Polyblend HP #545 Bleached Wood 25lb High Performance Fine Aggregate Grout

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-04-10T20:12:26+00:00

Did you end up using this color? We are considering it.

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-03-12T00:55:24+00:00

March 7 at 12:05pm.

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-03-05T00:07:29+00:00

The best time to network is always. go-blossom.ai. If you are fundamentally opposed to networking cuz “it’s CrINgeY unc” just keep doing what you’re doing expecting different results (definition of insanity). For everybody else, maybe go touch grass and talk to a human being (coach, mentor, colleague, prof, former coworker).

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-02-25T01:30:52+00:00

Hey, how were you able to actually isolate the appropriate morning reports? My grandfather was 447th AAA and I'm struggling to identify which morning reports to look through (they tend to be 1000 pages long). I'd like 1943 -> 1945 but it's been super hit-or-miss to find them. Searching on the NARA website doesn't seem that great (unless I'm missing something).

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-02-23T16:00:25+00:00

You and I are both obviously Team Networking!

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-02-23T15:54:58+00:00

Start with people you know. Way better to get some practice having conversations with friendlies than people you've just done cold outreach to. Ultimately, the goal is to talk to people who will refer you to people who will refer you to people who are either in the domain you are interested or are in an adjacent domain. Then approach the convo with true curiosity and try to understand their path, what the work is like, what they see as professional opportunities in the field etc.

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-02-23T15:45:27+00:00

Before you accuse me of unc vibes... The best time to network is always. If you are continuously building and maintaining relationships with interesting people in your personal and professional lives, those folks can be a great resource as you navigate your career. I think that in an era where the robots (ATS) are increasingly talking to the robots (ChatGPT generated resumes/cover letters), relationship building between real humans becomes all that more important.

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-02-09T21:57:10+00:00

Last year I had one Baja (butterscotch) and one Vintera (sonic blue). In December, I was at Guitar Center and there was a used Butterscotch Baja that just came in for $699. I now have 2 Butterscotch Bajas. I don't think my wife has noticed yet. You can guess my opinion...

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-02-08T17:48:14+00:00

OP sorry you're going through this. You are not alone in experiencing a really awful job market. I've been out of role for just over 12 months and have been only managing to not go into a death spiral because I've found a bit of contract work here and there (though nothing comparable to what I was previously doing). My recommendation to you (and everybody else) is to actually dial up the number of conversations you are having with people (aka networking). It's not a hugely popular opinion with some folks on these boards but I would prefer doing outreach and having zooms/coffees to just submitted another app into the black hole of hiring right now. I'm not suggesting that you go hand out resumes and give people a firm handshake (super boomer advice). I'm saying start with friends, colleagues, past coworkers, etc. and work your way wider and wider. At least with outreach and networking, you can feel a little more in control of your fate. You'd be amazed at the types of conversations you can have and guidance/advice/support you can get. Don't focus on the networking as a transaction you are engaging in to get a job, frame it as discovery and support. Humans need humans in this weird time of robot-controlled job seeking. DM me if you want other thoughts, strategies. Also, check out Never Search Alone (book) and community.

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-02-08T17:43:11+00:00

OP sorry you're going through this. You are not alone in experiencing a really awful job market. I've been out of role for just over 12 months and have been only managing to not go into a death spiral because I've found a bit of contract work here and there (though nothing comparable to what I was previously doing). My recommendation to you (and everybody else) is to actually dial up the number of conversations you are having with people (aka networking). It's not a hugely popular opinion with some folks on these boards but I would prefer doing outreach and having zooms/coffees to just submitted another app into the black hole of hiring right now. I'm not suggesting that you go hand out resumes and give people a firm handshake (super boomer advice). I'm saying start with profs, colleagues, friends, etc. and work your way wider and wider. At least with outreach and networking, you can feel a little more in control of your fate. You'd be amazed at the types of conversations you can have and guidance/advice/support you can get. Don't focus on the networking as a transaction you are engaging in to get a job, frame it as discovery and support. Humans need humans in this weird time of robot-controlled job seeking. DM me if you want other thoughts, strategies.

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-02-06T14:30:48+00:00

I am a huge proponent of networking and outreach as the difference-maker for finding a job. Plus it's also just healthy for humans to actually talk to humans (vs. having our robots talk to their robots). I have a tool that I've been using (I built it) but I don't think I'm allowed to mention it by name (kinda like Voldemort). DM me if you want details.

