Hello Blog world!
So yesterday I had an on site interview with the company I have been "taking" with for over a month now. have already had 3 phone interviews. I'm actually not concerned with that pace of the process as my goal was to be in a new job by September-ish!
So yesterday was the day. I took 3 hours of personal time and went home, prettied myself up, suit and all, and made my way to my interview.
My appointment was at 3 so I stroll in at 245. I go to the reception desk, which is a big square desk with one little lady sitting at it in this giant room. Surrounded my a bank of elevators and 8 glass doors which only people with badges can enter and exit. I approach the desk and do as I was instructed ask for ****, My contact. The receptionist is kind enough to phone her, leave her a message and then tells me to sit in one of the chairs a block away. I sit there for what seems like forever, with people, all seeming very important swiping their badges to enter and exit. The receptionists calls again. Nothing. Come to find out my contact is not in the building?? Hmm, I think this isn't a good sign.. I immediately check my calendar to make certain I have the right date/time. I think to myself, how could I have screwed this up this interview was scheduled two flipping weeks ago. Um, nope, I have the right day, time, and place!
Completely caught off guard a support staffer comes out, introduces herself and tells me they don’t know where my contact is and she is going to pinch hit for now.... I think- awesome and how loved I’m feeling right about now!! This girl is a recent college grad, completely green and had never interviewed anyone before. She does her best to explain her function and uses all these terms I have no idea what she is talking about. The BSA’a and the FQA, blah, blah, greek, greek, greek to me. I smile and nod- thinking wow, how did I peg this so wrong?! She asks me those freaking questions you pull of the internet, you know the ones, where do you see yourself in 5 yrs, what is your number 1weakness. etc....Again, Awesome! I giggle to myself and think really what I want to say is I want a job that pays well and I don’t care about 5 yrs from now because really what I want is to get married and have babies!
My contact arrives, comes busting in, totally clueless and frazzled! She half apologizes and then started in asking me things we had already discussed, like how my resume landed in HR, um I know a BIG DOG in the company... remember???? So she goes over the structure of the department, the team, her role and the potential role I'd fill. It’s all very good stuff, helpful, and almost exciting. She asks a few questions and tells me how my experience is solid and could transfer nicely. Yep- i know this... thanks! I’m thinking show me around, what’s the office cubbie look like? Where would I sit? You know the really important stuff....
Then I met with two men who both thought I was fabulous!!! The first dude started his interview questioning with, tell me about Alison Senior year in High school?!? Then tell me about Alison end of freshman year in college.... huh? I thought I had suddenly ended up in a therapy session...He was probably my favorite despite his awkward interview approach.
The last interviewer told me its been a long, he needed to travel tomorrow so asked me to tell him about myself. I’m feeling a bit awkward with his approach and again not feeling very loved. We more or less chit chatted. He would be my colleague. I liked him; we meshed well and would have fun working together. He then said he’d go get my contact to conclude the interview. He came back looking awkward and told me that apparently she had left for the day… So he walked me out.
WOW, completely unorganized and clearly again not feeling very loved.
Everyone I met liked me but I’m left with not really sure what to make of it all. It was so unorganized, is this how all meetings are handled, I don’t like things that are not organized! I still don’t know want the pay range is…. No one gave me their last name or business cards.... So today, I'm not really sure how to follow up!
The positive things- they all told me I was SMART, would do well there, and would make a good paycheck :)
The take away for me was that it IS time for a transition to the private sector, just not sure its with that company..... and XXXXX, MA is an okay commute.
Arrrgh…
Vox Hunt: Recent Purchase
Show us the last thing you bought.
I've been on a bit of a buying binge (being home alone will often call for some retail therapy), so here are the last few things that have come home with me.
And if you don't believe it, here's the wikipedia entry.
What was the best thing about your weekend?
The BEACH! Both Saturday and Sunday! Sunday was the better of the two days- The company was better (I was by myself on Sat), the water was warmer "if thats possible", there was not a cloud in the sky, and there was a breeze. "The kind of day when you get a lot of color when you think you are not!" That could not be more true... I got home and was pretty RED and I wore SPF 15!!!! Some may suggest thats not a lot of sunblock... but for me, thats a lot, I usually am out there with the SPF4 OIL! :)
Great day, Great weekend, and now at work, daydreaming of my next trip to the beach!!!!!!
All I can say, where is my "Joe"??? This book was really cute. Took forever to get "good" (last 100 pages!) but kept me reading and wanting more. Predictible, and the happily ever after but still a great "light" reading... (ps- #8)
I have a twitch in my left eye that is driving me a bit nuts.... and since all the office is back from lunch, I think I'll take my lunch break now. Im off to get a new inspection sticker for my car-- 10 days late!
I made it two months without buying gas!!!
It is time I update this blog and get back to business of posting the daily boredum that has taken over my life! I'm holding on tight, keeping my head barely above water right now, trying with all my might not to go down, down, down to that dark place! I try, daily with internal pep talks, to have a positive outlook on my life, my work, my less than stellar situations all around me!! I know, it could be worse- I know... my mother tells me that all. the. time.. I am in NEED of a CHANGE. I have asked Mr. Universe, whom never seems to deliver, for a change!!!! PLEASE!
