Because otherwise she won’t be able to hear what he’s saying 😀
The lead actress had mentioned in BTS that when her tall co-stars talk with one another, she sometimes can’t hear what they are talking about because they are so high up XD
Why yes, being so good-looking that I need a relationship-status nametag so that no one hits on me at work is something I can totally relate to ꒰•◡•꒱ #MyIDisGangnamBeauty
The very last one! It’s roughly two-thirds through the episode, after the scene of poor Mi-rae being badgered with plastic surgery questions by her tutee.
I started My ID is Gangnam Beauty on a whim, and so far, the rambling slice-of-life pace has been perfect. The plot is simple, but it allows for these quiet, contemplative moments of realisation and growth.
Although Kyung-seok is hurt that Mi-rae asked him out for drinks to convince him to meet his mum, he stays and listens. And although she’s worried because Kyung-seok isn’t taking her actions well, Mi-rae presses on with a bit of wisdom from her experience with her dad.
Flashbacks are often used indiscriminately in dramas, but the editing in this scene helped us to see that Mi-rae’s words made Kyung-seok see his mum’s expression in a different light.
For some reason, I missed the last Love, February, and having just returned to the fan wall a few days ago, I missed @hotcocoagirl\’s post explaining the challenge. Thinking it might be a broad movement (like No Shave November), I did the millenial thing and… Googled it. And Google gave me my love horoscope for February 😶
I chuckled, but soon, my uncontrollable impulse to micro-analyse took over. \”Love\” is often conceived of so narrowly: as heterosexual, romantic love; as parental love; maybe as the bond that ties friends together.
I\’m turning 28 this May, and I\’ve never dated anyone or had a romantic relationship. But come to think of it, I sure know a lot about love. And maybe because I never thought about love in the few restricted senses listed, I\’ve learned to look out for it in all its alternate forms.
Love is the way an ex-colleague hears about your new job and immediately exclaims, \”That\’s a perfect fit for you!\”, even though it has been 4 years since you worked together; you never realised she knew you this well. It\’s the little claw machine unicorn plushie your co-worker leaves on your table (\”we got it using a token we picked up, so I believe it\’s your lucky mascot\”) after a particularly harrowing meeting with your unreasonable boss. It\’s the crestfallen expression your brother has when he had a sip of excellent bubble tea and carefully brings it home to share, only to drop it right at your doorstep and spill all of it.
Love doesn\’t always present itself as love; more often than not, it comes in small packages of kindness, understanding, and remembrance. How blessed are those of us who learn to see this.
Love, in all its little non-romantic forms,
February
When coco first introduced Love February I guess that post said that is was about all forms of platonic love. So I guess you nailed it. And I think it was a personal thing for them which they shared with us hence I guess its not a challenge found on Google, just a rare gem on DB.
That’s the first Love, February post ~ it went from a writing exercise to lift my mood to a yearly practice I shared on DB for the first time last year.
Only fools, in my opinion, confine love to the romantic ~
Love is love.
I’m older than you and single as far as I can remember.
Not having a couple to share a romantic love doesn’t mean love does not rule my life, because it does: my family, my friends, my moments of solitude. All of them are expressions of love and it makes my world go round.
Thank you, show, for reminding me to look out for the ordinary days that will turn into the happiest moments of my life. #TheLightInYourEyes #OrOneLitreOfTearsSeason2?
If it’s a hug from you, yes!!! *Bear hugs right back* The show reminded me once again how important it is to learn about stories of people different from me. It’s an exercise in empathy, but it also imparts life lessons so I won’t have to wait till I grow old to find out.
*crashes the hug party* I thought I already thought all the thinks I have for LIYE, but your comment captures one more reason why I love this painful show. ♥
Crashers of this party get big bear hugs too! And yes, isn’t that why a place like Dramabeans becomes more precious? (And hey, that’s the theme of the month too!)
Because I accidentally spoiled myself, I was prepared for what the twist at the end of ep 10 of The Light in Your Eyes was. But I sure wasn’t prepared for how it was revealed.
There’s the shakiness of the handheld camera, the skewed angles, the roiling sea (an apt backdrop, for it often symbolises life and hardship); the slow cello music and the quick cuts between fragments of Hye-ja’s memories, and the layering of dissonant audio feedback over the melodic music. All of these carefully constructed elements were put together to produce an instant sense of disorientation that connects us to Hye-ja’s perspective.
Recently, a friend I haven\’t spoken to in at least 10 years texted me (yes, a text, and not a Facebook post) to wish me happy birthday and asked how I\’ve been doing. I immediately wondered if she was trying to sell me insurance.
Not sure if K-dramas have taught me well, or fed my overthinking tendencies 😶
I just said hello and thank you without answering the “How have you been”, and she hasn’t replied. So thankfully, no! I do recall her being a doctor, and I don’t think she’s changed career paths. But it was still quite awkward so I didn’t try to keep up the convo.
I am also weary when ppl text me out of nowhere. Because more times than not they want something. Which sucks, but I’m a horrible texter so I don’t get that upset. Well, I try not to. Hopefully you had a good chat with your friend though. Happy late birthday! 🎉🎂
I see. I haven’t really seen anyone from high school since we graduated and I really don’t want to, so I understand that it might be better if the conversation ends there. Still nice that she texted you:)
“Auroras are . . . an error. But even an error can be [so] beautiful that it makes you tear up.”
Finally back in a better head space to pick up The Light in Your Eyes where I left off, at Ep.7. This scene went straight to my heart. The acting, the directing, the writing—all of it hit the mark.
A local indie cinema I frequent is bringing in Beautiful Days, which caught my attention because Jang Dong-yoon is in it! Off to buy my tickets ⸜(*ˊᗜˋ*)⸝
I’m back from my last stint as a part-time florist! While searching for a full-time job, I’ve been making bouquets for corporate floral bar events (usually at retail stores).
It’s tough work standing all day, getting pricked by thorny roses, hauling around buckets of flowers and leaves, getting sore wrists from wrapping hundreds of bouquets within a weekend. I had to fend off people who kept touching the real flowers to see if they were fake (and grabbing the fake ones thinking they were real). Passers-by even treated me as the mall’s information counter for some reason.
All the same, I was grateful for a job that let me focus on one task at a time, and gave me the opportunity to do something productive during a discouraging job hunt. I wonder if I’ll miss the simple joy of completing a bouquet when I start my job next month. One thing’s for sure, though: I’ll never look at a bouquet again without thinking of the hard work that went into making it.
It seems very relaxing to be surrounded by beautiful flowers, but in reality you always have dirt under your fingers, an aching back from standing (it’s just easier to work standing up), and small cuts from unknown sources! But it’s very satisfying to look at a crate of completed bouquets at the end of a long day (:
Just started watching The Return of Superman on the train to my part-time job. I must say it takes quite a bit of effort to reconcile my image of Tablo with the baby voice he uses on Haru 😅
I was warming up to our main couple again now that we’re past the misunderstandings and passive aggression, but the last scene of Ep16 threw me off again.
Shanshan has her flaws as a character, but the fact that she’s such an independent girl, yet came all the way to look for Momo to confide in her, indicates how troubled she is by her problems with Fupei.
