It's my birthday.....

So today is my 37th birthday... it sure doesn't feel like a birthday... Hubby had to work (and will likely have to work overtime), my parents are out of town on their 40th anniversary trip that I arranged, my in laws are in Atlanta babysitting my niece... I'm pretty much alone today, except for my precious baby boy! Who, by the way is now 8 1/2 months old and starting to CRAWL!! He scoots most of the time, but he is very proud to show me his crawling stance and he takes a few tentative "steps" so to speak..he also sits up independently now..he is sprouting his 3rd tooth (it's the first of the top 2) and to my dismay, is starting to wean himself from breastfeeding...he prefers getting his milk from the bottle instead of the breast, he hates to work for it!! So I have been pumping my milk and freezing it, and dear Hubby feeds him a 1/2 mommy milk, half formula bottle in the morning...the rest of the day is formula and his solids. My boy is growing so much! We finally brought him to an upper GI specialist to get him help for his reflux..he started Prevacid along with his Zantac, and he's greatly improved, although he still spits up some. He gained an entire lb in the first 13 days of being on the meds, so that is a positive indication that the meds are working. My baby boy is now 27.5 in and 18.06 lbs! He's starting to outgrow the 6-9 month clothes and going into the 12 month ones. :)

As far as the job hunt goes, it's been really slow. There is not much out there to apply to in my field, and those jobs I do apply to I never hear back from them- and there is no contact info to follow up on, so it's a black hole. I get about 1 or 2 calls every week from one recruiter or another that is looking to fill some job in my field that is either 1) out of state or 2) way above my experience level. I truly believe that recruiters are a complete waste of time and energy for the average job seeker. They are only looking to score a commission off their job order, not to help anyone but themselves. I have come to really dislike recruiters and I am very cynical every time I hear from one. There have been a couple that I have spoken with that were probably ok, but once they knew I didn't fit what they needed they moved on. There are a couple that keep calling me, and try to fit me in a much lower level position that I don't want, and when I return their calls, they don't even answer the phone, or call me back either. I truly believe that they are just looking for people to send on interviews to keep the client interested or else they will move on to another agency. It's all BS and nonsense and I have no patience for it anymore.

With that being said, I DO need a job, but I just think I am going to be out of work until the new year. That does dismay me- however, I believe that things should pick up by then and if we can hang on long enough, we will be ok. I do my part and NOT spend money at all unless it's an essential for the household or the baby- I have become pretty savvy with "couponing" and have managed to save up to 50% on my grocery bill most weeks. It's a lot of work- a part time job in itself- but it's worth my time. Plus, it's super satisfying to see the detail on your receipts that show how much you save. It's fun and addicting all at the same time!

So, it's my birthday and I do wonder if my "friends" will even bother to acknowledge my birthday today. A few of my FB friends and old HS classmates have done so already. I am still waiting to hear from my family, Shell, B&A (not likely, but curious to see if they say anything), Miss G (another not likely) and Scooter (my gay, bi-polar friend of 20 years that I hear from occasionally.)

So, I guess I will update later on if I have time...

That's it and that's all for now!

More updates....

Just a little update.... I had an interview on 7/7/09 (which is the same day as the MJ Memorial btw) at a manufacturing company for a part-time position in purchasing. I was pleasantly surprised with the details of the position. First of all, they were very happy that I have a little baby....they actually started the interview with: "So you have an infant? How old?" Apparently they must have googled me and found my FB or Myspace profile, because those have a pic of myself with the baby (the pic shows even though the profiles are private)... the second question was "What is your benefit situation?" and I told them that I was covered under my hubby. After that, it just continued to get more intriguing. As it turns out, the job will be 20-25 hrs per week during the slow times, and 30-35 in season... it pays $20-$24 per hour! I was so shocked! I expected $10-$15 per hour! So I am definitely interested in this job...we can get by if I can make $20 hr part time. The company really wants someone who is truly interested in part time work, thus the emphasis on my having a baby...they know that I truly don't want to work full time when he is little. They know that a lot of ppl will apply for the job hoping to get it and keep looking, and they don't want that....so I have a bit of an edge in my particular situation. Their only concern is that I don't know the MRP program, but as I told them, you can teach someone a program, you can't teach experience in purchasing. Someone who has a lot of experience will have a proclivity to learn new programs. I think that was a pretty good answer to their concern. I was given a tour of the warehouse and the area that the products are made and I think they are pretty interested in me. So for now I wait...apparently the boss had a planned trip to China for business (to arrange to buy more components) and would not be back for 3 weeks. I wrote a thank you card and sent it the very next day thanking him for his time and expressing my interest in the position...I also followed up with an email restating that information, as well as letting him know that the pay they offer will work with the family budget (he had asked me to get back to him on that info.) At the time that I am writing this, he still has not opened the email (I marked it return receipt) but he may not have his computer with him on the trip....I am hoping that he still has me in mind when he returns from the trip....I know that they planned on interviewing a few more people after me.

Keeping my fingers crossed!
That's it and that's all for now....

Confused and Perturbed

So....I have been at my "new" job for about a week now...and guess what?? I HATE IT. The job is NOT what I was led to believe, and I am being underpaid to do it. 50+ hr weeks are the norm. Go in 6 am 'ish.. leave 5:30-6 pm.... They are chronically understaffed, there is no formal training program, the computer system they use is extremely confusing and all this for $10,000 less per year than I made at XYZ Asshole Company. My new company, which will from here on shall be called U.S. Jackass Company, is stupid in a whole OTHER dimension that I never though possible. I found out that almost everyone in the dept is there 5 months to 2 years...you know why??? HIGH TURNOVER...no one wants to deal with their BS for a job that pays peanuts. Lord help me...I need it!!!!

