The Search is Over

 I decided months ago that the title for this blog post would be the name of a popular hit from the 80's pop/rock band Survivor that I listened to in junior high (and also saw perform live once in concert a few years ago) once I finally found a new full-time job. I start that job tomorrow, so today's as good a time as any to write this.

This job market is definitely the worst that I've ever seen. It's taking people much longer to find employment than ever before. There seem to be more hurdles and frustrations for job seekers, much of which is none of their fault. With all that I've experienced over the last 8+ months, here are a few words of wisdom for both candidates and employers:

Employers:

1. Don't ghost people that you interviewed. I've interviewed people for different roles in the past, so I understand how difficult it can be at times to find quality candidates. When I posted openings, I made sure to personally reply to each applicant, whether I interviewed or hired them or not, with a phone call or email. To me, that just seems like the right thing to do. I can't tell you how many times over the last several years that I had good in-person, phone, or virtual interviews only to never hear from that particular company again. 

Ghosting people is just bad behavior, period. It reflects poorly both on you and the organization that you represent. If an applicant is ghosted by someone from a certain company, it can foster negative sentiment toward that business and make them less likely to apply again for other jobs there or refer friends or relatives to that company. Keep that in mind.

2. Simplify the application process. In our modern information age, attention spans are shorter than ever. Applicants don't want to submit a resume, only to be asked to fill out most (if not all) of those details on a company's application on their website. Also, there's really no need for details that don't pertain to the job duties itself. No more silly questions about what kind of vegetable would you be, asking candidates to "sell this pen" or figuring out how many tennis balls would fit inside a limousine.

Also, reduce the amount of time it takes for a hiring decision to be made. For most positions (especially entry-level jobs), there shouldn't be more than an initial phone screen and one or two in-person or virtual interviews. Decisions should be made promptly because if an offer is made, that person will need to plan accordingly. There's really no need for more than 4 interviews for the vast majority of job openings, and it really shouldn't take months for a candidate to be selected for a role. Many interviewers usually know after a first or second interview who their top pick is.

One more thing: if you ask candidates to complete a project or task, and that task takes more than a half hour to complete, they should be paid adequately for their time and effort. Seasoned professionals NEVER work for free. Asking applicants to work for you before being hired (or even interviewed, in some cases) takes time away from other applications and responsibilities. 

A final point regarding interviews: one-way interviews are unacceptable. Many companies treat them with the same regard as cover letters (meaning they're ignored). They also allow companies to potentially discriminate against applicants based solely on physical characteristics, which is often illegal and just plain wrong. 

3. Don't make optional information mandatory. It's rather common for many job applications to include EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) questions. However, the law states that this information is strictly voluntary, and companies often include a disclaimer stating such data will not be used as part of the reasoning as to why a person is or is not selected for the role.

I lost count of the number of online applications just in the last couple of years that made these EEOC questions mandatory. I couldn't complete the application unless I filled out this information. It's usually quite easy to make those sections optional, so the businesses I've seen that have made them mandatory either don't know how to make that adjustment or simply don't care. 

Candidates:

1. Apply wisely. I know most of us tend to use the shotgun approach and apply to as many jobs as possible, thinking that this will yield more results. That's not necessarily the case. Instead, I'd suggest applying for the jobs that you're most interested in. Focus your efforts on quality, rather than quantity.

2. Be realistic. At first, I was applying for only remote jobs. After a few months, I realized that remote openings have a lot of competition. I was not only going against other applicants in my region but also in other states and countries. I eventually shifted my focus to local companies and jobs that I knew that I could do well and excel in those roles.

3. Don't give up. There will be days or weeks when you'll feel like giving up. I've felt like that more than I've wanted to lately. I had times when I wondered if I'd ever work again, or how I'd be able to continue to support myself. Thankfully, I don't spend much and I have sufficient reserves, but I know that isn't the case for everyone.

It's okay to take breaks too. I had a few instances where I was feeling burned out from the job search, so I forced myself to spend a few hours or even an entire weekend away from the computer. For my birthday a few weeks ago, I turned off emails and just celebrated myself. It was one of the best birthdays that I've had in a few years.

Oddly enough, the job that I'm starting tomorrow wasn't even something that I initially applied to. I went to an interview for another position at a company in the same building. The person who interviewed me for that role was impressed with me and insisted that I meet with other people in the facility at another organization for the role that I accepted. I'm eager to get started and do something different. If you've been job hunting, I wish you all the luck in the world. I hope you find a role that you enjoy and makes you happy.

Well, that's all I have for now. Until next time, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Show Up For Those Who Show Up For You

 Good personal relationships are never easy. They often require regular communication, something that I've learned in recent years that many people are bad at. When I was younger, I was raised to respect my relatives. I still do, but I got tired of making an effort for those who don't.