And Momo didn’t even bother listening to her right from the start, much less try to help. If you let Shanshan stay, you should listen to her. If you weren’t prepared to, you can tell her it’s not a good time. She did ask. It’s like… come on. You can be in a cute, loving new relationship without being a terrible friend, you know :/ #PutYourHeadOnMyShoulder
At first, I blamed Shanshan for imposing on Weimo couple but aside from the annoyance that she interrupted my enjoyment, I think what happened was realistic. Shanshan is thinking purely of her own misery, she didn’t notice or didn’t bother that she was imposing on Wei Yi and Momo.
For Momo, she knows and she does place importance on her friendship with Shanshan, that’s why she let her stay all night till the morning. She tried to lend a listening ear but was so ever distracted because what she really wants is to spend time with Wei Yi.
She’s an imperfect friend but not a terrible one. Same goes with Shanshan.
Yeah, also Shan Shan already talked MoMo’s ears off on the phone the night prior which abruptly ends DoraMo’s evening together. I think it would be difficult for anyone to once again give full attention when a friend is obviously in the mood just to rant, repeatedly no less.
But Shan Shan did ask Mo Mo for advice, and she wasn’t just there to rant. We don’t know how long the phone call went on for, because it wasn’t shown, and Mo Mo was quite dismissive of Shan Shan’s concerns even on the phone call (she told Shan Shan that FP will come back begging in a day or two, but that’s not a solution to the issue). I think that’s why Shan Shan sought advice again, because Mo Mo wasn’t listening carefully enough to give proper advice or at least to tell her she isn’t in the position to do so.
That’s true, but then she doesn’t have to be avoidant about it. She can just tell Shan Shan that she isn’t in a position to advise her about Fu Pei, and Shan Shan is mature enough to understand that. It’ll be nice if Shan Shan picked up on that, but she is clearly quite distressed, and Mo Mo isn’t making it very clear, so I wouldn’t blame Shan Shan for not inferring this.
MoMo did clearly say that’s fuPei is a scum and expressed her disapproval even before they started dating.
And MoMo can only do so much because she has to draw a line when it comes to FuPei. It’s not easy for her to give advice because her prejudice for FuPei is high.
Even if ShanShan is wrong MoMo will always blame FuPei. I think it’s best she doesn’t get involved. This one ShanShan has to fix herself.
Also it’s MoMo’s personality. I don’t think she shares her feelings and discusses much. Even her mom mentions that. Not all friends act the same. Some friends are for advice, some friends are just there for you and some friends help you with distraction.
I don’t think she did bad.
You’re right that different people help their friends in different ways, but that’s exactly my point. It would be nice if she were willing to listen, and actually did. But she didn’t have to, and she could’ve wiggled her way out of it. My issue with her is that she neither turned Shan Shan away nor listened after inviting her in. And the way the show scripted it admittedly made it worse, because it’s not that Mo Mo was shown listening at first, then getting tired after a while (that’s natural, and I’d understand). She just wasn’t listening from the start, and that was unpleasant.
If she’s not comfortable saying it directly, that she doesn’t want to help out where Fu Pei is involved, she could have told Shan Shan she had plans for the night. Shan Shan should have been prepared to be turned away, because you need to consider that as a possibility when you turn up unannounced at someone’s house. Or if Mo Mo wanted a more permanent solution, she could ask Shan Shan to consult one of her other friends with more relationship experience.
I’m probably the only one to agree with you on this – maybe because I’ve found myself exactly in Shan Shan’s interrupting shoes in the past. 😅 (Not that I stayed all night, or even half an hour) BUT there are definitely better ways for Momo to have handled that scenario. However, for the sake of comedy in a rom com, I let it slide.
I wish I were able to let it slide, but it fed into my discomfort with Mo Mo’s behaviour in the past few episodes. She does seem quite self-centred no matter who she’s with.
When she was jealous over the lab senior and Wei Yi’s interactions, she behaved however she wanted to towards Wei Yi without considering how he might feel on the receiving end (it’s lucky that he didn’t mind). When Prof Jiang said he would keep the kitten, she wanted to keep it even though she was staying at a place that’s not her own, and the owner of the place is allergic. And even during their cute date, she kept adding items onto their order until Wei Yi noticed it was enough and didn’t add his own picks.
So I guess it’s not surprising that in this case, she would choose to focus on the fact that she wants to spend more time with Wei Yi rather than that Shan Shan is really in need of help. I just want to enjoy this as the light-hearted slice-of-life rom-com it is, without these glaring flaws that are being passed off as… not flaws, because the female lead is cute and gets away with it. I liked her when she spoke up for herself earlier on in the show (e.g. when she rejected Fu Pei), but subsequently, I feel like the show stopped trying to show her strengths.
On this point, I again, agree with you. I mentioned it in my very first post: http://www.dramabeans.com/members/greenfields/activity/766701/
but rather briefly. Momo’s expectations drive me nuts. She expects her boyfriend/kind of boyfriend (at that time Fu Pei) to accompany her for interviews, pick her up from school, answer all phone calls immediately, now she half expects Wei Yi to be there after work hours, he does all the cooking, he picks up her shoes, he pays for everything (the money thing might be cultural?) and on and on.
What I understand is that the show is trying to project the image of The Perfect Guy and we’re meant to fawn over Wei Yi. I can also appreciate that Momo isn’t perfect, she’s actually quite self centered. But it IS a bit much, more so because the show doesn’t portray her in a self-centered light. We seem to be seeing her as Wei Yi sees her; and need to take a step back to see what you’ve rightly pointed out. Imho.
That’s true, I hadn’t noticed it extended to her expectations from so early on, and that the image/fantasy of a guy like Wei Yi is part of the genre. I’m happy to have shows with flawed characters, but it’s more meaningful when the show takes us through their growth as they learn to address their own flaws.
I guess that’s why I’ve started looking forward more to Shan Shan and Fu Pei’s relationship, because even though I dislike FP as a character, their relationship is guided by the navigation of SS’s expectations and FP’s personality weakness.
Spent my Saturday baking a carrot cake for my mum! Had to do it in advance because I idiotically agreed to work for my florist next weekend, forgetting that it would be Mother’s Day ;ㅅ;
Also, why didn’t the “How to grease and flour baking tins” tutorial videos tell me that my tin would end up looking like the skin of some deep sea creature? 😬
This is the recipe I used for the carrot cake: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/17344/carrot-cake-xi/ It’s really soft and spongy! I’ve made it a few times and it hasn’t turned out badly once. Changes I made: I used coconut oil instead of vegetable oil (because my dad bought a big bottle to drink and promptly forgot its existence), cut the oil by 1/4 (e.g. 100ml becomes 25 ml), and reduced the sugar by half.
300g carrots
300g plain flour
200g light brown sugar
300ml oil
3 eggs
100g walnuts
1tsp baking powder
1tsp baking (bicarbonated) soda
3tbs of mixed spices + little bit of grounded vanilla pod (seeds are best for creams and empty vanilla pods to favour your pastry or sugar)
orange zest
lemon zest
buttermilk
Icing:
300g soft cream cheese
100g icing sugar
vanilla extract
2tbs of rum – optional
lemon zest +juice
1. Whisk egg yolks with sugar until fluffy and creamy, slowly add oil until smooth.
2. Sift flour with baking powder and soda and add spoon by spoon to egg mixture. Add spices, orange & lemon zest, chopped walnuts and grated carrots (I use the larger side of grater, like this carrots keep their juice inside). Mix well.
