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I came across an interesting idea from Effective Business Communications about job application. I’m like most people, I would only apply for a job from an advertisement, and would never thought of sending out an unsolicited application letter in fear that the company might think it’s a waste of time, and kind of surprised to read that it’s the other way around.
It’s actually a good idea to send out an unsolicited application letter, for several reasons, firms like to receive applications for jobs that they have not advertised. With a file of unsolicited applications, a firm can achieve several objectives such as save advertising costs; fill jobs more quickly because the personnel department can look in the file and be in touch with an applicant in a short time; save personnel department time because the department may find a suitable worker from a small file of unsolicited letters, otherwise an advertisement may bring fifty or a hundred invited applications, all of which require some attention; avoid possible goodwill-losing situations because some who have applied may be embittered when they are not employed; get applicants who possess the qualities of initiative and foresight, and be fairly certain that any present employee who may not be measuring up to performance standards can be replaced.
As from the applicant’s point of view, the unsolicited application letter also has advantages that it increases the number of jobs from which you can select. It meets with less competition than it would have if it were sent in response to an advertisement. It could create a job if it persuaded the employer to believe that a worker was needed to do something that is not now being done. It may assist in getting a better job because the highly preferred jobs are often filled before any applications are invited. It may also suggest initiative on your part.
Basically, the unsolicited letter of application is a sales letter that sells you. Its goal is to secure an interview in which you can continue to sell yourself, so it’s best to try to get attention, arousing interest, presenting convincing evidence, and asking for action.
I received my copy of Lao Roots Magazine, summer 2008 issue last week and saw that they did a scope on the Laocook Team, under ‘Cool Gigs’. Below is the article,
Name: Viengphranom Senathit aka Don Vienne Senathit
Employer: “Restaurante ASIA” at Fairplay Golf Hotel & SPA
Job Title: Chef de Cuisine
Location: Benalup, Cadiz, Spain
Duration: 8 years
Job Description:
I am in charge of the Kitchen Brigade that serves modern Laotian and S.E. Asian inspired dishes in one of the hotels gastronomic restaurants, a 5 Star Luxury Hotel & SPA that opened in 2005.
Before the opening, I was Chef at the company’s award winning beachfront hotel/restaurant in the nearby coastal town of Chipiona, serving similar foods. During this time, I designed the kitchens of six more of the company’s restaurants, including our current “Central Kitchen” which is more than 300m2, and one of the largest and most expensive of its kind in Spain. The Central Kitchen is the heart of our F&B (Food and Beverage) department and acts as the hub for the 4 restaurants of the hotel.
For “Restaurante ASIA”, I design the menus and desserts, order and control the stocks, train and oversee the staff, ensure that our strict Health and Safety and Food Hygiene levels are met and exceeded, control the Brigade working hours etc…(Oh, and occasionally I cook.)
How did you end up being a chef?
For the love of food. Being Laotian, I have found that food plays an enormous role in my society. Our get-togethers are based around food, in fact, any social gathering will in one way or another feature food. As soon as you walk into a Lao home, the first thing you are asked is “Have you eaten yet”, even our religious offerings show respect by offering foods to Monks and Spirits. I believe it is instilled in us, the basis behind to “lieng”, to offer nourishment.
I grew up surrounded by foods, more precisely, cooks. The focal point of our gatherings was always the kitchen, the heart of the home. My heart has always been in the kitchen, it is what I do best, because I love it, and to have it at the centre of my career is a blessing.
What are the perks of your job?
Getting to work with (and tasting) wonderful ingredients. Simple things like some lovely organic Baby Carrots or Vine Tomatoes, or exquisite items like Perigord Truffles and Beluga Caviar. There is a great sense of satisfaction when you have sent out dishes that people have enjoyed. Or when you have created from nothing to something interesting, that others find to be visually and tastefully pleasing.
What do your friends and family think of your job?
My family thinks it is great. My father was a chef in a top hotel in London for many years when I was younger, now my parents have their own restaurant business, as well as my uncles and aunts. I guess that they are proud that I have carried on in their footsteps. I will never forget the love they showered upon us, and endless hours they worked to provide us with a comfortable home. I am so happy that my family supported, and gave me inspiration for what I do.
I am also glad that the younger generations have embraced this career. I have been joined in the kitchen by my brother, King and also by family friends and their relatives.
Describe a chef’s typical day.
The person that I thought is interesting and would love to meet in person is Vannasone Joy Keodara of VOA, Lao Diaspora Voice of America, I heard her voice all the time from listening to her news broadcasting, and I am impressed with her profile that I read from Lao Roots Magazine in their Third Issue.
