Writing for business is MUCH different than writing for pleasure or for school. I'm not the best writer, but I'd say I'm above average. I love essay assignments in school because I always pull in an A. Well, 5 edits later, here is my first work blog:
http://www.thealexandergroup.com/blog-press-room
My content never did get edited, but I needed to be less wordy. I also needed to use "big" words like "synchronicities." I'll admit, I ended up feeling slightly unsophisticated by about the 3rd edit. Now, in my defense, our Managing Director has a law degree and a friend in journalism coaching her on blog writing, so she admits that she can't STOP editing. We have a Phi Beta Kappa at our company, and even she gets edited. Still, I have a lot to learn in terms of being succinct and writing to the business audience. It's OK, I'm up for a challenge.
Yesterday I started writing PAs, aka: Professional Appraisals. It's like the story book version of a person's resume. We give it to our clients so they can read about a candidate in more detail. It's a 14+ page document that I have to pull together the info for, dictate, get back in printed version (hopefully they don't include all the "Um's and "Uh's" on my tape) and rewrite. Then, obviously, someone will proofread it before it goes to the client. Let the editing begin!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
'Cause that's how Bunny rolls
I can't afford a maid yet, but for $20 a month this is one luxury I can't live without. I haven't had a manicure in months, but Bunny gets door service to keep her crazy nails looking their best.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Updates
I've said this before, but I so rarely get to blog! I'm sacrificing sleep right now, but sometimes I just crave some alone time so it's worth it.
Baby news first: Matilda will be 4 months old next week. I can't believe it! She holds her head up high now, which means she doesn't get all chafed in her neck rolls anymore. Yay! She loves the bath... she can roll over, though it's still inconsistent... and she does a belly scoot that I have yet to see. She spends her days with Grandma, who has graciously offered to watch her while Jeff and I work. They have fun baking cookies, shopping, visiting with friends, playing and learning. She also loves the Beatles, and her favorite song (as far as I can tell) seems to be Yellow Submarine, though daddy is teaching her to dance to twist and shout.
Dog news: Bunny had a big lump on her neck last week when I got home from work. We took her to the vet and think it is a swollen lymph node. It's responding well to antibiotics, which means it is most likely a yucky tooth that's draining and causing an infection. She's going back to the vet after her antibiotics in 2 weeks, and the vet will assess whether she feels comfortable putting her under anesthesia for a much needed dental. On a brighter note, Cosmo and Bunny got the spa treatment from our local mobile groomer last week. I think I am going to have her back every couple weeks to give Bunny a manicure, since she did such a good job and I have a hard time keeping up with it.
Job/school update: I LOVE my job. I'm learning a lot and have been taking on a lot of new projects. The nice thing about a small firm is the opportunity to learn a little bit of everything. One of the recruiters has been particularly great about letting me sit in on the interviews of the people I have screened for her. School took a really interesting twist when my advisor called and told me that one of the course areas I was doing an emphasis in for my general studies degree had started its own major. After reviewing my credits, she found that by switching my major I would shave 17 hours off my degree plan. SOLD! My new major is Learning Technology and Performance Improvement. Like I said, I was taking a lot of those classes anyway and love them, so I'm really happy about that. It will feed well into HR if I want it to, which is a path that makes a lot of sense with my background and what I am doing now for work.
I can't justify too much time away from sleep, so I guess this is my blog for the month. Miss you all!
PS: I have to do my first blog for work next week and have NO idea what to write about. It has to be career related or somehow professionally interesting. Any ideas?
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Travel Dates
Sadly, I am going to miss the puppy party that I was so looking forward to. If money was no obstacle I would have done it, but plane tickets for that weekend were $480 each! Ouch! I discovered that by traveling in August I could get tickets for $280 each. Not sure why August 13-20 is such a bargain, but that was the only week in a 3 month block that was going for less than the $480 price... and WAY less. Really adds up when you're buying 2 tix!
So, I would still like to see friends if there happen to be any shows. Miss friends... will drive! Not even opposed to hopping in the car and making a drive to Medford for the day, and maybe hitting Crater Lake while we're there, too. So let me know what everyone's up to August 13-20!
So, I would still like to see friends if there happen to be any shows. Miss friends... will drive! Not even opposed to hopping in the car and making a drive to Medford for the day, and maybe hitting Crater Lake while we're there, too. So let me know what everyone's up to August 13-20!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
... catching up cont
note: read post below first, this is a continuation)
it's a lot of fun! i'm doing a lot of the research- finding potential candidates for these positions so the recruiters can call them. of course, when we got busy last week my sales skills couldn't go left untouched. rather than bringing in an independent contractor, i was asked to hit the phones to call candidates and feel out their interest. it was awesome! i had a really good time talking to people, and it was a great way to break up the day. i think i'll get a lot of experience from this job. they use a lot of technology at the office- video conferencing, social media... stuff i need to lear about to be competitive. they also have a company blog everyone contributes to. now that's up my alley!