There are many great people who make regular efforts to be in my life. They check in with me regularly, make an effort to spend time with me whenever possible and share in my good and bad moments. However, there are a large number of people that I've known over the years that make absolutely no effort to stay in touch. Some of them I haven't heard from in years. I wish them well, but I honestly don't know where they are or what or how they are doing.

I know that life can be very busy. However, if someone's important to you, you make time for them because they matter to you. It doesn't have to be a grand gesture. Sometimes, just a short text, email, phone call or voicemail message can be the one bright spark in someone's day. 

At times, I've had so many things on my plate that I've had to schedule interactions with people in my circle. That's perfectly okay. It forces me to drop the plates that I'm spinning (at least for a little while, anyway) and communicate with someone who has made a genuine impact on my life. It's well worth the effort in my book. I just wish that certain others felt the same way sometimes. What you get out of anything in life depends on the time and effort that you put in to the task at hand, including personal relationships.

Well, that's all I have to say for now. I've been busy with the job search and other responsibilities. I did get an offer for one position and am waiting to hear back on a few more. I'll write more about the process in my next blog post. Until then, take care and have a great week, everyone!

Communication Matters.

 While I've been looking for a new full-time job recently, I've begun to realize how important quality, timely communication really is. As I've learned, some organizations are okay at it, and far more businesses are really lousy at two-way communication.

Several weeks ago, I had a pretty good Teams interview with a particular company for a job that I'd applied for. I hadn't heard back from them after about three weeks, so I followed up. I soon learned that the person I'd interviewed with is now on maternity leave until September. I decided to let the person who was handling correspondence in her absence know what happened. I stressed to them how bad communication not only soured the experience for me, but it also made the company look bad, even though I know that probably wasn't their intention.

A nonprofit that I'd also interviewed at recently admitted that they dropped the ball in not getting back to me about the job that I'd applied for. I understood that they were busy (and probably short-staffed), but I also made sure to point out the importance of good communication, because it sets a proper tone for employees and applicants.

I started today disappointed yet again. I'd had a phone interview and two very good in-person interviews with a local firm over the last month. The HR person told me initially that I'd hear their decision by Friday. They later followed up to let me know that I'd hear something by this Tuesday at the latest. Sure enough, Tuesday came and went without a word from them.

On that Tuesday, I noticed that the job I'd applied for and interviewed was reposted on the same job board that I first found it on. However, when I looked yesterday, all of that company's job postings were gone. This morning, I received a form rejection email from the HR person that I'd been in contact with. I was disappointed because this was one of the few businesses that I've interacted with recently that up until then was very good at providing transparent communication. The delay and impersonal rejection really made me feel like they dropped the ball, and I informed them as such. I did it in a tasteful, respectful manner, but it still left me with a bad impression. If I did something wrong or was missing certain skills, experience, or qualifications, it would have been nice to have known.

I think the lack of proper communication bothers me primarily because that's not how I've interacted with candidates whenever I've interviewed and/or hired people in the past. I made sure to personally call or email applicants to let them know either way and suggested ways to improve if the particular person wasn't selected. To me, that's just the ethical thing to do. I was talking with my mom about this the other day, and she gently reminded me that most of today's society doesn't follow the golden rule. We rarely hear about when someone does something nice for someone else or treats them kindly. It's become an exception rather than an expectation. Hearing that put things in perspective for me.

I don't take these rejections personally, because deep down I know that I did everything the best that I could. The shortcomings in communication weren't mine. I just have to move on to other opportunities, although it does make me less likely to want to apply or work for the companies that I just talked about in this blog post.

Well, that's all I have to say for now. Until next time, have a great week, and don't forget to be kind to one another.

May Music

 Hi everyone,

Sorry for not blogging more often lately, but I've been focused on my primary goal of finding a full-time job. Had some great interviews lately, and I feel like the right opportunity isn't too far away. Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

I spent the last 2 Saturdays going to my first rock concerts of 2024. Incidentally, both of them were end of tour shows and both of them were sold out. On May 18th, I made the familiar drive to Maplewood for Sevendust's final stop on the Machine Killer tour. I got to the city a bit early for lunch and to see my uncle, who lives a couple of miles from the venue. We spent a couple of hours out on his patio catching up and watching the local wildlife before I had to leave for the meet and greet.

I noticed Lajon Witherspoon as soon as I parked near the Myth. Of course, I had to stop and chat with him for a bit. I also talked with other members of the Sevendust family while I was there. 

A few minutes later, drummer Morgan Rose stopped to say hello to everyone who had gathered. I got to talk sports with him for a while, and mentioned that I'd just seen his Yankees defeat my Twins at Target Field the Thursday before. 

