After Hours

Of the oft-cited benefits of freelancing, the one that rarely feels like a plus is flexibility. Box me in with a full-time job governed by core office hours, and I’m generally a happy camper, adding time before or after. And while I’m completely set up to telecommute as needed, I love the face-to-face aspect of Association Headquarters.

Between freelance writing and searching for a new position for the past few months, I certainly have had my fill of flex time. Career coaches tell job searchers to maintain a daily routine, and I’m pretty much following that advice. I’m treating job hunting as, well, my job. Still, at times I’m awake during nonroutine hours, and I find myself mentally composing my next cover letter. That buys me some free time the next day. With that free time I can do something productive, such as add another hour to my job as a job hunter, or rework my ASAE conference wardrobe spreadsheet, or learn how to cook a meal. Today I chose the latter and watched a re-run of Top Chef.

Of course, you can’t start out as a kitchen intern (which basically describes my culinary knowledge level) and whip up anything after just one hour of Top Chef. But from watching the show, I did learn that many elements of competitive cooking are similar to elements in competing for jobs. Stay true to yourself (project your style) while pursuing the challenge. Remember the importance of presentation. Satisfy the judge’s hunger.

Every friend and family member who has been on the receiving end of my cooking knows that a better reality TV fit for me is Worst Cooks in America. I’m truly what the show calls a kitchen zero. I hope to soon focus completely again on association management and demonstrate that I’m an office ten.

 

Bake, Feed and Rescue

Speaking of life jackets, while attending the ASAE annual meeting I'll have the opportunity to help extend the lives of stray dogs. The volunteer project for this year's conference speaks directly to my main passion: helping animals. I'll be putting to use the skills I learned during my high school and college jobs at Bellmeadow Bakery on Long Island and in the Snelling Hall bakery at the University of Georgia. A group of ASAE attendees will work with professional bakers to make healthy and delicious treats for the dogs at Stray Rescue of St. Louis. Then comes the best part: We'll have the chance to feed our treats to the pups and see the smiles on their faces.

If you are attending the ASAE conference and cannot participate in the Stray Rescue project, you can help the formerly abused and neglected dogs, cats and other animals by making a donation at the marked areas of the convention center. If you're not attending, you can donate at www.strayrescue.org.

You just never know when learnings from an old job will come in handy. What's the oldest skill you've put to work lately?

Getting ASAE-Ready (What to Wear??)

Dress not for the job you have but for the job you want -- that classic advice comes to mind right now, as I sit at my laptop, dressed for my current role: under-employed association executive. On this 100-plus-degree day, even in my air-conditioned home, that means I'm completing a freelance project in shorts and a tee. But this isn't one of *those* kinds of blogs. The point is that I need to outline exactly what I want to wear to each and every session and event at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Society of Association Executives. The ASAE conference in St. Louis starts soon, and at every opportunity, I want to look the part of an association communications professional: polished, upbeat, lovely and risk-taking. Guess I'll leave the life jacket at home.