jeff's mom has been watching matilda during the day to make this whole dual income thing possible, which is really kind of her! i love that matilda gets grandma bonding time- i used to stay with my grandparents and loved having a close relationship with them. in the fall, our plan is for jeff to quit work and go to school (i will also be going, but online). he will stay with matilda on his days off (which he got a taste of this week and loved) and his mom will watch her on his school days.
quinn's been doing well. he did awesome in his band's spring concert playing the snare, and now they're doing summer band camp for marching season. he's going to check out a marimba this summer! i'm excited for that!
i'm trying to plan an oregon visit for july. have to get matilda out there to meet the fam! i've been told if i time it right there's going to be a puppy party. anyone know the dates yet? i'm trying to find affordable tickets and end of july is looking more promising than mid july.
once i get up for the day i'll add some pictures.
it's a lot of fun! i'm doing a lot of the research- finding potential candidates for these positions so the recruiters can call them. of course, when we got busy last week my sales skills couldn't go left untouched. rather than bringing in an independent contractor, i was asked to hit the phones to call candidates and feel out their interest. it was awesome! i had a really good time talking to people, and it was a great way to break up the day. i think i'll get a lot of experience from this job. they use a lot of technology at the office- video conferencing, social media... stuff i need to lear about to be competitive. they also have a company blog everyone contributes to. now that's up my alley!
jeff's mom has been watching matilda during the day to make this whole dual income thing possible, which is really kind of her! i love that matilda gets grandma bonding time- i used to stay with my grandparents and loved having a close relationship with them. in the fall, our plan is for jeff to quit work and go to school (i will also be going, but online). he will stay with matilda on his days off (which he got a taste of this week and loved) and his mom will watch her on his school days.
quinn's been doing well. he did awesome in his band's spring concert playing the snare, and now they're doing summer band camp for marching season. he's going to check out a marimba this summer! i'm excited for that!
i'm trying to plan an oregon visit for july. have to get matilda out there to meet the fam! i've been told if i time it right there's going to be a puppy party. anyone know the dates yet? i'm trying to find affordable tickets and end of july is looking more promising than mid july.
once i get up for the day i'll add some pictures.
catching up
i logged into blog land today for the fist time in weeks and discovered that you friends of mine are back to blogging, full force! a litter of puppies, a van of show dogs stolen and found, 2 baby birthdays, and of course traci showing off that her dogs are just as stupid as mine (getting bit by something) but yet again, far better behaved (resting her head on an ice pack... really?).
i'm blogging from my phone, as i lay trapped under a sweet, restlessly sleeping baby. she's doing really well (thanks for asking, tom, and sorry to say i am behind on facebook responses, as well!) and growing a lot. for her 2 month checkup she was in the 90th percentile for height and weight. i think she was around 13lbs. she's also learning all sorts of new things. she has 3 toys she loves. dolly, giraffe, and her new toy that shoots balls around inside when you push the button. she also has a baby rocking chair, and she is figuring out how to rock, so i had to put something under the leg to keep her from pitching forward too far and eating tile. she likes he chair to be on the floor now, instead of up high on the table, and this little girl can hold her own with the dogs. she's endured some doggy kisses, and lots of sniffs and supervised time spent in her face. they've never made her cry, and in fact, i am pretty sure lucky is scared of her! cosmo likes her, and lily made her smile the other day!
as if i needed to pile more on, i started that new job! i was sad to not be staying home with matilda anymore, but happy to get out of the house, and also thrilled to have an income again! i looove my job. i'm working for a retained executive search firm- basically, companies hire us to find people for their executive positions. we're working on a vice president, an investment analyst, some mergers and acquisitions people...
i'm blogging from my phone, as i lay trapped under a sweet, restlessly sleeping baby. she's doing really well (thanks for asking, tom, and sorry to say i am behind on facebook responses, as well!) and growing a lot. for her 2 month checkup she was in the 90th percentile for height and weight. i think she was around 13lbs. she's also learning all sorts of new things. she has 3 toys she loves. dolly, giraffe, and her new toy that shoots balls around inside when you push the button. she also has a baby rocking chair, and she is figuring out how to rock, so i had to put something under the leg to keep her from pitching forward too far and eating tile. she likes he chair to be on the floor now, instead of up high on the table, and this little girl can hold her own with the dogs. she's endured some doggy kisses, and lots of sniffs and supervised time spent in her face. they've never made her cry, and in fact, i am pretty sure lucky is scared of her! cosmo likes her, and lily made her smile the other day!
as if i needed to pile more on, i started that new job! i was sad to not be staying home with matilda anymore, but happy to get out of the house, and also thrilled to have an income again! i looove my job. i'm working for a retained executive search firm- basically, companies hire us to find people for their executive positions. we're working on a vice president, an investment analyst, some mergers and acquisitions people...
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