From her interview, her job description: My primary duties include reporting live news and current affairs around the globe, translating the news from English to Laotian to be broadcast, creating digital files and maintaining the website. I am in charge of a weekly Lao Diaspora and a few music programs, which feature overseas current affairs and entertainment. In addition, I cover field interviews with various news conferences and briefings. I also maintain and handle all aspects of the technology information for Lao Service.
Interesting as to how she ends up working there: I heard about VOA since I was little, but never thought that I would end up working there. I came to D.C. in 2003 for the US-ASEAN Film and Photography Festival for my documentary film The Leaf, Not Yet Falling. While I was here, I learned about the Laotian community and before I knew it, I was already working for VOA-Lao Service.
I love all aspects of it: doing live news, the fast pace life, meeting datelines, and most importantly building my network between Laotians and other groups. I love exploring and challenging. Sometimes I get to travel and which allows me to meet important people.
I enjoy being able to learn about the current affairs of my own communities, as well as others around the globe. I guess people respect my job, my title, and sometimes I get freebies. What is also different now is that people recognize me more.
What is your fortune? No, I mean what is your dog fortune. Ask me what you will…with the power of the stars, I will reveal your dog fortune!
When I came upon this article in Kwanreun Magazine written by Khunchith in Thai language, translated by yours truly, I couldn’t help but ROFL, pronounced as is (dog barking), and also rolling on the floor laughing because this has got to be the oddest profession that I’ve heard, Dog Fortune Teller.
I’m a dog lover, so I’m very familiar with our k-9, 4-legged friends, they had been in our family since I was about 6 years old, and my last one recently passed away but have not gotten a replacement for him yet. As I recall, most dogs take the personality of their owners, I knew Teddy was very hyper when I first got him, but became very calm shortly afterward, might be that he got older also, but nevertheless, he somewhat took my personality. This article suggested something that’s somewhat odd to me; it’s amusing to read.
I often wonder what it’d be like to live in Laos or Thailand, and I’m actually at an advantage because of my understanding of the languages. When I read an on-line newspaper this morning about a young couple that went to Thailand to teach really amaze me. I like to share their story because there might be some of you out there that are thinking alone this line.
Overseas venture ‘a real learning experience’
Pair to begin second year of teaching at Catholic school in Bangkok, Thailand
By Sarah Newell
Record Staff Writer
Monday, July 16, 2007
HICKORY – Andrew and Barbara “Bobbie” Bumgarner began teaching at Union County schools four years ago. After three years of teaching middle-schoolers, they couple decided they wanted to go global and teach in another country.
“We had some friends who had taught internationally through Search Associates. We like to travel but needed a job, so we thought it would be a good fit,” said Bobbie. “We went to a job fair last February and had no idea where we were going to teach.”
They toured booths for almost every country in the world, but were drawn to the one for a school in Bangkok, Thailand. They watched a video about the English-speaking-based Catholic school and listened about the job opportunity. At the job fair, Bobbie and Andrew signed a two-year teaching contract to teach, beginning last August.
It took a while to sever ties in America. The couple married after attending college at Western Carolina University together and had a lot of things to get rid of before leaving the country for two years.
“We were pretty established. We had a house, two dogs, a cat and two cars. We had a lot to give up,” Andrew said. “We decided to rent out our house and sell one car. Our pets were adopted by a family in Georgia.”
China’s economic boom has turned the ancient role of the concubine into a lucrative career option. There is An online Chinese second-wife ‘contract’, posted at www.timesonline.co.uk and which I found these words very disturbing, what this world is turning into, the contract read,
dream of a concubine by vanessa
The master primarily wants the second wife to provide him with sex and face. The second wife primarily wants the master to provide her with a luxurious lifestyle. Both sides have an obligation to behave with decorum toward each other in public places, so as to win the respect of other people.
Sometimes the ernai’s clothing should be extremely provocative sexually, and sometimes it should be refined and elegant, in order to make other men jealous of the master. The ernai must wear high-class, well-known designer clothing and shoes. She is not permitted to use fake luxury goods.
The ernai will provide the master all varieties of sex. The ernai agrees to have intercourse three times a day, or two hours of enjoyment in bed. Whether they kiss is up to the ernai. No ernai should ever employ any behavior that would damage a man’s self-esteem, such as suggesting he ‘does not cut it’.
It’s very common in Thailand and Laos for men to have a second wife, or ‘mear noy’, but just didn’t expect to hear about it in China of all places, but then again it might make sense because there’s fewer women than men, according to economic point of view, then it’s the law of supply and demand. According to this article, having a second wife is a status symbol and it explains,
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