[Jobs] Addressing being out of work for an extended period

Sat Apr 7 21:49:26 CDT 2007

Dear All,

I believe that it is good to fill gaps in your time where ever possible.
Volunteering is a great way and shows that even if you were not working at a 
paying job, you were busy and not just sitting home petting the dog.
Volunteer jobs can also show that you have experience at doing certain jobs. 
Especially if you can draw some parallels to the kind of work you are 
interested in doing.
I am always volunteering or doing volunteer work even when I am working at a 
paying job.
Handling the Pr and marketing for our NFB chapter, serving as the Chapter 
treasurer or editing and producing the Chapter or state newsletter shows 
skills.  Setting up a chapter web site, doing fund raising or community 
outreach efforts can all be used to help fill gaps.
I have been a volunteer here for the past 21 years in Public Transportation 
issues.  I was the State of Florida Transit Volunteer of the Year in 2003.
It was this volunteer work that directly led to a company, that I now work 
for, seeking me out to work for them as their consumer advocate.
I started to work for them in 2005 and I am still there.
I use the knowledge that I gained as a volunteer and an advocate to do my 
job everyday now.
We just won the national best urban transit system award from the (CTAA) 
Community Transit Association of America and the same award from the State 
of Florida in 2006.
All I am saying here is don't discount the volunteer time that you put in as 
applicable to work experience and fill those gaps.
  Show that you have been using your time constructively even if it was 
free.
volunteers
are responsible for more than 2 trillion dollars in free work than the 
government and companies don't have to do and pay for.
I wish you all luck in finding what you want to do.

David Evans, NFBF
MV Transit
Consumer Advocate
Palm Beach County Florida
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Anastasia Charalambakos" <acharala at tampabay.rr.com>
To: "'Jobs for the Blind'" <jobs at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2007 11:31 AM
Subject: Re: [Jobs] Addressing being out of work for an extended period

> Eileen,
>
> What is your profession? I am an instructor of English as a second
> language with a master of arts in the field. Believe it or not, I was
> told by an employer to go volunteer somewhere first to become better
> known. I wanted to teach at a language institute
> Near my home but could not get in at all. I fought it politely by even
> writing to the president, but no luck. I was nicely told excuses such as
> the school prefers to hire instructors with experience even though a
> bachelors
> Is all that is necessary for this particular center. I was also told the
> administration prefers to hire faculty they have previously worked with
> before. My work history has breaks in it as well until now. My counselor
> at the Division of Blind Services got me into a work experience with a
> gentleman who is starting his own assistive center for technology. I
> think he's going to end up keeping me, but I'm not sure. Even if he told
> me over and over again he would hire me, it would take me some time to
> actually believe it because I just can't find work not even in call
> centers because I'm overqualified I guess.
>
> I have found it hard to address being out of work with employers. I
> don't think they always understand. Last I worked until now was back in
> 2003. It would be interesting to see what advice others have on the list
> about addressing being out of work.
>
> Ana
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Eileen Misrahi
> Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2007 11:01 AM
> To: 'Jobs for the Blind'
> Subject: Re: [Jobs] Addressing being out of work for an extended period
>
>
> I believe it would be a good resource for all. I would surely like this
> information. I have been volunteering for the past five years, but I
> know that future employers will question some breaks in my work history.
>
>
> Thanks.
>
> Eileen
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Mark of Blind Ambitions Groups
> Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2007 3:01 AM
> To: 'Jobs for the Blind'
> Subject: Re: [Jobs] Addressing being out of work for an extended period
>
> I would like this information as well. Let me know if I can help.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Mark Marvel
> President
> Blind Ambitions Groups
> 1222 Commerce Street
> Suite 406
> Dallas, TX 75202
> Toll-free: (888) 760-9252
> Phone: (214) 760-9252
> Fax: (214) 760-9254
> Mobile: (214) 796-5868
> Email: mark.marvel at blindambitionsgroups.org
> Website: www.blindambitionsgroups.org
> "We may have lost our sight but we have not lost our VISION"
>
> To join our Blind Ambitions Groups list, send an e-mail to:
>
> blindambitionsgroups-subscribe at yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of James Pelfrey
> Sent: Friday, April 06, 2007 2:09 PM
> To: Jobs for the Blind
> Subject: Re: [Jobs] Addressing being out of work for an extended period
>
> Do you have the title and author?  I am conducting a nation wide search.
> I agree hit it head on.  I feel comfortable with my response, but plan
> to discuss this with one of my reference.  thanks
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "caribou yukon" <caribou_yukon at msn.com>
> To: "Jobs for the Blind" <jobs at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, April 06, 2007 2:04 PM
> Subject: Re: [Jobs] Addressing being out of work for an extended period
>
>
>> It is a major issue. You might check out the recent book written by a
>> Yale University professor on how to re-nter the market if you are a
>> fired
> CEO.
>> I
>> realize the latter isn't your case but the reviews have said that the
>> book is useful for anyone who has had an absence from the workplace.
>>
>>    One suggestion is to hit the issue of time not in higher ed or your
>> workplace head on. Have a well thought out narrative regarding the
>> why, the what you have been doing ready to deliver without any
>> paauses, uhms or stutters. You might also widen the geographic area
>> for relocation. I would think about the specific reasons each person
>> has given you for their concrns about your absence and fold a cogent,
>> response into my narrative.
>>
>> Good luck.
>> ek
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "James Pelfrey" <jamespelfrey at charter.net>
>> To: "Jobs for the Blind" <jobs at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, April 06, 2007 1:17 PM
>> Subject: [Jobs] Addressing being out of work for an extended period
>>
>>
>>> Hello list, Jim Pelfrey here.  I don't post a lot.  Right now I am
>>> engaged in a job search.  My background is in higher education
>>> administration.  I have had recent phone interviews, and have one up
>>> coming on Tuesday.  I have not worked at a University for 3.5 years.
>>> Feedback I am getting is that this is a factor.  Questions, any
>>> advice on how to address being out of the field?
>>> If I apply for an entry level position in higher ed, or something
>>> outside my
>>> area, I get the over qualified excuse.    I have tried to emphasize
> that
>>> I
>>> am current
>>> in my area, have under gone additional computer training, do public
>>> speaking, and am well qualified.  I am also looking at other training
>>> opportunities like statler which I have previously written about.
> Any
>>> insight you
>>> all can provide will be greatly appreciated.  Many thanks
>>>
>>> James Pelfrey and Seeing Eye dog Opal.
>>> Home Phone: (314)843-0006.
>>> Mobile Phone (573)450-1647.
>>> Home address, 9429 Mary Glen Drive  apartment A,    St. Louis, Mo.
>>> 63126.
>>>  Home email,
>>> jamespelfrey at charter.net
>>>
>>> "America is woven of many strands, I would recognize them and let it
>>> so remain.... Our fate is to become one and yet many." -- Ralph
>>> Ellison
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Jobs mailing list
>>> Jobs at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/jobs
>>>
>>
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