Anyway, I have a job interview for July 22nd. All those in blog land keep fingers, toes, and eyes crossed that its as promissing as it seems. There are however concerns that accompany this, obviously. Is this really the right market to be leaving a steady, albeit boring, job, an okay pay (if you were entry level), and good benefits and retirement (which really means diddley to me right NOW)? I say "Yes" but everyday on the news they are constantly saying how the job market is so poor, companies are closing their doors leaving hundreds without jobs, etc... My job isnt going away but this new job, is a newly created opening. Sounds a bit scary to me, new position would probably be the first to go in a time of cut backs, ya? no?
Okay on to the bigger issue. For the last, umm, 7 years I have been working in the Public Sector... making zero dollars and struggling to climb the invisible ladder. so... here I sit, with a lot of contacts, knowledge of state and local govt., state agencies, govt. process, budget, who to call, how to play the game (just really not well becuase if I played better maybe I wouldnt be in this situation, ya? no?) and yet im still spinning my wheels in an effort to make a decent salary. I know I need to get out of this seat. Each day it becomes more clear that I am too smart for this position and there is no doubt in my mind that I should have gotten that promotion back in November (wont go back there)....HOWEVER, the question is what do I do... Do I again "start over" leaving the public sector and the contacts, etc... and take a Private Sector job which guarentees better pay but basically will be a start over?? Is this really the change I am yearning for?
The private sector job is an account mangager position for a database marketing firm and my client would be a big pharmaceutical company. Sounds kind of exciting, ya? no?
Im not really starting at the very bottom becuase I have 8 years of experience and they were super cool about transferralbe skills! I think it would be challenging but what if the grass is not greener? Should I be giving up, giving in, and starting over??
HELP!
Okay in other stuff:
Books I'm reading:
Clearly not at the same time but those are then next two on deck. I recently finished - without a map, by Meridith Hall, was not my favorite. A co-worker raved about it so based on her review I couldnt wait to read it... and I continued to read it waiting for it to get as good as she said. I LISTENED (still unsure if that counts towards my book list) to The Friday Night Knitters Club. AWESOME! Actually wished I read this one. Probably one of my favorites, right up there with Jodi Picoult. :)
Other stuff:
Had a series of appointment and still cant lift or do anything really for another 4 weeks. Awesome. I dont know how to sit still. It was very difficult in the beginning but now I feel back to normal and want to be normal and do things like workout (Yes, I said workout!). Since I was told I cant, thats all I want to do... why didnt someone tell me not to a long time ago?
Happy July 4th! Weehoo! I am off from work tomorrow, vacation day. Holiday of Friday, and golf tourney on Monday! Its like a legit vacation! I am going to visit a friend in T-town tomorrow and Friday. Will be sitting poolside (which I can not go in....how unfair!), sunning, and relaxing!
Really thats all the excitement here. I wish I had more. Trust me.
Peace Out- Have a sSafe and Happy Holiday Weekend!
At a two day management off-site. My favorite parts are the personality tests.
Color me yellow, mostly. Except for the jelly beans. With those, I like the black licorice ones best.
I've been feeling a wee bit sorry for myself, for no particular reason other than a confluence of life's regular up and down stresses and a need to remind myself to focus on what I have to be grateful for.
When I get like that I tend to make myself feel better by buying things and so last week I opened my Amazon Wishlist and one-clicked ordered a couple of new lens for the camera; a telephoto * and a macro **. I haven't played around much with the telephoto, but yesterday I took a few shots with the macro just to start to learn the settings.
I'm feeling better already.
* Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IS
** the Canon EF-S 60mm f 2.8 Macro USM
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Clinton wants help with campaign debt
From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney
(CNN) — Her presidential bid may have ended two weeks ago, but Hillary Clinton is still on the hunt for campaign cash.
The New York Democrat is well over $20 million in debt, nearly half of which Clinton loaned herself personally earlier in the year when her campaign was virtually broke and faced life-or-death primary contests.
Watch: What went wrong for Clinton?
When it comes to recovering her personal loan, it's a race against the clock.
Under campaign finance laws spearhead by current presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, Clinton must pay herself back before the party's convention in late August, or else she is only allowed to receive $250,000.
Earlier: Clinton postpones debt repayment
In an e-mail to supporters earlier Monday afternoon, Clinton says she "has something I want to say," and directs readers to a Web video in which she says "Today, I still need your help."
Text next the video reads: “By helping us pay off our campaign debt, you’re not just helping Hillary elect a Democratic president and grow our majority in Congress. You’re making it possible for her to work as hard as she can on the issues we care about.”
Clinton also continued to praise onetime rival Barack Obama, saying she knows the Illinois senator shares the same goals as she.
The Obama campaign is reportedly open to helping Clinton raise money to pay off her lingering campaign debt, though no agreement has been announced yet. Under campaign finance laws, the Obama campaign is not allowed to retire Clinton's debt directly. (Cafferty: Should Obama help Clinton pay off her debt?)
(source: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/06/24/clinton-wants-help-with-campaign-debt/)
