Resume Length

 My resume does not show the job title Writer or Technical Writer much, but I have been writing as part of my job for over 20 years! One of the first jobs was the Financial Auditor position I held in 2003/2004. I was an auditor who was also responsible for writing reports of my findings. Those reports were "published" by the office much like a research paper is published by a journal. Later, I got into IT. I wrote test plans and test cases and later system requirements (use cases, shall statements), and so on. During my PhD, I wrote papers every week. All this experience makes me qualified for Technical Writer and other writing positions. 

To show the full length of my writing experience, I include my old jobs on my resume. This makes my resume very long, however. I have a 4 page resume! I see the need for long resumes although they are not accepted all over.

Observations

A few things I noticed today while searching for and applying for jobs: (1) there are very few part-time positions, (2) a lot of the Senior Technical Writer/Manager positions require a security clearance, and (3) the list of disabilities (for disclosing a disability) has grown. I saw several interesting writing jobs (a lot of them for remote work) and clicked on each hoping that it was a suitable job for me. I was surprised to see that most required a security clearance such as an active secret clearance. This is definitely a change from years past. I hope it is not a new 'thing.' I do not have secret clearance and it will be a hassle to obtain. On the disabilities list, I saw new disabilities such as cancer (past or present) and disfigurement from wounds, accidents, and so on. The list is quite long. It would not surprise me if a significant percentage of the US population is now considered 'disabled' (has a disability).

 

 

 

 

 

 

LinkedIn Benefit

I believe LinkedIn is good for providing additional information on a job seeker’s background - information that may not fit on a resume. My resumes are usually short. I carefully select the information to include. But my LinkedIn profile provides much more information such as additional duties performed and examples of my work (such as example reports prepared at the Office of the District of Columbia Auditor).

Job Search System

Months ago, I prepared a proposal for a job search system. The proposal includes requirements - both requirements statements and use cases - for a new system to assist job seekers to keep track of job applications. It was a project for a course offered by Coursera (https://www.coursera.org/learn/analysis-for-business-systems).

Here it is:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1L8AdVTPip3l37GZw5-Pd_58aIoM8qoj-gbi5dfxmA3M/edit

The project reminds me of the proposal (deliverable) for the Structured Systems Analysis and Design course at UMBC. I led the preparation of that proposal.

Still Applying For Jobs

I spent some time searching for and submitting applications for jobs. It is such a tiring process.

Thoughts On Job Search

I am open to all opportunities. I am interested in contracting opportunities. I am also interested in technical expert (specialist) or managerial positions.
I am applying for different positions. Usability Researcher. Lead User Experience Researcher. Sr. Manager Consumer Research. And so on. I hope to start a new position soon.

Two positions would work too. One full-time and one part-time position. I do not think I can handle two full-time positions. If I receive offers for two full-time jobs (simultaneously), I will choose just one. It will probably be a difficult decision.

I recall receiving a call about a job in another state when I had just started the job at the Department of Labor (via employment with ASRC). I quickly decided to pass on the second job. That was not a very difficult decision. The timing wasn't right. Timing is important. Sometimes I wonder what the other path - the path I turned down - would have led to. I know that decisions have consequences.

I am hoping for the best -- trusting in Almighty God. 

Remote Work And Housing

A lot of people limit their job search to a particular area (city or metropolitan area). Sometimes there are just not a lot of available positions in the area. The job search may take a long time. It makes sense then to expand the job search to other cities and states.

I applied for jobs in other states in the past. I even traveled for a few interviews out of state. I once moved (to another state) during the final stages of the interview process and ended up losing the job. That was not fun.

These days, there are a lot of remote positions so it is possible to work for a company in another state from another (your current) location. I suspect this is happening a lot. It is a perfect solution to a problem.

It is interesting that with so many remote positions, there is still lots of moving to fill positions. There is now a call for a new benefit - a flexible housing benefit (see article:   
Airbnb for work: Could providing employees with flexible housing be the next big benefit?
https://www.benefitnews.com/news/housing-for-employees-a-good-employee-benefit). I still need to understand fully how these transient workers obtain jobs and move around to fill positions.

I remember a second cousin of mine received a housing benefit when she obtained a job in Linden many years ago. She moved into the house provided by her employer from the East Coast. I believe some professor jobs in the Caribbean have a similar benefit.

From past experience, I know that states such as Maryland offer a housing benefit for first-time homebuyers. When I was purchasing my condo over 10 years ago, I looked into the state benefit. I decided that the benefit provided by my employer would be better. I didn't receive the benefit, but I still purchased the condo. Memories, memories, memories.

