, or relatives.
5) Keep cool. Be meditative. Be prayerful.
6) Be valuable, even if you're not getting paid cash for it. Eventually, you'll be paid in kind. Mothers know this best (have you noticed they persist on being mothers despite the ridiculousness of rearing children who will become thinking adults themselves in time?).
7) Learn to be hungry. But keep away from starving yourself to death (or you'll be taken advantaged of by employers or clients who believe they can get away from just paying almost zero, as shown in this reply to a Craigslist to an earlier posted gig:
Reply to "Birthday Party Entertaining Opportunity? (East Village)"
Reply to: gigs-kkkwt-1204230232@craigslist.org
Date: 2009-06-03, 8:59PM
Fifty bucks, a measly fifty bucks??!! You're kidding us, right? Maybe there will be someone desperate enough in these hard economic times who will do it. How cheap and unreasonable can you be? So your party guests and your boyfriend will be sitting there--maybe tipsy with all the drinks--and lavish at the "amazing sight" of a hardworking and talented professional? And not even mentioning, that they will have to take transportation, pay a cab to and/or fro, maybe have to buy new equipment, buy a costume and/or makeup, most likely rehearse at the space, pay someone to transport their belongings, maybe they'll have a car, but they may have to pay a bridge toll or just gasoline, and then the hard time they will have finding parking (or not, but that is still a possibility), and on top of that, coming to your little and "special" gathering to entertain your guest with the talents and gifts they have studied or worked so hard for, and you're going to pay them FIFTY BUCKS (even if that's with the beginning negotiations, still absurd)??!! What are you ? Have you done this before? I am an artist and musician, and this is rude, an insult, and a RIDICULOUS JOKE. Maybe you're not that bright or considerate. Learn! And know how to pay people what they deserve. It should be at least 100 dollars. If you want an amateur or a wannabe performer then maybe you might want to pay them a little less. But even at that, they're still giving their time and energy out of there life to ENTERTAIN YOU, YOUR BOYFRIEND, AND YOUR GUESTS. So they should get tips too! And of course, a professional or a very talented and exquisite artist/performer too! Please learn from this and be fair. You wouldn't want someone to gyp you out of or cheat you from what you deserve. This is not an attack against you, but someone just telling you the truth about the entertainment business. Learn. Please do!
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
* Compensation: Someone had to speak up!
Original URL:http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/tlg/1204230232.html
And here's more: the more you allow yourself to be taken advantaged of because you're in a desperate situation, the more you keep away from getting what you think you deserve.
Of course, employers are almost always in search of those who are hungry, but they'd definitely won't deal with someone starving. Most employers are starving themselves, given the thin profit margins of most businesses nowadays (even those in most stable industries). Just observe how people react to beggars asking for money from strangers who we assume will take pity on them as they leverage on their expectation that people will eventually hand them money out of pity or disgust at viewing such a site of not of their choice. Most employers will take in someone who looks less starving than themselves; they're on the look out for someone who can bring a value or two to sustain the operations of their business.
Well, this cycle of giving and receiving in all its manifestation does not work that way as it seems to be on the surface. People give out and share out mainly because they'd like to be reassured that they still have a better situation currently that the one who's in dire straits in front of them (whoever the case maybe). It's the principle of acting out your natural curiosity, and behaving parasitically about it such that you actually go out of your way to provide support in a way you can afford or extend on what's available on hand in the belief you're still doing better, despite of. Some writers I read have labeled this behavior: "parasitically supportive curiosity." See it for yourself in practice. Such behaviors happen even in environments where the wealthiest linger, or live. The rich will usually just extend help just as to reassure themselves "they're not doing worst at all despite the bad economy, or the lousy business results."
So what do you need to keep in mind? Some pointers I've collected, tested, and re-used myself:
1) Be strategic. Work on your own strengths, and focus on what you can deliver.
2) You don't really need to understand everything, as long as the system works to your advantage.
3) Face and enjoy changes. Evolve. This, too, shall pass.
4) Be happy with yourself, given all the limits you have, given all the brickbrats you're getting even from well-intentioned friends, family members, or relatives.
5) Keep cool. Be meditative. Be prayerful.
6) Be valuable, even if you're not getting paid cash for it. Eventually, you'll be paid in kind. Mothers know this best (have you noticed they persist on being mothers despite the ridiculousness of rearing children who will become thinking adults themselves in time?).
7) Learn to be hungry. But keep away from starving yourself to death (or you'll be taken advantaged of by employers or clients who believe they can get away from just paying almost zero, as shown in this reply to a Craigslist to an earlier posted gig:
Reply to "Birthday Party Entertaining Opportunity? (East Village)"
Reply to: gigs-kkkwt-1204230232@craigslist.org
Date: 2009-06-03, 8:59PM
Fifty bucks, a measly fifty bucks??!! You're kidding us, right? Maybe there will be someone desperate enough in these hard economic times who will do it. How cheap and unreasonable can you be? So your party guests and your boyfriend will be sitting there--maybe tipsy with all the drinks--and lavish at the "amazing sight" of a hardworking and talented professional? And not even mentioning, that they will have to take transportation, pay a cab to and/or fro, maybe have to buy new equipment, buy a costume and/or makeup, most likely rehearse at the space, pay someone to transport their belongings, maybe they'll have a car, but they may have to pay a bridge toll or just gasoline, and then the hard time they will have finding parking (or not, but that is still a possibility), and on top of that, coming to your little and "special" gathering to entertain your guest with the talents and gifts they have studied or worked so hard for, and you're going to pay them FIFTY BUCKS (even if that's with the beginning negotiations, still absurd)??!! What are you ? Have you done this before? I am an artist and musician, and this is rude, an insult, and a RIDICULOUS JOKE. Maybe you're not that bright or considerate. Learn! And know how to pay people what they deserve. It should be at least 100 dollars. If you want an amateur or a wannabe performer then maybe you might want to pay them a little less. But even at that, they're still giving their time and energy out of there life to ENTERTAIN YOU, YOUR BOYFRIEND, AND YOUR GUESTS. So they should get tips too! And of course, a professional or a very talented and exquisite artist/performer too! Please learn from this and be fair. You wouldn't want someone to gyp you out of or cheat you from what you deserve. This is not an attack against you, but someone just telling you the truth about the entertainment business. Learn. Please do!
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
* Compensation: Someone had to speak up!
Original URL:http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/tlg/1204230232.html
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