3. Whisk egg whites until soft peaks and add spoon by spoon to the mixture, don’t overmix, mix it with spatula. If your pastry is too thick add some buttermilk.
4. Bake in preheated oven at 150 – 180 degrees Celsius ( depends of the type of oven you’re using) until golden – I’m using wooden barbecue stick to check if it’s done inside.
Your baking tin looks non-stick, did you have to grease or even flour it?
I have not baked carrot cake but I think this is a recipe with higher percentage of fat. Greasing the pan should be minimal. I’d go with either lightly grease it or flour it.
It is, but strangely the previous times when I made this cake it got stuck. Now that you mention it, the non-stick material must be why the oil doesn’t go on evenly. But fortunately it removed cleanly!
I am happy to announce that 5 months, 26 applications, and many nights of fitful sleep later… I have finally secured a job as a research assistant in education research! (≧∇≦)
It\’s a short contract, but I\’m just glad for a start. I am excited to work in a job that lets me nerd out and learn while working. Even better, I don\’t start so soon (because the HR is slow), which means I still have time to catch up on dramas 😏
In return for the good vibes and kind advice Beanies have offered, I present:
💜✨ PurpleTeapot\’s Guide to Job-Seeking ✨ 💜
In the comments, I will be sharing some tips I gained, with personal examples. Hope it\’ll make your job search easier than mine!
1. Reflect on your latest work experience.
Before starting your search, evaluate what worked and didn’t work for you in your previous stint (another full-time job or an internship). Your insights will guide you in what positions to apply for, and what questions to ask prospective employers during interviews to assess whether the job will be a better fit.
2. Think about the skills that you enjoy using.
When job-hunting, we tend to think about what industry and positions we are interested in, but this can be limiting. Sometimes the market doesn’t have enough of these positions, or your current qualifications don’t match demands, or it turns out that your strengths don’t fit the job as well as you believe.
Thinking not just about what role interests you, but what skills you enjoy using, can open up unexpected but suitable options. If you’re not sure what you like, you can try the opposite—eliminating what you don’t like. Also try doing this career personality test and Adobe’s Creative Type test.
3. Read online articles.
The job market has become more demanding and unpredictable compared to the past, but an advantage we have is more access to advice and help online. I found The Balance Careers and The Muse very helpful, even though they weren’t specific to the local job market.
4. Keep your LinkedIn updated!
If you’re early on in your career, it’s unlikely that you’ll get scouted on LinkedIn. But updating your profile can serve two functions.
First, you get information on prospective companies looking for skills you possess. Write a short intro on your career aspirations and fill in responsibilities from your past work experiences. Be sure to include keywords for hard skills you gained.
With this, you’ll start turning up in prospective employers’ random searches. Sometimes it’s a company you didn’t know about or expect you’d be a fit for. Use this to reverse-search them and see what positions they’re hiring for. (Look up job portals and their websites, as they don’t always pay LinkedIn to advertise open positions.)
Second, when a hiring manager for a job you applied to does a directed search of your profile, they can learn more about you than what’s in your resume.
5. Make a master document of your job search and review it.
Make a document with two sections: future and past applications. Under future apps, you can save links to jobs you’re interested in, order them by deadline or preference, and also dump a list of positions you’re not sure about but want to keep in mind.
Under past apps, detail positions & companies you applied for, the date the hiring ad was posted, when you applied and heard back, and the dates of tests/interviews and the outcomes. This will give you a sense of hiring timelines. It’s also good for when you need to jog your memory on which cover letter to retrieve and edit for a new app for a similar role.
Using this, review your search on a regular basis. If you’re not hearing back despite a ton of applications, is it because you’re cutting it too close to the deadline and they’ve already hired someone? Are you applying for very similar positions? Try applying quicker next time, or adjusting the type of jobs you’re applying for, and see if you land more interviews.
6. Save application materials for the jobs you applied for.
Save and organise the job descriptions and your resume and cover letter for each position. Hiring processes can be long, and there’s no guarantee you’ll remember the details of a job when you get an interview call.
You can also easily find and modify past materials for future apps to similar roles. But make sure someone else (a friend or career advisor) has given you feedback on the original copy first, so that you’re not churning out versions of an ineffective cover letter.
7. Tap on your personal network.
A long job search can take its toll on your mental health and social life, especially if a lot of your friends are already ahead with their careers and you feel self-conscious when with them.
But if you have a supportive network, don’t be afraid to leverage on it. Catch up with friends and share your job search concerns. They might know about job openings you don’t, or be able to suggest career paths you’re suited for but haven’t considered. After all, there’s a limit to what opportunities a single person knows and can find.
A job search can feel isolating, but make sure you’re not the one isolating yourself. You might be surprised at the help you can find if you try asking.
8. Be attentive before and during your interview.
In today’s job market, interviews are no longer a one-way process of employers assessing you. You are also assessing whether the company is right for you.
Google “Interview red flags for employees” and read up on the topic. Try to gather enough information so that you won’t jump into a job despite warning signs, only to suffer mentally and physically, or to quit shortly after.
My Experience
I met a very disorganised, hasty hiring manager, which I mentioned in an OT some weeks back. When a hiring manager is rushing, doesn’t ask basic questions to sound you out (“Why are you interested in our company/ this position?”), and misses important info on you, it’s a sure indicator of what they’re going to be like as a boss.
I had a strange experience with another company whose offer I had rejected. They tried to enter negotiations with me without clarifying whether I wished to do so. The way they approached it cohered with the top-down, overly traditional culture I sensed during my interview. I talked about it in another OT comment.
9. It’s okay to reject an offer without others lined up.
This comes with two caveats: that you’re financially able to take more time to secure a job that fits better, and that you’ve assessed the offer and you’re sure it’s a poor fit.
My Experience
After close to 4 months of unsuccessful applications, I received an offer (mentioned in no. 8 above). Both my logic and intuition told me to reject it, but I was becoming weary of the job search, and feared I wouldn’t get another offer.
A friend told me to rank these in order of importance: job content (interest, engages your strengths), opportunity for growth and development, relevance to career path, good working culture and co-workers, and pay + benefits. Then she told me to list out the pros and cons of the offer. When I was done, the answer was clear.
I also reasoned that it was better for me to hold out for a few more months to secure a job that fit better, rather than to rough it out for one year in an unsuitable job before quitting. Researchers have also found that you might be more stressed in a bad job than if you remain unemployed.
10. Breaks are really important!
Thanks @TurtuallySarcastic for reminding me of this one! Sometimes, you just need a few weeks off to rest. Even while you’re actively searching, do a mix of other types of work (e.g. volunteering, part-time jobs) and relaxing activities.
My Experience
I tried to make use of the flexible schedule that came with unemployment. I exercised routinely, met friends for meals, caught up on a bunch of admin for Seoulbeats, and buddy-watched shows with my mum.
I also took up a part-time job with a florist. It provided a bit of income, but more importantly, it made me feel like I was doing something worthwhile. It was a much-needed change from the futile mood of my job search at the time.
These are honestly really great. Thanks! *bookmarked* for the unemployment + job hunt that is likely to begin in a year from now (for me).
And congratulations on the job! 🙂
*blushes* erm you’re welcome? :p Congratulations! I am so happy you got to deliver good news in the end! 😉
Some weeks you just have no job interviews, exams or interesting applications to busy yourself with, or need to wait for feedback (which is not a guarantee). It is usually during those weeks that the bad thoughts emerge (again). I used to view it as a punishment for being unemployed, but I know better now.
