This blog was not written to offend anyone in this profession; however, since we all know what blogs are about, I am voicing my opinion. Cops… I despise them. They irk my very being. It has gotten to the point where the last thing I want to do is to call one in my hour of desperation. I understand that some rules are made to protect our safety and I do my best to abide by them. My issue is that police officers, Cops, 5-0, whatever you want to call them are wasting the majority of their time on things that don’t even matter. And all for what? To make a quick buck, to feel superior, or just plain boredom. Its to the point now where you as a citizen have to know the law yourself. If you are not paying attention you can get cited for something that is not against the law. I am going to share with you two stories that I encountered with these people who are supposed to be protecting our lives. I would like for you, as my readers, to let me know if you feel that my feelings are to harsh against these power abusing officers. (more…)

A swan that doesn’t acknowledge its beauty and recognize its full potential might as well be the ugly duckling. We as the outside looking in know what the swan represents. A swan represents compassion, freedom and beauty. If the swan does not float around the pond with that long Gorgeous neck held high, we being the visual creatures that we are, would assume that there was something wrong with the swan. With the swan failing to exude that commanding presence and waddle around that pond like it knows it’s the best thing to ever tread on water, it would cause our eyes to wander and be forced to find something more interesting. The same is there with human beings. How can we expect to gain a job, a significant other, or to be taken seriously with something that we feel we have the potential to exceed in? (more…)

Hey Guys, it’s the Return of the Jedi! I’m coming back home in two weeks for the Atlanta Indie Fest, but I will also be tattoing @ COI during that time. Call 404.525.4INK to book appointments!

I must be one awesome resume ‘designer’ (fancy, i know) seeing that anytime a resume is in need of some lovin’, I’m usually the one my friends turn too. I guess that’s because I’m pretty good at staying employed and I’m great at ’embellishing’…lol. During these tough economic times any minor flaw will have your resume sent to the bottom of the stack- or even worst, the wastebasket. With that being said, as common sense as these resume tips may be, I have seen ALL the following mistakes on resumes belonging to people that I know- no names, I’ll spare them the embarrassment. Save yourself and your future employment!  Don’t let the Human Resource gals cackle and throw you to the side,  take note!

1. Careless Mistakes

-”Speak, read, and wright English/Spanish.”–seen by Angie Beauchamp, Charm Factory manager.

-A candidate actually misspelled her own first name, writing “Barbara” as “Barabara.”–Mark Gollihur, who managed a video store when he received that application.

-A resume objective stated the candidate wanted a job as a nurse. The job she was applying for? Security manager.–Philip Farina, author of “Antiterrorism Careers.”

-”They write, ‘I’ve researched your company and would be a perfect fit.’ And then they call your company by a competitor’s name.”–Tony Katsulos, who has weeded out this cut-and-paste gaffe many times.

-This one says it all: “I’m very detale oriented.”–reported by Sharon Armstrong, the author of “The Essential HR Handbook.”

-Instead of “biological organisms,” a university job candidate wrote “biological orgasms.”–from Berit Brogaard, associate professor of philosophy and psychology at the University of Missouri, Saint Louis.

-”Psychology professor” became “psycho. professor,” and “analytic philosophy” became “anal. philosophy.”–”Asso. professor” Brogaard has seen these and other abbreviations lead to resume trouble.

Lesson: Be vigilant about spelling, proofread each resume a few times, get someone else to look at your resume for errors, and be wary of abbreviations.

2. TMI

-”GPA: 2.0″–seen by Kristen Barrett, Spark Design.

-A man appeared to be the perfect candidate for an accounting position. “But at the bottom he mentioned he would not be able to interview immediately as he was serving time for embezzlement.”–seen by Jodi R. R. Smith, of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting.

-”I was fired.”–Robin Ryan, the author of “Winning Resumes,” says this is one of the most common blunders she comes across.

-A few clients have actually put their social security numbers on their resumes.–Mike Ballard, Turning Points Research.

-A recent graduate sent a resume that came through with track changes and comments from a variety of people. Adding to the blunder: “Some of the changes were not for the better.”–Debbie Mitchell, president, Mullen Public Relations.

Lesson: What you exclude from your resume is almost as important as what you include. Don’t include any information that doesn’t contribute–or worse, detracts–from your overall selling message. Keep in mind that your resume is just your ticket to interview-land. You will have plenty of opportunities to provide employers with a complete picture once you’ve landed an interview.

3. Bad Moves

-A candidate included photos of himself at the gym and a glamour photo with his resume for an administrative position with a financial services provider.–from Philip Farina, who also runs Manta Security Management Recruiters.

-Email address: Bostoncutiee22@example.com.–seen by Stacey Schmidt, a recruiter at Vistaprint.

-A job-seeker used a free return-address sticker from an endangered-wildlife nonprofit on his resume instead of typing his contact information out.–seen by Philip Farina.

-A person reduced his cover letter and three-page resume onto one page and then faxed it.–seen by Penny Miller, Venture HRO.

Lesson: Even the littlest details–both in your resume and how you use your resume–send a message to hiring managers. Be clear about what image you’re trying to get across in your resume, and make sure everything you say and do is consistent with this image.

I found this article at www.hotjobs.yahoo.com/careertools , they have lots of articles there if you need some help gaining employment, advancing in your field or if you are looking for a new career path altogether.

image via Google Images.

Bored? Need something to do, and no clue of who to do it with? Dunt ta Dun! It’s time to break out the little black book! As you scroll through your little black book, aka, blackberry, or smartphone, you search for the perfect candidate to suit your mood. Today you feel adventurous, and you know that no one is quite as fun and outgoing as James or Todd. Wait…No, no, no, you decide you want to save that excitement for the weekend, and you settle on today being a movie day. Now who with…thinking…thinking…ok, Steven or Jeff is better suited for that role. Hold on, maybe right now you just want to do a little by yourself and later go to dinner with Michael. Oh shoot! Wait! you almost forgot that you already made plans with David today, and he is calling you as we read this. The purpose of the little black book is to be your guide or free time people planner for your week or weekend. However, if you are not careful, you may just overwhelm yourself and your “potentials”, so you have to organize that black book the same way you would your life. (more…)

Its a rainy day. What to do? You dont feel like moving unless your destination is worthwhile. It absolutely needs to have a substantial purpose to make you roll out of that comfort spot that took you almost 5 whole minutes to find. Yet you dont want to be alone. The sun not hitting your window, the birds not chirping those annoying melodies, and your lover not available to come put his or her arms around you. It’s something about these cold dreary days that make you long for that special person even more. The harder the thud of those large rain drops, the harder your heart beats in saddness and longing for him or her. Yet they are unattainable, in another city with different weather, different birds, and not close enough to make that lonely rainy day substantial. (more…)

Since its a rainy day, I figured it’d be appropriate to post this German billboard I came across. in 2005 Playboy Germany created these billboard advertisements were printed on special paper, with special ink that reacts to moisture, i.e. rain.

1. The billboard in ‘dry state’

2. The billboard, after it’s rained.

“Now I ain’t saying she a Gold digger, but she ain’t messing with no broke niggas”

What is a Gold-digger you ask? By definition, a gold-digger is a person who associates with or marries someone rich in order to get valuables from him through gifts or a divorce settlement.  If you ask me, it looks a lot like a classier form of prostitution.  The definition of prostitution is the act or practice of engaging in sexual intercourse for money.  Not too much of a difference huh? (more…)