End of the first week

It's the end of the week and I can't decide if I accomplished anything in my first week of unemployment.

I updated my resume much more to my liking, but I certainly think it has a ways to go before it is a get-your-attention resume. At least now I feel better about distributing this one, more so than the previous one.

I was able to see several key people who can help me get the word out about being available. One was the Mayor of Greensburg, who I spent entirely too much time with on Tuesday. But I consider the time I spent with him as quality networking time. We'll see if anything comes out of it. I am not holding my breath.

I also spent time researching my need to obtain a college degree. While I like to think that my 24 years of experience in the business world, many of those years managing a multi-million dollar newspaper business, should qualify me for a respectable position someplace, many companies don't see it the way I do.

Often times when applying for a job, especially electronically, you will get kicked over to another screen and there, at the bottom, is the question that stops your application from being submitted. "Do you hold a college degree?" Hit the no button and you are automatically rejected without a chance to speak to someone face-to-face. Without the opportunity to sell yourself.

I wonder how many great employees never get past this process. I believe companies are losing out. For example, Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Music and now Virgin Atlantic is one example. Oh, Richard Branson is now the only man on the face of the planet making it possible for space travel for regular citizens.

Other successful people without college degrees include Rachel Ray (she has a great job as TV cook with her own show), Matt Drudge (the Drudge Report), Barry Diller (Saturday Night Fever Producer), Michael Dell (Dell Computers) and, just a little guy we know as Bill Gates. Need I say more?

These people I mentioned would not get past the electronic process of applying for a job online because of that one question..."Do you hold a college degree..."

I'm not saying I should be put in the same category as the famous people I mentioned, certainly not. I'll let you decide on how important a college degree is. I, for one, can't get my foot in the door because I don't have one. My kids are sick of me explaining to them that they will go to college, if it kills me. I don't want them in this position. Sort of a do as I say, not as I do, situation.

So I have people networking for me, I am examining my options of continuing education, am considering getting my real estate license, and I am trying to figure out how to start my own business without any capital.

It is easy to get tired and worn out from being off work. There is a lot of stress.