If students need to take study breaks, why should job hunters be any different? I personally preferred lazily browsing the internet and watching K-dramas during those weeks, and ironically it was during my last break week in March that I got both my current job offered and got selected for other job interview rounds. Things can change quickly, or you can at least change the way you view things, if you step back once in a while.
During breaks you can also create good habits and improve soft skills. I started with a mini work-out and drinking some water one day, now three years later I cannot go a day without that mini work-out or watter bottle. It is not enough by health standards, but it is quite impressive in my case. Another one would be my awkwardness around babies. I used to be scared to hold my baby goddaughter back then, but after playing with her and helping to care for her for 3 years, not only am I her favorite playmate now, I also have no issues stealing her baby brother from his mother’s arms :p
a big heaty congratulations girl… and am sooo happy that you found the work you love doing….
learn as much as you can but don’t forget to enjoy… have fun….
PurpleTeapot
March 23, 2020 at 6:03 AM
THERE IS A CROCODILE ON HIS STETHOSCOPE #HospitalPlaylist
JiaYou
March 23, 2020 at 6:58 AM
Protect the crocodile at all cost!
Bebe | Nessa❣️
March 23, 2020 at 8:26 AM
Maybe it’s time that Shin Min Ho transfers hospitals
earthna
March 23, 2020 at 9:12 PM
That would be epic! He should bring Namwoo with him!
Bebe | Nessa❣️
March 23, 2020 at 9:44 PM
😉😉😉😉😉😉
mmmmm
March 23, 2020 at 9:24 AM
I saw that too in the second re-watch! How cute he is!
PurpleTeapot
February 25, 2020 at 8:10 PM
Why… why did he have to bend down so that he’s on her eye level this is so cute it’s devastating 😫 #ExtraordinaryYou
transient
February 25, 2020 at 8:30 PM
Because otherwise she won’t be able to hear what he’s saying 😀
The lead actress had mentioned in BTS that when her tall co-stars talk with one another, she sometimes can’t hear what they are talking about because they are so high up XD
PurpleTeapot
February 25, 2020 at 10:14 PM
Omg that’s hilarious! It reminds me of this prof whose office is near mine.
When I run into him in the corridors, I often end up saying hi to his chest (I’m 5 ft 2/ 158cm).
PurpleTeapot
February 21, 2020 at 7:08 AM
Why yes, being so good-looking that I need a relationship-status nametag so that no one hits on me at work is something I can totally relate to ꒰•◡•꒱ #MyIDisGangnamBeauty
nightmoon
February 21, 2020 at 5:23 PM
Haha, I don’t even remember this happening in the drama. What episode is this from?
PurpleTeapot
February 22, 2020 at 7:27 PM
The very last one! It’s roughly two-thirds through the episode, after the scene of poor Mi-rae being badgered with plastic surgery questions by her tutee.
nightmoon
February 23, 2020 at 8:21 AM
Thanks! I’ll go back and check it out later.
PurpleTeapot
February 7, 2020 at 5:18 AM
I started My ID is Gangnam Beauty on a whim, and so far, the rambling slice-of-life pace has been perfect. The plot is simple, but it allows for these quiet, contemplative moments of realisation and growth.
Although Kyung-seok is hurt that Mi-rae asked him out for drinks to convince him to meet his mum, he stays and listens. And although she’s worried because Kyung-seok isn’t taking her actions well, Mi-rae presses on with a bit of wisdom from her experience with her dad.
Flashbacks are often used indiscriminately in dramas, but the editing in this scene helped us to see that Mi-rae’s words made Kyung-seok see his mum’s expression in a different light.
PurpleTeapot
February 6, 2020 at 9:46 PM
You know your friend loves you when they roast you like this (◔ᴗ◔) #MyIDisGangnamBeauty
Love,
February
PurpleTeapot
February 3, 2020 at 3:11 AM
For some reason, I missed the last Love, February, and having just returned to the fan wall a few days ago, I missed @hotcocoagirl\’s post explaining the challenge. Thinking it might be a broad movement (like No Shave November), I did the millenial thing and… Googled it. And Google gave me my love horoscope for February 😶
I chuckled, but soon, my uncontrollable impulse to micro-analyse took over. \”Love\” is often conceived of so narrowly: as heterosexual, romantic love; as parental love; maybe as the bond that ties friends together.
I\’m turning 28 this May, and I\’ve never dated anyone or had a romantic relationship. But come to think of it, I sure know a lot about love. And maybe because I never thought about love in the few restricted senses listed, I\’ve learned to look out for it in all its alternate forms.
Love is the way an ex-colleague hears about your new job and immediately exclaims, \”That\’s a perfect fit for you!\”, even though it has been 4 years since you worked together; you never realised she knew you this well. It\’s the little claw machine unicorn plushie your co-worker leaves on your table (\”we got it using a token we picked up, so I believe it\’s your lucky mascot\”) after a particularly harrowing meeting with your unreasonable boss. It\’s the crestfallen expression your brother has when he had a sip of excellent bubble tea and carefully brings it home to share, only to drop it right at your doorstep and spill all of it.
Love doesn\’t always present itself as love; more often than not, it comes in small packages of kindness, understanding, and remembrance. How blessed are those of us who learn to see this.
Love, in all its little non-romantic forms,
February
KSKalways
February 3, 2020 at 6:04 AM
love is love is love.
I love your definition and its beautiful examples, dear Beanie.
wapz
February 3, 2020 at 6:43 AM
When coco first introduced Love February I guess that post said that is was about all forms of platonic love. So I guess you nailed it. And I think it was a personal thing for them which they shared with us hence I guess its not a challenge found on Google, just a rare gem on DB.
Cocoa, The Fake Poet of February
February 3, 2020 at 9:41 AM
https://rathermundane.wordpress.com/2016/02/02/love-february/
That’s the first Love, February post ~ it went from a writing exercise to lift my mood to a yearly practice I shared on DB for the first time last year.
Only fools, in my opinion, confine love to the romantic ~
Eazal
February 3, 2020 at 9:49 AM
Love is love.
I’m older than you and single as far as I can remember.
Not having a couple to share a romantic love doesn’t mean love does not rule my life, because it does: my family, my friends, my moments of solitude. All of them are expressions of love and it makes my world go round.
PurpleTeapot
July 10, 2019 at 4:31 PM
Dyson is closing in on my life, and not just through PPLs in dramas 😲
PurpleTeapot
June 29, 2019 at 7:12 AM
Thank you, show, for reminding me to look out for the ordinary days that will turn into the happiest moments of my life. #TheLightInYourEyes #OrOneLitreOfTearsSeason2?
bam 🐢🐌💖~
June 29, 2019 at 4:03 PM
Do you need a hug? Please say yes. This show always makes me want to give people the warmest hugs and tell them how important they are.
