Make your resume stand out

Hey guys,
It's been a while!
Do you struggle making your resume stand out? It's actually very easy. Just switch on your creative side, it's much easier than it looks :)
I have two resumes that I'd like to show you guys.
The first one is my resume I used when I was searching for a Barista position.
 I received 2 phone calls out of the 5 resumes I turned in. Only one of the locations I visited was from Craiglist (and it wasn't one I got a call back from).
Yes, most of the time luck will be on your side. BUT it does help if you:

1. Step out of the Craiglist world and drop off applications in person even if there is no "now hiring" sign. Many times employers don't want people dropping their resumes off like flies, and this usually happens by posting a "help wanted" sign.
Yes, the economy is hard now, but if we always used that excused well we'd all be out of jobs because we never went out to look for one....very hard....
If they like your resume enough, they will keep it on file. Simple as that.
2. Pick a specific job you'd like to aim for, and write your resume to suit that position. 
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Being specific in your search (if you use your experience to your advantage) can be better than being broad. Whether it's experience in school if you're a student, or your experience as a volunteer. Pursue what you know how to do. People hate on fast food jobs, and think they're easy to get. But you're going to be more considered for another fast food location if you've worked at one before.

Don't try to sell yourself as something you are not,

 and don't worry about the 2 week random job you had.

I made sure to emphasize the positions of Barista and Manager to present the point that I have experience in those fields. I could have added other jobs that I have had, but since they have little do with working as a Barista they didn't need to be emphasized. Take in mind there is a tiny gap between May and October of 2009. If I added the random freelance work I did, my resume would look cluttered!

Simple is best in certain positions.

 Never be afraid to take a chance, but adding a little something to your resume that will set you apart.

Add Flair and Individuality to your resume to the best of your ability. Chances are your resume is either going to blend in with the 100's of other resumes. If you add a little of yourself to it, you might find an employer who decides your resume is worth reading if it looks a little different than the others.
When I worked at the pet store, and had to respond to Craiglists emails there was literally HUNDREDS of resumes. But I still remember there was one with a Sunflower picture on it, one with a bunny picture, and one with an image of the person themselves. As far as putting your picture on a resume, unless you're an artist and draw it on, or you're a photographer and do self-portraits I don't recommend it. It actually made me feel very uncomfortable as an employer (of a minimum wage paying job though) to see pictures of kids on their resume. At this point, you're trying much too hard in an obvious fashion. 


Here is my most current resume. I want to pursue a Marketing career, but I really have no paper (degree) to show my abilities. My resume needs to do this for me.

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Although it may not seem like it, my resume reflects a lot about my personality. I use fonts when I feel them appropriate to emphasize what I believe is important about me. I love a touch of color, hence the gradient touch. My name is in the same font, but slightly different.  I want to show every area of work that I have touched that would catch an employer's eye if it was for a Marketing related field. I chose to use arrows in my resume for simplicity, but to represent ongoing knowledge.
They way I see it
If your resume catches your own eye, you've done your job.

Definition of Resume

A resume is a written document that lists your work experience, skills, and educational background. It is used as a marketing tool for job seekers.

IT'S A MARKETING TOOL. 

Now go out there, or "x" out of my blog and start typing your resume. Make it original, make it you. There are plenty of references online that you can look at to create yours. Just make sure to keep it realistic, and don't LIE. Your chances might increase for a job, but once you're in that position your going to be out of luck (or fired) if you can't show those skills. 

Also, HAVE SOME CONFIDENCE. 

Don't show your resume to someone who you know is going to overcritique it and bash your self confidence. 

Best of Luck everybody!

Feel free to email me if you have any questions or need some extra tips!

robotchickmp@gmail.com

Remember:

To each their own. 

*I have deleted my references, but 3 is a good idea. 

Coping with multi-tasking

It can get stressful when you have to multi-task.
Humans are meant to focus on one thing, and multi-tasking is not one thing.

My biggest tips that I have found to help me in times of stress are:

If you're complaining, and bitching (yes, bitching) that you are tired:
                  Drop what you're doing, and take a nap

If you just woke up and you don't seem to function properly:
                 Say hello to either a tall cold glass of water, a cup of coffee, an espresso drink, a cup of black tea, or some yerba mate.