I've never been to a rock and roll meet and greet that's ever been on time, but I didn't mind the delay. I'm quite used to it by now. Before too long, we were ushered into the Myth in time to see Sevendust play "Disgrace" and "Disease from the Seasons album. Neither of those tunes were in their set for the evening, so it was a nice treat to see them played live before the photo op.

After the VIP session, we were ushered back outside the front door. I don't know why we had to go through the metal detector once again, but it didn't take as long as expected. I found a good spot to stand front and center for Lines of Loyalty's sound check. I'd seen them before during a tour stop in Iowa last fall, and they didn't disappoint.

Dope's set was also good, but I was eagerly anticipating Sevendust's set. They performed a nice mix of hits from the past, as well as three songs from their latest release, Truth Killer. I didn't anticipate so many crowd surfers during their set. That was the only downside, but I was still happy to see my favorite band once again.

I retreated from my front row perch after Sevendust's performance, and found a good place to sit along the left side of the building with some friends for Static-X's set. This was the first time I can remember that I've seen their entire set, and it was just as good as advertised. I also bought a pair of Sevendust pick tins from my buddy at the merch table and left the show with a smile on my face (as usual).

Last Saturday, I made my way mid-afternoon to the Turf Club in St. Paul. I was looking forward to seeing my friends in Cold once again. I stood outside the venue for a few minutes when I heard someone come up behind me. It was Cold bassist Lyndsay Manfredi, who made a point to tuck in the tag of my T-shirt that had gotten loose in the day's wind. It was nice to see her again, as well as other fellow Cold fans that I'd seen at previous shows.

Before the evening began, us VIP attendees were rounded up and led to the Clown Lounge downstairs. I had the band sign a poster and my copy of their latest release, The Things We Can't Stop, before getting another picture with them. I was also given a Cold drawstring bag that had a guitar pick, laminate and sticker inside. 

I stayed in the lounge afterward and ordered dinner. While I was waiting for my food to arrive, I struck up a good conversation with singer Sierra Swan, who sang on a few of Cold's classic songs. She usually shows up at Cold shows in Minnesota. It was nice catching up with her, and by the time I'd finished with my cheeseburger and onion rings, the first act, I Ya Toyah, was about to begin.

I didn't know anything about this solo performer, but she definitely gave off some major Eighties vibes during her set. The next act, Horizon Theory, was pretty good. They'll be touring with Sevendust for their Seasons shows this fall.

Finally, it was time for Cold! The group played 14 songs across their entire career. Swan got onstage with the band to sing "Suffocate" and "No One" with them. The final song was the Year of the Spider tune "Wasted Years," a song that has a lot of personal meaning to me. Frontman Scooter Ward went into the front of the crowd to sing that song surrounded by others who had also been personally affected by it.

I didn't stay for too much of Orgy's set, because I'd already heard most of it during their sound check that occurred at the same time as the Cold meet and greet. I ran into Ward outside the Turf Club before I left and I got to thank him for a great show. He insisted on a friendly hug before I made my trek back home. 

I don't know as of yet what my next concert will be. I'm just glad that I'm able to attend the shows that I can. I always have a good time, and live music itself is very therapeutic. I strongly recommend that you make an effort to attend a show or more of your choosing when you can. You'll definitely be glad you did!

Well, that's all for now. Until next time, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.

Animals Matter.

 I was thoroughly disgusted this weekend when I read an excerpt from South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem's upcoming book where she talked about putting down a 14-month-old puppy. Noem was apparently upset at it because it wouldn't be a good hunting dog, so she put it down. The dog could have been surrendered to a shelter or given to another family as a pet, but instead, she chose cruelty.

This is a sore subject for me because I've always believed in being kind to animals (and to all living beings, for that matter). I grew up with a black lab, a goldfish, a pair of rabbits, and dozens of cats living in the country in Central Minnesota. Having animals around regularly taught me a lot about caring and compassion for others. 

It made me think back to when we rescued a cat that had wandered into our garage. The poor thing had its legs and tail duct taped to its torso by a cruel farm kid. We coaxed the scared feline cat out from under one of the cars and my dad carefully cut the tape from its body. The black cat (which we later named Schwarz, which means "black" in German) ran away for a bit but soon came back and was a faithful family pet for many years.

I've always been more of a cat person than a dog person (mainly because of the sheer number of cats that we had in my youth and because cats are typically more self-reliant), but I usually make time for other people's pets whenever I visit them. Most animals are pretty tame. I remember a few times when stray cats and cats that belonged to other neighbors would come to visit out of the blue and find their way to me asking for attention. I didn't mind that at all.

