It’s proven to be slightly more complicated than we thought.

Right now, I’m just outside of Cleveland in an extended stay hotel with my husband and two cats. We made a weekend trip to Cleveland right after I accepted the job thinking we could easily find something in a day or so of looking… or rather, maybe I thought that. I’ve moved more times than I really care to count. I’ve found places to live over a weekend before, even places that I really liked. I’ve even found places and signed leases long distance without ever looking at the apartment. It’s worked out well 66% of the time. *cough* cockroach-ridden first apartment in grad school *cough*

I’m finding that Cleveland is an altogether different beast than the cities where I’ve lived before. All of my prior homes have been in young cities, growing cities, bursting at the seams with new developments and an overdose of suburban sprawl. Cleveland is older, perhaps wiser, more population dense, and filled with older apartments – beautiful old buildings – some revitalized and some left to age as old buildings do.

The niceties that I take for granted such as air conditioning, big windows, lots of room, speedy internet, and high ceilings aren’t carry overs from ages past. They’re certainly part of the downtown lofts that have turned retired knitting mills or hat factories into urban residential gems. But with each choice, you give up something else. Do I want to live downtown? Can we really afford to pay that much?

I’ve learned about myself in this process. I’m a little claustrophobic (thus, the higher ceilings). I crave open spaces and lots of light. I don’t like cozy, tidy, or snug housing. I want room to move, breathe, dance, run with the cats, and feel expansive. Could I live in a smaller space? Yes, but at the expense of a great many well-used bookcases.

We’ll find a place. I’m sure we’ll even find room for all the bookcases. Frustration-aside, I think I’m glad we didn’t find something right away. It’s given us a chance to explore the city, ourselves, and each other. We have a general idea where we want to live, what we want, and what we each need in a living space. We’ve been able to verbalize things that, in some cases, weren’t truly conscious before the experiences of the past few days. I value that and it’s worth it in the long run.

Now, I just need an address.

People crave relationships. Social tools are a way to fulfill that need. People want to be heard and valued by companies, peers, family, and friends. The social web provides that sense of belonging and value. Its tendrils reach beyond the internet into our lives on the go. For many, the only time we’re not ‘with our friends’ is when we’re sleeping. The rest of the day, we carry them with us on our computers and our phones. Our online relationships intermingle with our real lives and our real life relationships transcend our time spent online.

Friendships, conversing, being deeply engaged in relationships aren’t a fad. The way we relate may evolve; our social technologies will change. However, the basic need for companionship is part of who we are. Now that we’ve found a way to be in touch and feel closeness much of the time, do you think that’s going to go away so easily? I don’t.

See more fresh kitty pics for fun and profit!

Real blog post coming soon.

There are smart people sharing solid advice about job seeking. It isn’t one-size-fits-all. If it doesn’t fit, don’t force it. Take what you need, be thankful, and move on.

There are other people sharing advice about job hunting. Very little of their advice is good. Be cautious. Be smart. Be cynical. Ask questions. Use your best judgment.

There are people who don’t have your best interest at heart when offering advice and help. Look out for them. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Be wary.

There are people who will play on your insecurities, feelings of confusion, desperation, and hope. Don’t trust them.

There are people who want to reduce you to nothing more than a job seeker. It’s not about you; it’s about them. They need you to need them. You’re more than that. Don’t forget.

There are genuine, good-hearted, and trustworthy people who do want to help you. They stand out in the crowd because they truly want you to succeed. It’s about more than just hearing themselves talk; they listen. They want you to find a job you will love and a company that will love you for who you really are, not some persona developed solely for the hunt. They want to see you at your best.

Don’t get overwhelmed.

Be true to yourself. Be sure of yourself, your abilities, and what you have to offer. Listen to good advice. Ignore the bad and the irrelevant. Don’t lose yourself in the process.