If you have way too much going on in your head:
              Write it down. By writing it down you are now releasing some of that pressure on your mind and onto that piece of paper.

If you're feeling down and unmotivated:
             Spoil yourself, its amazing how much better you feel when you reward yourself. You don't even have to spend money. Put on a nice outfit, wash your face, do your makeup, or go for a short walk.

If you have a child and can't figure out when to spend time with them:
             Find time. You need your child just as much as they need you. It's amazing how much better you feel when you can act like a little kid again!

When to multi-task:
AVOID IT, you don't have to technically multi-task all the time. I've found that I can focus on one thing, and rather than multi-task, I bounce task. I completely erase the stress that everything else has to get done because I wrote it down. When I finish one thing or part of it, I just mark it on my paper and voila. If I didn't finish a task earlier, I have written it down and can bounce back to it later.

Goodnight and sweet dreams!

Overwhelming Dreams

I want to do my best at everything. Unfortunately, in order for that to happen I need to focus.
In Marketing, when you are creating an ad, or starting a business, or creating a flyer, or decorating a room, you have to focus.
I'm learning that I haven't been applying the essentials of marketing to my own life.
There's school, which includes my advertising internship. There's work which includes getting up before 6am often. There's household chores, which even though we rent a room, that doesn't mean that the room is the only responsibility; cooking, cleaning, laundry, the usual mom stuff. There's the appointments. There's shopping for groceries and essentials. There's making sure that my daughter has the correct clothes, shoes, medicine.
I could go on, but you get the picture.

I am:
A wife
A mother
A Barista
A student
An intern
A volunteer
A 22 years old

If I want to do my best at these things, I am going to have to cut back on some of them. I'm sure I'm not the only one that overwhelms themselves with too much to do. I have something organizing to do about how I need to put together my life.
I've realized that I take other peoples negative critiques to seriously, and I end up wanting to prove that I can do everything and be just fine. But I can't do everything, it's hard. And why should I stress myself just to prove to others that I can eventually succeed or break down.

Dream:
I had a very long dream that I will spare too many details. My dreams have always been very realistic and lucid. I can almost always tell when I'm dreaming.

*Dream*
There was a girl with dark brown hair riding a bike a little girl strapped to her right shoulder. She was riding next to three different cars. I realized that I was dreaming at that moment, but decided to go help her anyways. When I walked toward her, there was a man that wouldn't let me get near her. I ended up needed 3 different pairs of glasses in order for him not to tell that it was me. When I finally go near her, I asked if she needed help. She seemed hesitant, but asked if I could help her with one of her vehicles. She was driving one vehicle with another attached. She pointed to a bicycle with a 3 cushion couch attached to it, that was the vehicle she asked me to help her with. As soon as I tried to help the strange man appeared again. I wanted nothing to do with him, so I spun to reset my dream.

After this I had other dreams that were linked.
Basically, when I recreated this dream in my head after being awake I realized that I'm not focusing on the three things that mean the most to me.
My daughter, my marriage, and myself.

In all truth, it makes me really sad. But I'm glad I'm realizing this now, and not later.

I'm not giving up. I just need to take it slow.

Why it feels good to support a small business.

If you have ever worked at a small business, than you know it's not easy.

The SBA, or Small Business Association, defines a small business as an independently owned and operated business that is not dominant in its field on a national basis.

Basically, a small business is small.

 The difficult part of owning a small business is competing with the big guys. Customers (not all, but most) argue that in small businesses their prices are more expensive, and so they would rather shop there at the big store. 

Once again, if you've ever worked, or owned, or even supported a small business it's not easy. 

Do you know the difference between wholesale and retail?

Retail: The sale of goods in small quantities directly to customers.
Wholesale: The sale of goods in large quantities, as for resale by a retailer.

The retailer is the small business. When a business purchases goods they usually get their items from a wholesale vendor/distributor.
Here's the catch:
The more you buy, the more you save.... 
        Get it?
So if you are a small business buying the same goods as a big box businesses, and are near one the chances are very slim that you will be anywhere near as successful.

Now for the good news!

Why it feels good to support a small business. 