I understand having to put an animal down if it's sick or injured. We had to put one of our cats down after it had been hit by a car. One of its ribs had punctured its skin and we knew that it didn't have long to live. The feline was breathing poorly and could barely move on its own. It wasn't an easy decision, but a necessary one to put it out of its misery, unfortunately. She left behind a new litter of kittens, which with the local veterinarian's advice we learned how to take care of. They grew up to be very happy, healthy cats. However, this situation is quite different than that.

I just can't see cruelty as something that would make me like the particular person who was cruel. I know that Noem's trying to appeal to the MAGA base, but it's not surprisingly turned a lot of conservatives against her. She tried to justify the horrific act by explaining that she also put down a goat that same day and that she's also had to put horses down from time to time, but it seems like she just keeps making things worse for herself with every explanation that she tries to make. 

It's very interesting that both Republicans and Democrats are actually agreeing on this issue. Animal cruelty never has been and never will be acceptable. Now if we could just get them to agree on other important aspects...

Well, that's all for now. Until next time, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.

Job Hunting Blues

 Hi everyone,

it's been a while since I've made a blog post. Been busy trying to find a good, stable full-time job with decent compensation. I have a few freelance gigs lined up, but job-seeking is different from what it used to be. In fact, it's gotten considerably harder for most of us. I'm fortunate to have only gone about 5 months since my last full-time job, but I know others who've been without a full-time job for twice that long, if not longer.

The process itself is much more complicated than it used to be. Long gone are the days when you could simply stop in a business with your resume. Almost everything is now online. You have to fill out an online application, and often take an assessment or other additional steps as well. Also, you now have to compete with other applicants worldwide in many instances.

It's pretty common nowadays for companies to require applicants to create new accounts just to apply for jobs on their website. The problem is that after enough time, you have too many user names and passwords for those sites to keep up with. That's why I try to keep such experiences like that to a minimum.

There are also a lot of scams out there. I've seen more than my fair share of them. If I receive a message saying that I'm automatically approved, am asked to download an app to communicate with the company or if I can't find the actual company website, it's usually a scam. 

Some employers ask candidates to complete a task. Common examples that I've seen are writing samples, case studies, and so forth. My general rule of thumb is that if a task takes more than a half hour to complete, the applicant should be fairly compensated for their time and effort. If a company isn't willing to accept that or other previous samples in the candidate's portfolio, then they're an organization that you're probably better off not working for. NEVER, ever work for free. 

The puzzling thing to me is the amount of ghosting. It seems to have accelerated after COVID-19 began. I've had some very good interviews recently and made attempts to follow up with the employers, only to never hear from them again. I was stunned a few weeks ago when I stumbled across one such interviewer's social media page and discovered that they filled the job that I'd applied for a week after my interview. They went radio silent after what I knew was a very positive job interview for both me and them. I know it isn't anything personal, but that doesn't always make the rejection any less difficult to swallow.

I'm still doing well enough to keep myself afloat, and I'm confident that I'll find something good before too long. I just wish that the process was easier. If it were up to me, I'd ensure that things were transparent and simple. There's no reason to keep people in limbo. After all, people's livelihoods often hang in the balance. Do the right thing, companies. 

Well, that's all I have for now. This is the last quiet weekend I have until June. Got lots more writing, job hunting, and a few fun things planned for May. Until next time, have a great weekend, and don't forget to be kind to one another.

I've Never...

 I've Never...

An impromptu essay by Aaron D. Backes

I've never been on a cruise, but I've never really had any interest in going on one. If I'm going to be on a boat, I'd rather take a ride on a lake to relax or go fishing.

I've never been to Disneyland or Disneyworld, but one day I'd like to.

I've never been to an NFL game. Maybe someday I will.

I've never been to an MLB game outside of Minnesota. Maybe that will change, maybe it won't.

I've never had lobster. Don't know if I'd enjoy it or not.

I've never received a birthday gift from a friend. I've given plenty, but to the best of my recollection, I've never received a real, thoughtful or meaningful birthday present from a friend, at least not as an adult, anyway. I've received gifts from friends before, just not on or for my birthday.

I've never had a birthday party as an adult. I think the last party thrown for me was for my high school graduation, which was just family. Hell, nowadays, I have a hard enough time just getting a few local friends to join me for a meal on my birthday, but I realize that's something that for some strange reason is fairly common. Many people don't really honor commitments or friendships like they used to, I guess.

I've never truly been in love. I've dated a few women at different times, but there's never really been someone special that I've wanted to spend the rest of my life with yet. I'm not looking now. If it happens, fine. If it doesn't, I won't lose any sleep over it.

Well, that's all I can think of for now. It's early in the morning and I'm still not quite fully awake just yet. If I think of more to add to this, I will. If I can't, well then, until the next article I write, have a great weekend, everyone!