Posts On Journal Articles

I found some interesting journal articles that informed me of issues and made me think of "possibilities." I wrote about them in LinkedIn. Here are the posts:

Post 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My issue today: automation. Just yesterday, I wrote that systems will be assisting with the creation of diagrams in software development (see post: https://fahmeenaodetta.blogspot.com/2022/07/change.html). In past jobs, I have been praised for diagrams I created. I understand why people would resist automation.

I did not realize that automation is an issue for hand hygiene. I found an article that argues: "Human observation is the gold standard for measuring compliance, but its utility is increasingly being questioned with calls for the use of video monitoring approaches" (see article here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0196655322001511). This seems like a valid argument.

Did you see my proposal for a study on hand hygiene compliance monitoring and its effects on performance and employee satisfaction? Two of the research questions are:

RQ1: Do technology solutions that monitor hand hygiene compliance result in improved employee performance in the short-term because employees develop the habit of cleaning/washing their hands (i.e. is there a steady increase in performance that peaks at a certain level – performance follows an asymptotic curve)?

RQ2: What is the longer-term performance impact of implementing a technology solution that monitors hand hygiene compliance, i.e. the performance impact after 1 year and beyond (after 3, 4, 5 years etc.)?

Read it here: https://w.taskstream.com/ts/moore783/SignatureAssignmentProposalMonitoring.html/acf5e6eq00akfcfkf7e8edfefl

#automation #handhygiene #videomonitoring #research #phdresearch #healthcare


Post 2

This journal article provides valuable information on the career decision-making process:

Journal article: Making better career decisions: From challenges to opportunities
By: Itamar Gatia, Viktória Kulcsár
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0001879121000178

#career #decisionmaking #jobs #jobsearch #psychology #technology

 
Post 3

Interesting paper on the effectiveness of a mandatory program for the unemployed in Denmark:

Journal article: How to help unemployed find jobs quickly: Experimental evidence from a mandatory activation program
By: Brian Krogh Graversen, Jan C. van Ours
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047272708000777

#unemployedtraining #unemployment #hr #job

Company Layoffs

I noticed on LinkedIn that a lot of companies are laying off employees. This is a signal that an economic downturn may be on the way. This is unfortunate. During difficult times, people lose jobs, people earn less, people lose their homes, and so on. This is so unfortunate.

I have had to deal with such issues in the past.

Making money during difficult times reminds me of my grandmother (and family in general). My grandmother knew how to "make a dollar." She once asked me to sell mangoes by the roadside in Linden which helped me understand the value of a dollar. I am from an "entrepreneurial" family.

Hopefully, it won't take months and months to find a job. If I find it difficult to find a job, continued work on my independent projects may be the way to go. I could do more design.

LinkedIn page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LinkedIn Profile Updates

I updated my main LinkedIn profile. I updated the descriptions of two positions I held before moving into IT - the finance positions.  The description for the Financial Auditor position is more descriptive/detailed. I added information on data warehouse reports I assisted to develop (from the business side) to the Financial Analyst position. I should have added this information a long time ago.

I wish I could use my LinkedIn profile to apply for all performance auditing jobs. There is a lot of information in it. I may have to remove some details to make my job information fit on a 2-page resume.

I am sure I will also make changes to my resume for individual jobs. As you may be aware, there is usually the need to highlight specific experience/tasks for particular jobs. Right now, a performance auditing job is my top choice, followed by a management analyst position, followed by maybe a BA position. The actual job descriptions may change my mind though. I have a choice and I will take advantage of it.

My job search continues.

Main LinkedIn profile of Fahmeena Odetta Moore -1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Main LinkedIn profile of Fahmeena Odetta Moore -2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asking for Feedback

I am finally getting around to doing this. I've been meaning to do it for a while.
I am asking for comments, feedback, suggestions, and concerns, pretty much anything you have to say on my new blog, my LinkedIn profiles, my PhD papers, or my life. Something doesn't look right on my resume? Then tell me in a comment.

I know the feedback will provide valuable input. I am hoping they will be like lessons for
my improvement.

I prefer comments in Facebook. Just add a comment to my post on the Inside Fahmeena Odetta's Head page or on my general profile.

Of course, if you have any job tips for me, send them my way.

Job Options

I found an interesting position:

Job options from LinkedIn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This job is not ideal, but would support my PhD studies and research. This is something I can easily do and I would have time for other things. Looks like competition is fierce though.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.