See The Social Network. It’s a good story portrayed by gifted actors and penned by a skilled screenwriter. However, don’t forget the hero that Sorkin’s story misses – the internet.

“The real story is not the invention. It is the platform that makes the invention sing.”

So, given all we know about the importance of that initial interaction, how is it that businesses who are so good at managing first impressions with customers don’t extend the same know-how to future employees?

Businesses want to competitively attract and retain top talent, but they aren’t the only ones making judgment calls. They’d better believe future employees are sizing the company up from the instant of the first interaction -  looking at the website, being contacted by a company recruiter, reading a job posting. Companies need to think seriously about how they’re presenting themselves and be aware of how they’re being perceived.

• How user friendly is the website? Is it easy to find job listings or nigh on impossible?
• Is the application site easy to use? Does it repeatedly ask candidates to put in the same information? Is it slow?
• Are there spelling errors in the job postings? Did someone leave Caps Lock on?
• Are the listings designed to engage potential candidates or do they just regurgitate a list of generic job responsibilities? Does the listing really sell the job?
• Are there redundant ads for the position on the same site?
• Are listings being reposted on sites that misuse applicant information or mislead applicants about the process?
• Is the company aware of where applicants may drop off/are dropping off in the online application process?
• Can recruiters discuss open positions in an informed fashion?
• Do the recruiters put their best foot forward on LinkedIn?
• Are applicants kept informed? Are those involved with hiring kept informed?
• Are candidates asked about their experience with the application process? Is feedback encouraged?

Brand management doesn’t stop at consumers. It needs to include how companies attract and interact with candidates. As a business, do you want to be confident, innovative, efficient, and trustworthy or are you unintentionally coming across as antiquated, unfocused, disorganized, cold, or even unprofessional?

If the goal really is to have the best people working for you and with you, be sure the hiring process does justice to your business. From the first moment right up until your new hire walks through the door, focus on effectively communicating that your company is a place each applicant would want to be employed. By the end of the process, we should either be clamoring to work for you or know that it won’t be a good fit. Either way, everybody wins – now and in the future.

First impressions are serious business… or at least they should be. Make sure your company is doing it right.

Basking in our productivity, I began reading a book and he began doing whatever mysterious things he does on his uber-computer. We’d been basking for a few minutes when Auri (cat #2) came hopping into the living room and started yelling at us. She’s fairly vocal so while we asked her what was up, I don’t think either of us actually thought something really was. She relented and headed back toward the kitchen with Oscar (cat #1) trailing behind her. We continued to bask.

Still heady from my sense of accomplishment, I asked Matt to get me some water. He walked into the kitchen and was met by a very special surprise.

The dishwasher decided to expand its bubbly horizons onto our kitchen floor (much like in this picture). While the image isn’t our dishwasher, based on the number of images I found when searching for overflowing dishwashers, we aren’t alone.

So, in addition to my other accomplishments, I’ve mopped the kitchen floor using a towel and my feet. When we moved, we decided to get rid of the mop and use a Swiffer. I’m now questioning that decision.

We have no clue why exactly the dishwasher decided today was the day to express its displeasure on behalf of forced mechanical household labor, but maintenance will be here later to tell us. I’m just hoping the washing machine doesn’t join the cause.

Our entire team was laid off this morning. Looking for a product manager? DM me or see http://www.professionalmacgyver.com for my info.

I expected a few retweets and support but I was overwhelmed by the endorsements, encouragement, kind words, inquiries, and job hunting suggestions. I definitely didn’t expect to be so kindly profiled as an “at-the-ready social media job seeker.” My experience certainly has been a ringing endorsement for the power of Twitter for networking and job seeking (and the kindness of strangers).

Thank you to everyone who provided words of support and encouragement today. For those who reached out to me about job possibilities, I’ll definitely be talking to you soon.  If you know someone in search of a clever, enthusiastic, and hard-working product manager, please point them in my direction.

In closing, I offer fresh pictures of the kitties.