A small business has better chances buying from small wholesale businesses. Since big box chains normally get items in mass quantities, the quality is never as good.

-You feel good after buying a product that will actually last you.

-You feel good after buying a meal that will actually fill you.

-You feel good after feeling you splurged on yourself because you spent that extra dollar for the better item

-You feel good that there are only 10 employees and that your $1 isn't being linked to some billionaire that has more money than he knows what to do with.

-You feel great knowing that you are supporting someones DREAM.

-You feel awesome that you contributed to "sticking it to the man" (secretly you know you do!)

-You feel relieved that even though you spend a little more on a worthwhile product, you didn't end up buying way more than you needed only because it was cheap.

-You feel amazing not feeling cheap

-You feel good supporting a small business.

- You feel good knowing that karma is on your side.

Why do you feel good supporting a small business? Contribute to the small list of goodness. :)

1st day at Cotati Coffee

First of all, thanks to everybody who went to visit me on my first day!

I got a new job at Cotati Coffee in Cotati. Their Facebook page isn't up to date, because it has the Holy Roast logo on it from the prior owners. That will change soon though :) Long story short, this young man by the name of Jeremy bought the place and today was the first day under his new ownership. It was a little upsetting because there really was several things that were off about the new shop. Mainly, it was the maintenance part. Not to point fingers, but it had not been kept up in the past. Fortunately, The new owner cleaned up the place overnight, and this morning it looked WAY cleaner than yesterday.

 I'm very excited to work here though because I'm going to be able to gain marketing experience from this job. Plus, just being able to have practice being a Barista is going to be fun! I've been a Barista for three years, but this was the first day that all I did was make drinks! Sadly, only one of the heads (where you run the shot) was working, and I could only make 2 shots at a time... A bit difficult when it came to making multiple drinks with multiple shots. It was thrilling working under pressure though. Customers were very understanding.

I was a bit hesitant to find a new job after relieving myself from my prior job at Petaluma Coffee. I do miss working there, especially since I had such fantastic customers that really appreciated the business. I'm hoping that I will slowly work my way into the hearts of customers here in Cotati, and be recognized as a barista that makes great drinks.

I look forward to the challenges, and rewards that I will face now that I have this new job. Feel free to visit, and who knows maybe you can become a regular. For the records, Peet's is not "local" coffee, neither is Starbucks ( They have had same ownership).


The definition of "local" Coffee is "locally Roasted" coffee. which is true of Cotati coffee, and various other coffee shops too. Support the cycle of local businesses. If you had a business wouldn't you want people to support you? Exactly :)
If you can't make it to my coffee shop because you live far away, or are just a bit lazy. Head to the nearest local coffee shop, or local bakery, or local sandwich shop. One of my favorite aspects of visiting a local business, is that they actually do appreciate your business. 
Thanks for listening!




*Barista-A barista (from the Italian for "bartender") is a person, usually a coffee-house employee, who prepares and serves espresso-based coffee drinks.

Valentine's day-1st Photoshop attempt

This is my first attempt at an "Ad" on Photoshop cs5.1. I was going to take a photoshop course, but between working 5 days a week, interning, my Spanish class, and being a wife and mother. I think I'll learn with google and self practice! 

Our issue for the college paper comes out on February 13, 2012. We were brain storming, and came up with the idea of having Valentine's day shout outs.  I really hope students take advantage of these because they are the first of their kind and for $10-35 they're going to have thousands of copies printed. It's like a tattoo, but without the commitment!

The first step.

Meet my goal

About myself:

Nickname: Robotchick

Occupationa as of October 2009: Barista

Education as of January 2012: 

-Latin American Studies Major

-Advertising Intern for the Oak Leaf 

-Family:  

Wife to my best friend. Daughter to a ridiculously smart 2 year old.

-Hobbies:

-Researching helpful things online for others

-Learning new things by typing in "how to" on google

-Recreational soccer

-Teaching my daughter new things

-critiquing advertisements

-messing around with design programs (Microsoft, Adobe, etc)

Long story short:

If you'd never met, you would think I was a high school kid with no agenda.

This blog is to show that if you really want something

no matter how long it may take

it can be achieved.

One step  .  .  .  .  .at a time.

Thanks for joining me!