PurpleTeapot
June 30, 2019 at 2:14 AM
If it’s a hug from you, yes!!! *Bear hugs right back* The show reminded me once again how important it is to learn about stories of people different from me. It’s an exercise in empathy, but it also imparts life lessons so I won’t have to wait till I grow old to find out.
mary
June 30, 2019 at 11:38 AM
*crashes the hug party* I thought I already thought all the thinks I have for LIYE, but your comment captures one more reason why I love this painful show. ♥
PurpleTeapot
July 1, 2019 at 7:43 AM
Crashers of this party get big bear hugs too! And yes, isn’t that why a place like Dramabeans becomes more precious? (And hey, that’s the theme of the month too!)
bam 🐢🐌💖~
July 5, 2019 at 2:46 PM
Love your take on it, PurpleTeapot, as always! I’m out of words for the day, so I’ll leave with another hug for you, and another for @mary
PurpleTeapot
May 30, 2019 at 8:20 AM
Because I accidentally spoiled myself, I was prepared for what the twist at the end of ep 10 of The Light in Your Eyes was. But I sure wasn’t prepared for how it was revealed.
There’s the shakiness of the handheld camera, the skewed angles, the roiling sea (an apt backdrop, for it often symbolises life and hardship); the slow cello music and the quick cuts between fragments of Hye-ja’s memories, and the layering of dissonant audio feedback over the melodic music. All of these carefully constructed elements were put together to produce an instant sense of disorientation that connects us to Hye-ja’s perspective.
WishfulToki
May 30, 2019 at 10:12 AM
The scene was painfully disorienting for me too… I wish I had been spoiled. Good job noticing the musical elements. 👍🏼
Nam Joo-hyuk is Tall
May 30, 2019 at 11:12 PM
It was one of the most well-constructed scenes I’ve seen in a drama.
PurpleTeapot
May 27, 2019 at 7:25 AM
Love Hye-ja’s clapback at the plastic surgery clinic (◔ᴗ◔) And I also appreciate how this show spotlights ageism. #TheLightInYourEyes
PurpleTeapot
May 26, 2019 at 7:49 AM
Recently, a friend I haven\’t spoken to in at least 10 years texted me (yes, a text, and not a Facebook post) to wish me happy birthday and asked how I\’ve been doing. I immediately wondered if she was trying to sell me insurance.
Not sure if K-dramas have taught me well, or fed my overthinking tendencies 😶
earthna
May 26, 2019 at 9:31 AM
So did she sell you insurance? Lol. I get the same feeling when somebody texts me out of nowhere after not contacting me for so long.
PurpleTeapot
May 26, 2019 at 10:02 PM
I just said hello and thank you without answering the “How have you been”, and she hasn’t replied. So thankfully, no! I do recall her being a doctor, and I don’t think she’s changed career paths. But it was still quite awkward so I didn’t try to keep up the convo.
Jellybn
May 26, 2019 at 11:31 AM
I am also weary when ppl text me out of nowhere. Because more times than not they want something. Which sucks, but I’m a horrible texter so I don’t get that upset. Well, I try not to. Hopefully you had a good chat with your friend though. Happy late birthday! 🎉🎂
PurpleTeapot
May 26, 2019 at 10:03 PM
Thank you! ^^ I didn’t have much to say because we haven’t spoken in so long, so I just thanked her and she hasn’t replied, which I don’t mind.
Jellybn
May 26, 2019 at 10:15 PM
I see. I haven’t really seen anyone from high school since we graduated and I really don’t want to, so I understand that it might be better if the conversation ends there. Still nice that she texted you:)
PurpleTeapot
May 22, 2019 at 8:05 AM
“Auroras are . . . an error. But even an error can be [so] beautiful that it makes you tear up.”
Finally back in a better head space to pick up The Light in Your Eyes where I left off, at Ep.7. This scene went straight to my heart. The acting, the directing, the writing—all of it hit the mark.
PurpleTeapot
May 17, 2019 at 3:42 AM
A local indie cinema I frequent is bringing in Beautiful Days, which caught my attention because Jang Dong-yoon is in it! Off to buy my tickets ⸜(*ˊᗜˋ*)⸝
PurpleTeapot
May 16, 2019 at 7:14 AM
I’m back from my last stint as a part-time florist! While searching for a full-time job, I’ve been making bouquets for corporate floral bar events (usually at retail stores).
It’s tough work standing all day, getting pricked by thorny roses, hauling around buckets of flowers and leaves, getting sore wrists from wrapping hundreds of bouquets within a weekend. I had to fend off people who kept touching the real flowers to see if they were fake (and grabbing the fake ones thinking they were real). Passers-by even treated me as the mall’s information counter for some reason.
All the same, I was grateful for a job that let me focus on one task at a time, and gave me the opportunity to do something productive during a discouraging job hunt. I wonder if I’ll miss the simple joy of completing a bouquet when I start my job next month. One thing’s for sure, though: I’ll never look at a bouquet again without thinking of the hard work that went into making it.
Cocoa, The Fake Poet of February
May 16, 2019 at 7:24 AM
These are beautiful ~
good luck on the end of job hunting, but it seems like flower arranging is nothing to sneeze at 😉😊🥳
💐🌹🌸🌺
PurpleTeapot
May 17, 2019 at 3:37 AM
Thank you! I still have a month’s break before my full-time job starts and I intend to fully enjoy my freedom ^^
Ayan
May 16, 2019 at 10:10 AM
Gorgeous arrangements!! I hope the job hunting goes well 😊
PurpleTeapot
May 17, 2019 at 3:38 AM
Thank you! I secured a full-time job in end April, and will start next month!
Ayan
May 17, 2019 at 5:26 AM
That’s great news! I hope you enjoy your break 😊
transient
May 16, 2019 at 6:05 PM
Those are beautiful.
I had thought florist isn’t hard work. Those kdramas deceived me.
PurpleTeapot
May 17, 2019 at 3:40 AM
It seems very relaxing to be surrounded by beautiful flowers, but in reality you always have dirt under your fingers, an aching back from standing (it’s just easier to work standing up), and small cuts from unknown sources! But it’s very satisfying to look at a crate of completed bouquets at the end of a long day (:
PurpleTeapot
May 8, 2019 at 5:52 AM
Just started watching The Return of Superman on the train to my part-time job. I must say it takes quite a bit of effort to reconcile my image of Tablo with the baby voice he uses on Haru 😅
PurpleTeapot
May 5, 2019 at 6:18 AM
I was warming up to our main couple again now that we’re past the misunderstandings and passive aggression, but the last scene of Ep16 threw me off again.
Shanshan has her flaws as a character, but the fact that she’s such an independent girl, yet came all the way to look for Momo to confide in her, indicates how troubled she is by her problems with Fupei.
And Momo didn’t even bother listening to her right from the start, much less try to help. If you let Shanshan stay, you should listen to her. If you weren’t prepared to, you can tell her it’s not a good time. She did ask. It’s like… come on. You can be in a cute, loving new relationship without being a terrible friend, you know :/ #PutYourHeadOnMyShoulder
outofthisworld 不愧是我 🏍
May 5, 2019 at 6:44 AM
I have a different view.
At first, I blamed Shanshan for imposing on Weimo couple but aside from the annoyance that she interrupted my enjoyment, I think what happened was realistic. Shanshan is thinking purely of her own misery, she didn’t notice or didn’t bother that she was imposing on Wei Yi and Momo.
For Momo, she knows and she does place importance on her friendship with Shanshan, that’s why she let her stay all night till the morning. She tried to lend a listening ear but was so ever distracted because what she really wants is to spend time with Wei Yi.
She’s an imperfect friend but not a terrible one. Same goes with Shanshan.
