Announcements and Comments
Social Security...The end has already begun
|
United Airlines, friendly but...
Well, between yesterday and today I've put in about four hours of unproductive time on the phone with United Airlines. Several months ago I had to cancel a flight at the last minute. The end of the 12 month period to rebook the flight is approaching. I found the flight I wanted online and called to make the arrangements for the credit. Now, the first thing is that there is a rebooking fee of $175 to be deducted from the credit. I understand, that's what I knew when I booked the flight. But then, the agent on the phone could not find the flight at the fare that I was being offered online. Mind you, I was not on some discounter's website, I was on the United website. The closest the agent could get was another $125 more than the online price. I asked him if he was restricted from offering certain fares and he said no. When I asked to speak with his supervisor, He said okay, put me on hold and then "click" the call was gone. Well, I guess I know how important I am to them! |
What Employers Want...
Here's a chart from gantthead.com that gives a pretty good picture of some important descrepancies between what employers want and what job seekers offer them: (via Career Hub Blog http://bit.ly/Qh9FvW ). If you want the better, higher paying job with more responsibility, you should not depend on being able to sell your ability to learn it by doing it. That works okay on entry level positions but not at higher levels. |
Are You Missing Out on Potential New Positions?
A linkedIn notification called my attention to the the article Are You Missing Out on Potential New Positions? While it is basically an advertisement for services, it also makes a great point. If we are seeking to have a rewarding career, then we need to make sure those who might reward us can find us. As I read the article, I realized that I have been ignoring a very valuable piece of internet real estate: my personal website. I play around with it at one time, but have left it unfinished and unpolished for some time now. That may sound like I have just been missing out because I haven't utilized it. But, the article pointed out that it goes further than that. My website IS being seen, and it is being seen as not finished, not professional. So, starting now, I will start polishing my website. Making it more professional and complete. Are you currently happily employed? Or, are you currently in searching for your next great opportunity, like me? No matter, you should prepare your professional website, too! |
Poway Senior Center Has a Clean Courtyard
Central Courtyard Was Not Attractive The Poway Senior Center has a central courtyard that people must pass through to get to different parts of the building. That's about all anybody used it for. The courtyard's upkeep has been neglected for a while. I'm sure part of the reason has been that the water got shut off at a remote valve. As a result there was no irrigation available. That made it very difficult to water the plants.Weeds Grew Of course, weeds will grow when flowers will not. The courtyard ended up with a couple of beds full of weeds and no flowers. While the weeds were growing (eventually, they even died from lack of water), the bush/tree in the corner spread and came to look shaggy and unattractive. Come Clean It Up Paula, my wife is Office Manager there. She knew I had an interest in volunteering some time. She helped me get set up to do the job. All I had to do was show up ready to work and with all of the necessary tools! It Was Gratifying The work wasn't overly difficult, but I did break a sweat by the time I finished. Clearing the weeds out of the beds helped a lot. But, the job I did trimming that tree into decent shape got the most comments. Everybody thought it looked so much better. Overall, I was told the work I did made the courtyard seem like a place people would now go to for a short break. Or, to sit a while and read a little. Opportunity Appreciated I do appreciate the opportunity to help improve the Center. I look forward to helping them in the future. |
Habitat for Humanity
I'll be volunteering with Habitat for Humanity tomorrow. My assignment for tomorrow will be as Assistant to the Volunteer Coordinator. |
Poway Senior Center
Last week I spent about 16 hours over four days cleaning about 60 dining room chairs. They had been donated by another organization after several years of use. There was quite a buildup of grim on many of them. |