Blogging to Fight Unemployment

Came across an interesting article today describing how blogging could potentially land you a job. Among other things:

• Blogging four times a day on a specific subject
• Contacting potential employers to interview for your blog
• Building a network

Actually, I kind of started this blog for this exact reason: to be more visible on the web. However, I've been using it to make notes about my personal progress in my job hunt, posting pictures of ponies, and not much else. I think I'll work on narrowing the focus to a few topics:

• Mathematics (obviously)
• Math-related topics of interest (numerical computing, financial math, etc.)
• Occasional entries on my other hobbies
• Occasional entries on my job hunt

A cursory Google search reveals I have some tough competition already (Terence Tao, anyone?).

So, starting tomorrow, expect this blog to update a lot more regularly, link to interesting math-related content around the web, and not focus on my personal life but more on my interests. It will be a challenge. I'll have to make my posts a little longer (maybe I'll even start implementing "breaks!"), improve my writing style (read: make it more professional), and just put more work into it in general.

It could be a positive force. It could have a net zero effect on things other than being my own little corner of the web where I spill my thoughts. It could be terrible. No matter what it becomes, it will be a journey.

Won't you join me on it?

(h/t Lifehacker)

Ups and Downs [UPDATED: Spoke too soon!]

Didn't get the viagogo position. I've been searching for a job since...March? So far: countless applications, 5 interviews (2 for full time, 3 for temp), and 1 job offer. Yes, that's correct. I got a job. It's a barista position at a local Safeway paying slightly higher than minimum wage. Woohoo. At least now I have a measly income stream.

It's just frustrating that after 4.5 years of school, 4 fairly decent internships, and a very decent collection of academic experience, there's still nothing. That frustration is compounded by seeing most of my friends start their careers. I'm overqualified for McDonalds and (it seems) under qualified for everything else. I've pulled on every string, called on every connection I could think of, but no one has been that helpful. They're a good source for advice but I don't need advice right now. I need a job. Full time. Preferably using mathematics. Preferably in finance, government, or technology. Preferably NOT requiring a 3.0 GPA or strong programming skills. Is that so much to ask? I guess so.

I'll continue to push forward but the temptation to give up grows stronger by the week.

UPDATE:
I guess I spoke too soon. Got a call from a company I interviewed with a while back. Any guesses? Anyway, they are actively trying to create an Operations Research position for me with an opportunity to help their China business. I'll hear back next week hopefully.

viagogo Interview and more FSOT

Well, finished my viagogo interview. I think it went pretty well, especially considering I'm one of the only non-Bay Area candidates they are interviewing for this job. It was pretty standard: areas of interest, long term goals, etc etc. I'll find out their decision in 1-1.5 weeks.

Also finished my registration for the Foreign Service Officer test today. I ended up choosing the Economic cone because Public Diplomacy is very competitive. Registration for a specific date and testing location will open up beginning in September. So I have 3 months to study. To that end, I ordered three books to start:

• The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know
• Career Diplomacy: Life and Work in the US Foreign Service
• Inside a US Embassy: How the Foreign Service Works for America

I also ordered the official FSOT Study Guide, written by the Department of State. I'll take the practice exam first so I know my weak points and can prioritize my studying in the relatively short time I have. I'm also going to start practicing my Chinese again because it is a Super Critical Needs Language. This means [assuming I get past the FSOT, QEP, OA, etc etc etc] I get an extra 0.4 on my Oral Assessment score if I pass a speaking test. The scale is out of 7. That's the difference between 1xx/xxx on the register to 4x or 5x/xxx (where your number indicates your place in line). For reference: above a 6 is quite rare.

As I said before, my pursuit of the Foreign Service is a side project, something I'd like to do but realistically don't have various qualifications for it. Many of the applicants seem to be late-20s through 40s so I could be pursuing this for a while....

Mind the Gap

Apologies for the gap in my writing. It's been about a month even, so I thought I'd start this baby back up again. Updates will be coming more often, trust me.

News on the job front:

• Interviewed with Under Armour. It went OK but it was an "exploratory" interview and hence not for a particular position. Going to call them next week to see what's up.
• Interviewed (2x) with Teavana at the Towson mall. Didn't get it due to another employee transferring in. Oh well.
• I have an interview next week with viagogo for a Business Analyst position. Will report back on the other side.
• I have an interview with Bankers Life Insurance next week for.... not really sure what. I think it's for an insurance sales position but I'll wait to pass judgement.
• On Fri., 8 July, went to a CAPAL-sponsored career fair at JHU SAIS. Submitted resumes to the NSA, NGA, CIA, Deloitte, and spoke to a recruiter from the State Department. Which leads me to my next point:

I think I'm going to take the Foreign Service Officer Test in October. Here's a link to the process. Since I've made this decision so late (for context, some other folks have been studying since January for the Oct test), I'm going to study what I can but basically expect failure the first time around. It's free to take and it's administered/graded by the ACT folks (yes, that ACT). You can take it once per year. I'm not really expecting it to go anywhere unless by some miracle I pass it, pass the Qualifications Examination Panel, and get accepted for the Oral Assessment. Then it'll become serious. For now, it is merely a hobby, a nice thought, a distant way for me to get back to China.