Blue (@mayhemf)
May 5, 2019 at 7:29 AM
What ShanShan is failing to notice is that MoMo doesn’t want anything to do with FuPei.
🍙 kimbap noona
May 5, 2019 at 7:48 AM
Yeah, also Shan Shan already talked MoMo’s ears off on the phone the night prior which abruptly ends DoraMo’s evening together. I think it would be difficult for anyone to once again give full attention when a friend is obviously in the mood just to rant, repeatedly no less.
PurpleTeapot
May 6, 2019 at 5:25 AM
But Shan Shan did ask Mo Mo for advice, and she wasn’t just there to rant. We don’t know how long the phone call went on for, because it wasn’t shown, and Mo Mo was quite dismissive of Shan Shan’s concerns even on the phone call (she told Shan Shan that FP will come back begging in a day or two, but that’s not a solution to the issue). I think that’s why Shan Shan sought advice again, because Mo Mo wasn’t listening carefully enough to give proper advice or at least to tell her she isn’t in the position to do so.
PurpleTeapot
May 6, 2019 at 5:27 AM
That’s true, but then she doesn’t have to be avoidant about it. She can just tell Shan Shan that she isn’t in a position to advise her about Fu Pei, and Shan Shan is mature enough to understand that. It’ll be nice if Shan Shan picked up on that, but she is clearly quite distressed, and Mo Mo isn’t making it very clear, so I wouldn’t blame Shan Shan for not inferring this.
Blue (@mayhemf)
May 5, 2019 at 7:28 AM
MoMo did clearly say that’s fuPei is a scum and expressed her disapproval even before they started dating.
And MoMo can only do so much because she has to draw a line when it comes to FuPei. It’s not easy for her to give advice because her prejudice for FuPei is high.
Even if ShanShan is wrong MoMo will always blame FuPei. I think it’s best she doesn’t get involved. This one ShanShan has to fix herself.
Also it’s MoMo’s personality. I don’t think she shares her feelings and discusses much. Even her mom mentions that. Not all friends act the same. Some friends are for advice, some friends are just there for you and some friends help you with distraction.
I don’t think she did bad.
PurpleTeapot
May 6, 2019 at 5:43 AM
You’re right that different people help their friends in different ways, but that’s exactly my point. It would be nice if she were willing to listen, and actually did. But she didn’t have to, and she could’ve wiggled her way out of it. My issue with her is that she neither turned Shan Shan away nor listened after inviting her in. And the way the show scripted it admittedly made it worse, because it’s not that Mo Mo was shown listening at first, then getting tired after a while (that’s natural, and I’d understand). She just wasn’t listening from the start, and that was unpleasant.
If she’s not comfortable saying it directly, that she doesn’t want to help out where Fu Pei is involved, she could have told Shan Shan she had plans for the night. Shan Shan should have been prepared to be turned away, because you need to consider that as a possibility when you turn up unannounced at someone’s house. Or if Mo Mo wanted a more permanent solution, she could ask Shan Shan to consult one of her other friends with more relationship experience.
greenfields
May 5, 2019 at 11:19 AM
I’m probably the only one to agree with you on this – maybe because I’ve found myself exactly in Shan Shan’s interrupting shoes in the past. 😅 (Not that I stayed all night, or even half an hour) BUT there are definitely better ways for Momo to have handled that scenario. However, for the sake of comedy in a rom com, I let it slide.
PurpleTeapot
May 6, 2019 at 5:35 AM
I wish I were able to let it slide, but it fed into my discomfort with Mo Mo’s behaviour in the past few episodes. She does seem quite self-centred no matter who she’s with.
When she was jealous over the lab senior and Wei Yi’s interactions, she behaved however she wanted to towards Wei Yi without considering how he might feel on the receiving end (it’s lucky that he didn’t mind). When Prof Jiang said he would keep the kitten, she wanted to keep it even though she was staying at a place that’s not her own, and the owner of the place is allergic. And even during their cute date, she kept adding items onto their order until Wei Yi noticed it was enough and didn’t add his own picks.
So I guess it’s not surprising that in this case, she would choose to focus on the fact that she wants to spend more time with Wei Yi rather than that Shan Shan is really in need of help. I just want to enjoy this as the light-hearted slice-of-life rom-com it is, without these glaring flaws that are being passed off as… not flaws, because the female lead is cute and gets away with it. I liked her when she spoke up for herself earlier on in the show (e.g. when she rejected Fu Pei), but subsequently, I feel like the show stopped trying to show her strengths.
greenfields
May 6, 2019 at 10:52 AM
On this point, I again, agree with you. I mentioned it in my very first post:
http://www.dramabeans.com/members/greenfields/activity/766701/
but rather briefly. Momo’s expectations drive me nuts. She expects her boyfriend/kind of boyfriend (at that time Fu Pei) to accompany her for interviews, pick her up from school, answer all phone calls immediately, now she half expects Wei Yi to be there after work hours, he does all the cooking, he picks up her shoes, he pays for everything (the money thing might be cultural?) and on and on.
What I understand is that the show is trying to project the image of The Perfect Guy and we’re meant to fawn over Wei Yi. I can also appreciate that Momo isn’t perfect, she’s actually quite self centered. But it IS a bit much, more so because the show doesn’t portray her in a self-centered light. We seem to be seeing her as Wei Yi sees her; and need to take a step back to see what you’ve rightly pointed out. Imho.
PurpleTeapot
May 9, 2019 at 12:44 AM
That’s true, I hadn’t noticed it extended to her expectations from so early on, and that the image/fantasy of a guy like Wei Yi is part of the genre. I’m happy to have shows with flawed characters, but it’s more meaningful when the show takes us through their growth as they learn to address their own flaws.
I guess that’s why I’ve started looking forward more to Shan Shan and Fu Pei’s relationship, because even though I dislike FP as a character, their relationship is guided by the navigation of SS’s expectations and FP’s personality weakness.
PurpleTeapot
May 5, 2019 at 1:49 AM
Burst out laughing at this. Props to the stylist’s level of detail, even the clothes peg matches Momo’s clothes 😂 #PutYourHeadOnMyShoulder
PurpleTeapot
May 5, 2019 at 1:16 AM
Um… Prof Jiang? You seem to have forgotten that Weiyi’s confession failed because you guys were too scientific 😂 #PutYourHeadOnMyShoulder
egads aka Dame Maggie
May 5, 2019 at 5:28 AM
The Physics of Love gang is amazing. I would watch an entire series with those clueless idiots giving terrible relationship advice.
PurpleTeapot
May 4, 2019 at 2:20 AM
Spent my Saturday baking a carrot cake for my mum! Had to do it in advance because I idiotically agreed to work for my florist next weekend, forgetting that it would be Mother’s Day ;ㅅ;
Also, why didn’t the “How to grease and flour baking tins” tutorial videos tell me that my tin would end up looking like the skin of some deep sea creature? 😬
PurpleTeapot
May 4, 2019 at 2:24 AM
This is the recipe I used for the carrot cake: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/17344/carrot-cake-xi/ It’s really soft and spongy! I’ve made it a few times and it hasn’t turned out badly once. Changes I made: I used coconut oil instead of vegetable oil (because my dad bought a big bottle to drink and promptly forgot its existence), cut the oil by 1/4 (e.g. 100ml becomes 25 ml), and reduced the sugar by half.