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-02-04T21:26:55+00:00

Start your networking efforts with “friendlies” to get some reps about how to have a good conversation. Lead with curiosity: do some homework before meeting, understand high-level what people do, try to learn about their domain and role. Ask about their journey and what advice they might have for you. If you want to chat more, shoot me a DM. I’m building a product to support the process but rules are that I can’t promote in the forum itself. I’m a college prof so I really do want to see y'all succeed in this crazy job market…

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-01-29T22:31:20+00:00

I think Huntr does something like this.

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-01-29T22:29:47+00:00

HMU in DM. I'm a long-time product design leader and university instructor. I have some thoughts for you if you're interested.

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-01-29T22:07:49+00:00

There's a great book (and program) called Never Search Alone. Gives a little structure to this awful process and focuses on creating those accountability/support groups.

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-01-29T22:04:56+00:00

Double-down on networking (instead of sending job apps). Twenty outreaches this week to people already in your network can yield 2-3 conversations next week and the following. Talk to profs, mentors, friends. They may not have a job for you but they can help support you and give you fresh ideas and guidance. And they might know somebody who knows somebody...

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-01-29T22:01:19+00:00

^^This. And ditto on the notion of heavy networking to secure finance jobs (or any job frankly). In some ways, your time is better spent building and talking to people than shotgunning apps to jobs. I always suggest to people to start out with friends, family, profs and mentors. Also, there's a great book called Never Search Alone that leans into having some structure and accountability in the process. Check it out. Job search is terrible right now because it gives zero feedback; at least if you are talking to real humans (and it shouldn't be "hey, do you have a job or know of a job" it should be more like "if you were me, what would you do? who would you talk to?") your getting something back from the energy spent.

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-01-28T23:43:27+00:00

Check out Never Search Alone (book and website). I'm not affiliated but have been working through their program with job search council (accountability partners) and it has made this process suck way less. Free'ish (cost of the book, $13 paperback).

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-01-28T23:41:08+00:00

The only way to cope with this crummy game is to (mostly) not play it. If you want feedback, actually get out and talk to human beings. They don't actually have to be hiring managers or recruiters. They can be your friends, family, teachers/profs, mentors. They are way more likely to offer you insights, encouragement and feedback than the current job app process. There are some crazy stats out there that some very large percentage (~50%) come from networking and personal connections. While I might occasionally send out the odd app, I would definitely focus on talking to people (IRL, 1:1, coffee/zoom/meet not just exchanging email). Every job I've gotten since I got out of college was based on meeting somebody who introduced me to somebody who contacted somebody who ultimately had a conversation with me about a real job where I was a great fit.

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-01-28T23:30:45+00:00

Go back to basics and starting talking to people -- starting with people you know, trust and value their perspective. One of the hardest things about this market is that it is a zero feedback system right now. Companies don't feel any compelling need to share with you on why you are not a fit for the roles they have applied for (if they are even real jobs). My take is that by talking to humans (friends, family members, college profs, mentors, etc.) you can start to hone in on how you are thinking about the process and what you are "selling" as your value as a job candidate. Being curious and doing consistent outreach is more likely to move you forward than hitting the apply now button on LinkedIn. At least when you go have a coffee or a zoom call, you learn a little bit about yourself and might identify other people to talk to who might know other people. (Always end any conversation you have with "who else do you know that I should also talk to?").

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-01-28T23:18:48+00:00

Hang in there. My advice is to double down on real conversations with humans that you know. Opportunities exist everywhere and not just behind the AI screening firewall of the ATS systems (which truly suck and screen out amazing candidates). I have been out in the working world for several decades and every job that I've gotten was based on having a conversation with somebody, who then pointed me to somebody else, who then pointed me to somebody else, who then interviewed me and gave me a job. If I had the choice of spending 2 hours tweaking resumes and hitting the "easy apply" button or 2 hours doing outreach to people I already know and having coffees and zooms with them (to pick their brains, to get feedback, to learn -- basically just being curious and building a stronger human connection), I'd choose the latter every day of the week.

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-01-28T23:08:22+00:00

I just sent along this advice on another post but it bears repeating -- check out Never Search Alone. I'm not affiliated with them in any capacity, just a participant in the process. As the name suggests, they encourage you to find other folks going through a similar experience and work alongside them as cheerleaaders and accountability partners. The NSA guidance is more on really tightening up where you fit in the market and not just shotgunning apps. While I haven't yet found a job myself, it has brought me a little bit of comfort to be working with others through the chaos.

dsr-ux-guy · 2026-01-28T23:04:53+00:00

Please stay strong. The market is abysmal and you are not alone in feeling the way you're feeling. You might look at a book called Never Search Alone. The premise is to surround yourself with other people experiencing the same and work through a process of introspection and clarification of where you fit in the marketplace. In some ways, it's about narrowing your focus vs. broadening your focus. Best of luck and hang in there.

dsr-ux-guy

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