And here’s the one I used for the cream cheese frosting: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/9926/cream-cheese-frosting-ii/ I reduced the sugar by almost half.
BC
May 4, 2019 at 7:21 AM
I’d modified some recipes for carrot cake and is lovely. I’m using more carrots and little bit of butter milk and my spices mixture.
PurpleTeapot
May 5, 2019 at 12:20 AM
Cool! What spices do you use? For mine, I just stuck to cinnamon as I don’t have many spices at home.
BC
May 5, 2019 at 5:41 AM
Spices mixture: 1 tbs cinnamon, 1 tbs ground ginger, 1tsp nutmeg, 1tsp gloves, 1 star anise, 1tsp anise, 1 tsp fennel seeds, 1tsp whole spice, 1 tsp black pepper + you can add some chilly pepper’s flakes
I ground it with my smoothie mixer now, it’s fast
BC
May 5, 2019 at 8:18 AM
The recipe I’m using:
300g carrots
300g plain flour
200g light brown sugar
300ml oil
3 eggs
100g walnuts
1tsp baking powder
1tsp baking (bicarbonated) soda
3tbs of mixed spices + little bit of grounded vanilla pod (seeds are best for creams and empty vanilla pods to favour your pastry or sugar)
orange zest
lemon zest
buttermilk
Icing:
300g soft cream cheese
100g icing sugar
vanilla extract
2tbs of rum – optional
lemon zest +juice
1. Whisk egg yolks with sugar until fluffy and creamy, slowly add oil until smooth.
2. Sift flour with baking powder and soda and add spoon by spoon to egg mixture. Add spices, orange & lemon zest, chopped walnuts and grated carrots (I use the larger side of grater, like this carrots keep their juice inside). Mix well.
3. Whisk egg whites until soft peaks and add spoon by spoon to the mixture, don’t overmix, mix it with spatula. If your pastry is too thick add some buttermilk.
4. Bake in preheated oven at 150 – 180 degrees Celsius ( depends of the type of oven you’re using) until golden – I’m using wooden barbecue stick to check if it’s done inside.
PurpleTeapot
May 6, 2019 at 6:15 AM
Thanks for sharing this! The lemon in the icing seems like it’ll make for a nice tart flavour!
outofthisworld 不愧是我 🏍
May 4, 2019 at 3:25 AM
Your baking tin looks non-stick, did you have to grease or even flour it?
I have not baked carrot cake but I think this is a recipe with higher percentage of fat. Greasing the pan should be minimal. I’d go with either lightly grease it or flour it.
outofthisworld 不愧是我 🏍
May 4, 2019 at 3:26 AM
Sea creature or not, the lovely cake with a Carrot Heart is awesome! Your mom will be delighted!
PurpleTeapot
May 4, 2019 at 3:33 AM
It is, but strangely the previous times when I made this cake it got stuck. Now that you mention it, the non-stick material must be why the oil doesn’t go on evenly. But fortunately it removed cleanly!
RaOnAh loves Jay B 💚
May 4, 2019 at 9:13 AM
It looks so cute!
bam 🐢🐌💖~
May 4, 2019 at 4:14 PM
I love that little carrot heart! Looks so yum. *reminds myself to be a good daughter like you and do something for my mom*
PurpleTeapot
May 3, 2019 at 8:53 AM
I am happy to announce that 5 months, 26 applications, and many nights of fitful sleep later… I have finally secured a job as a research assistant in education research! (≧∇≦)
It\’s a short contract, but I\’m just glad for a start. I am excited to work in a job that lets me nerd out and learn while working. Even better, I don\’t start so soon (because the HR is slow), which means I still have time to catch up on dramas 😏
In return for the good vibes and kind advice Beanies have offered, I present:
💜✨ PurpleTeapot\’s Guide to Job-Seeking ✨ 💜
In the comments, I will be sharing some tips I gained, with personal examples. Hope it\’ll make your job search easier than mine!
PurpleTeapot
May 3, 2019 at 8:53 AM
1. Reflect on your latest work experience.
Before starting your search, evaluate what worked and didn’t work for you in your previous stint (another full-time job or an internship). Your insights will guide you in what positions to apply for, and what questions to ask prospective employers during interviews to assess whether the job will be a better fit.
PurpleTeapot
May 3, 2019 at 8:54 AM
2. Think about the skills that you enjoy using.
When job-hunting, we tend to think about what industry and positions we are interested in, but this can be limiting. Sometimes the market doesn’t have enough of these positions, or your current qualifications don’t match demands, or it turns out that your strengths don’t fit the job as well as you believe.
Thinking not just about what role interests you, but what skills you enjoy using, can open up unexpected but suitable options. If you’re not sure what you like, you can try the opposite—eliminating what you don’t like. Also try doing this career personality test and Adobe’s Creative Type test.
PurpleTeapot
May 3, 2019 at 8:54 AM
3. Read online articles.
The job market has become more demanding and unpredictable compared to the past, but an advantage we have is more access to advice and help online. I found The Balance Careers and The Muse very helpful, even though they weren’t specific to the local job market.
PurpleTeapot
May 3, 2019 at 8:54 AM
4. Keep your LinkedIn updated!
If you’re early on in your career, it’s unlikely that you’ll get scouted on LinkedIn. But updating your profile can serve two functions.
First, you get information on prospective companies looking for skills you possess. Write a short intro on your career aspirations and fill in responsibilities from your past work experiences. Be sure to include keywords for hard skills you gained.
With this, you’ll start turning up in prospective employers’ random searches. Sometimes it’s a company you didn’t know about or expect you’d be a fit for. Use this to reverse-search them and see what positions they’re hiring for. (Look up job portals and their websites, as they don’t always pay LinkedIn to advertise open positions.)
Second, when a hiring manager for a job you applied to does a directed search of your profile, they can learn more about you than what’s in your resume.
greenfields
May 3, 2019 at 9:22 AM
I went and deleted my LinkedIn a little over a year ago because I hated it. HAHAHA But yeah, I know I have to put up a LinkedIn profile at some point.
PurpleTeapot
May 3, 2019 at 8:55 AM
5. Make a master document of your job search and review it.
Make a document with two sections: future and past applications. Under future apps, you can save links to jobs you’re interested in, order them by deadline or preference, and also dump a list of positions you’re not sure about but want to keep in mind.
Under past apps, detail positions & companies you applied for, the date the hiring ad was posted, when you applied and heard back, and the dates of tests/interviews and the outcomes. This will give you a sense of hiring timelines. It’s also good for when you need to jog your memory on which cover letter to retrieve and edit for a new app for a similar role.
Using this, review your search on a regular basis. If you’re not hearing back despite a ton of applications, is it because you’re cutting it too close to the deadline and they’ve already hired someone? Are you applying for very similar positions? Try applying quicker next time, or adjusting the type of jobs you’re applying for, and see if you land more interviews.
PurpleTeapot
May 3, 2019 at 8:55 AM
6. Save application materials for the jobs you applied for.
Save and organise the job descriptions and your resume and cover letter for each position. Hiring processes can be long, and there’s no guarantee you’ll remember the details of a job when you get an interview call.
You can also easily find and modify past materials for future apps to similar roles. But make sure someone else (a friend or career advisor) has given you feedback on the original copy first, so that you’re not churning out versions of an ineffective cover letter.
PurpleTeapot
May 3, 2019 at 8:55 AM
7. Tap on your personal network.
A long job search can take its toll on your mental health and social life, especially if a lot of your friends are already ahead with their careers and you feel self-conscious when with them.
But if you have a supportive network, don’t be afraid to leverage on it. Catch up with friends and share your job search concerns. They might know about job openings you don’t, or be able to suggest career paths you’re suited for but haven’t considered. After all, there’s a limit to what opportunities a single person knows and can find.
A job search can feel isolating, but make sure you’re not the one isolating yourself. You might be surprised at the help you can find if you try asking.
PurpleTeapot
May 3, 2019 at 8:55 AM
8. Be attentive before and during your interview.
In today’s job market, interviews are no longer a one-way process of employers assessing you. You are also assessing whether the company is right for you.
Google “Interview red flags for employees” and read up on the topic. Try to gather enough information so that you won’t jump into a job despite warning signs, only to suffer mentally and physically, or to quit shortly after.
PurpleTeapot
May 3, 2019 at 8:56 AM
My Experience
I met a very disorganised, hasty hiring manager, which I mentioned in an OT some weeks back. When a hiring manager is rushing, doesn’t ask basic questions to sound you out (“Why are you interested in our company/ this position?”), and misses important info on you, it’s a sure indicator of what they’re going to be like as a boss.
I had a strange experience with another company whose offer I had rejected. They tried to enter negotiations with me without clarifying whether I wished to do so. The way they approached it cohered with the top-down, overly traditional culture I sensed during my interview. I talked about it in another OT comment.
PurpleTeapot
May 3, 2019 at 8:56 AM
9. It’s okay to reject an offer without others lined up.
This comes with two caveats: that you’re financially able to take more time to secure a job that fits better, and that you’ve assessed the offer and you’re sure it’s a poor fit.
PurpleTeapot
May 3, 2019 at 8:57 AM
My Experience
After close to 4 months of unsuccessful applications, I received an offer (mentioned in no. 8 above). Both my logic and intuition told me to reject it, but I was becoming weary of the job search, and feared I wouldn’t get another offer.
A friend told me to rank these in order of importance: job content (interest, engages your strengths), opportunity for growth and development, relevance to career path, good working culture and co-workers, and pay + benefits. Then she told me to list out the pros and cons of the offer. When I was done, the answer was clear.
I also reasoned that it was better for me to hold out for a few more months to secure a job that fit better, rather than to rough it out for one year in an unsuitable job before quitting. Researchers have also found that you might be more stressed in a bad job than if you remain unemployed.
PurpleTeapot
May 3, 2019 at 8:56 AM
10. Breaks are really important!
Thanks @TurtuallySarcastic for reminding me of this one! Sometimes, you just need a few weeks off to rest. Even while you’re actively searching, do a mix of other types of work (e.g. volunteering, part-time jobs) and relaxing activities.
PurpleTeapot
May 3, 2019 at 8:57 AM
My Experience
I tried to make use of the flexible schedule that came with unemployment. I exercised routinely, met friends for meals, caught up on a bunch of admin for Seoulbeats, and buddy-watched shows with my mum.
I also took up a part-time job with a florist. It provided a bit of income, but more importantly, it made me feel like I was doing something worthwhile. It was a much-needed change from the futile mood of my job search at the time.
greenfields
May 3, 2019 at 9:09 AM
These are honestly really great. Thanks! *bookmarked* for the unemployment + job hunt that is likely to begin in a year from now (for me).
And congratulations on the job! 🙂
PurpleTeapot
May 4, 2019 at 3:22 AM
Thank you! ^^ Have a good study break and since you’re looking ahead, I’m sure you’ll be fairly prepared when the time comes!
Cocoa, The Fake Poet of February
May 3, 2019 at 9:25 AM
These are great pieces of advice ~ thanks for sharing! I will likely be using them in the next year ^_^
PurpleTeapot
May 4, 2019 at 3:22 AM
Good luck with the search! (:
TurtuallySarcastic
May 3, 2019 at 12:12 PM
*blushes* erm you’re welcome? :p Congratulations! I am so happy you got to deliver good news in the end! 😉
Some weeks you just have no job interviews, exams or interesting applications to busy yourself with, or need to wait for feedback (which is not a guarantee). It is usually during those weeks that the bad thoughts emerge (again). I used to view it as a punishment for being unemployed, but I know better now.
If students need to take study breaks, why should job hunters be any different? I personally preferred lazily browsing the internet and watching K-dramas during those weeks, and ironically it was during my last break week in March that I got both my current job offered and got selected for other job interview rounds. Things can change quickly, or you can at least change the way you view things, if you step back once in a while.
During breaks you can also create good habits and improve soft skills. I started with a mini work-out and drinking some water one day, now three years later I cannot go a day without that mini work-out or watter bottle. It is not enough by health standards, but it is quite impressive in my case. Another one would be my awkwardness around babies. I used to be scared to hold my baby goddaughter back then, but after playing with her and helping to care for her for 3 years, not only am I her favorite playmate now, I also have no issues stealing her baby brother from his mother’s arms :p
PurpleTeapot
May 4, 2019 at 3:23 AM
Ahaha, you became a baby whisperer through your job search breaks. That’s an unexpected twist XD
RaOnAh loves Jay B 💚
May 3, 2019 at 9:20 AM
Congrats on getting the job! 🎉🎉🎉
PurpleTeapot
May 4, 2019 at 3:24 AM
Thank you! 💚
mary
May 3, 2019 at 9:27 AM
Congratulations! 🙂 And wow, this is a very detailed and helpful post-mortem. (Now go reward yourself with dramas hehe)
PurpleTeapot
May 4, 2019 at 3:25 AM
Thank you for working so hard on recapping The Bug in Your Site and making it possible for me to share posts like this! ^^
Ayan
May 3, 2019 at 10:25 AM
Congratulations!!!!
Thank you for sharing these tips, they are very useful!
You ve reminded me to start updating my linked in! If you update as you go, it will be easier keeping track of your achievements 🙂
PurpleTeapot
May 4, 2019 at 3:27 AM
Thank you! Yes, I was lucky to have been updating mine diligently because I realised I would’ve never remembered the stuff I did otherwise.
It was also fun surf LinkedIn to see the strange things other people put in their self-introductions XD
another woodalchi nicole recruit
May 3, 2019 at 11:32 AM
Congrats!!! (And this is an awesome guide!)
PurpleTeapot
May 4, 2019 at 3:27 AM
Thank you!!
🧛♂️ 💔💔 but 👧💔💔💔💔
May 3, 2019 at 12:15 PM
a big heaty congratulations girl… and am sooo happy that you found the work you love doing….
learn as much as you can but don’t forget to enjoy… have fun….
PurpleTeapot
May 4, 2019 at 3:27 AM
Thanks for the advice! ^^
bam 🐢🐌💖~
May 3, 2019 at 3:48 PM
Thank you and congrats, PurpleTeapot!!
PurpleTeapot
May 4, 2019 at 3:28 AM
Thanks bamsie! I hope it’ll be of use to you someday~
bam 🐢🐌💖~
May 4, 2019 at 3:41 PM
Currently on a job search myself, so thank you for the advice!
PurpleTeapot
May 4, 2019 at 11:51 PM
Ahh all the best! You know where to find advice if you need it!
bam 🐢🐌💖~
May 5, 2019 at 8:45 AM
🤗🤗