I need to hit the lotto...that is the ONLY way out of this mess I am now stuck in. Jobs are so hard to come by..and now I am stuck in a really crappy one. DAMN!

Getting closer to the finish line....

Boy has this been an eventful day.... After blogging last week, it took only a day after to get that call from the company that I have been trying to get into all this time.... I was called in for a second interview today. It was a "formality" according to them because they had already interviewed me and they had to have on file that they interviewed me after the job had been actually posted. So far so good. I spoke with both Senior Managers again... and each of them let me know that I was the top candidate for the position. One of them even went as far as to read off to me some of his prior interview notes- he wrote that I was knowledgeable and definitely qualified to do the job. He also told me that my experience was more than their current crop of trainees. This is all good news for me. He also elaborated that he was not allowed to discuss compensation (STILL???) and that he was going to recommend me to be hired. So all that is left is for the VP to sign off on that, and for HR to send the official offer in the mail. I found that to be pretty bizarre, but according to my father in law, it's done that way in some companies...but they usually extend the offer over the phone and then follow up with a letter. The interview ended on a positive note, and he said that he hopes to be speaking to me very soon. I have a very good feeling about this...I am fairly certain that I will get the job. Now I hope that it's good pay and all that...however, I will be taking it regardless because my severance is up this month....

Anyway.... that's it and that's all for now... Wish me luck!!!!!

Here we go again....

So it's been about a week since my conversation with the Senior Manager regarding the position I am after.... I decided that I have been patient enough and called and left a message asking about the status of the position and my application. The guy's voice mail had an outgoing message from yesterday that stated that on April 1st, he would be in and out of the office and in meetings. He hasn't changed his message to today's date...so I am now wondering if he is even in the office today. Only time will tell I suppose. I figured that I had nothing to lose by blogging about the situation, considering that the last few entries I made preceded some sort of immediate action on the job front. Well..... I am waiting....

To be continued...

That's it and that's all....

You just keep me hangin' on....

HALLELUJAH!!

So after blogging about my most recent exasperations this morning...guess what? I hear from that company that I have been waiting for an answer..... So.... the VP guy isn't the one who calls me back, but one of the Senior Managers that I actually interviewed with already.... He let me know that they hadn't made a decision yet (good) and that they had a lot of applications to wade through (ok, good) and not to be surprised if they call me back again next week for a second interview (fantastic!). He then proceeds to tell me that they have 2 internal candidates that they are looking at (ut oh) and they are trying to determine who would be the best candidate. (it's me! it's me!) So I told him that was totally understandable, and I asked when they anticipate making a hiring decision, and he said that they are anxious to get the show on the road and make the decision by the end of next week. He also said that I can call him to follow up on the job, and I asked for his direct number and he gave that to me. So far so good, right?

I'm a little anxious about the 2 internal candidates that they are considering. At the time of my interview (by the way, he did tell me that he has still not interviewed anyone else yet- I'm the only one) I was told that there were no appropriate internal candidates for the job because they wanted someone with experience and did not want to start from scratch. I am hoping that I have the edge here. Most companies do promote from within, however, I am at a point in my career that to start over in an entry level job it would not be in my best interests. So I am keeping my fingers crossed once more ...

It's funny how this keeps happening....I blog..and then the phone rings.....

I am going to test this one.... I wanna win the lotto at the next drawing. The lotto needs to come up with my numbers. I have been waiting to hear my numbers for at least 10 years that I have had the same ones. I think I deserve my numbers to come up this week.

How's that? Maybe that's all it really takes is to put my wildest wishes out on Blogspot.

Let's see how THIS one pans out!

That's it and that's all!!!!!

Exasperation is setting in.....

It's safe to say that I am fully exasperated with my job search. I have been pounding the internet for hours a day, seven days a week for over 2 months now. So far that has yielded me only 3 face to face interviews, and one phone screen. The job market SUCKS. Employers SUCK. You can't seem to get past the computer screen outs that filter resumes, and no one will return a phone call either.

The most promising job lead that I had came thru a relative in a company that I have tried to get into for the past year. I had a GREAT interview...it looked really promising...and then they told me that the job wasn't actually available yet, and they weren't sure when it would be available. Fast forward a week and a half, and I see that job posted on the internet. I called and left a message to follow up on my application. I rec'd no call back. I give this guy the benefit of the doubt and think...ok, he may have been off from work that Good Friday...maybe he took a long weekend. Finally, on Wednesday of this week, I call again... I left ANOTHER message asking about the status of my application, and let him know that I was aware that the job was now posted....could he please return my call at his earliest convenience??? NOTHING. No phone call yet. It's now Thursday and I feel like my hands are tied. I have done my part as a job seeker...I sent that thank you note THE SAME DAY after the interview (which would mean he'd get it the next day), I followed up a week and a half later, and then made one more call after that. I don't know what else I am supposed to do in order to get my name in the running for this job that I want SO badly. I was as professional, poised and cool as a cucumber as I am able to be. I did not show desperation- I did not stumble on words. I had a great feeling about that interview- which for the record lasted over an hour and a half.... I really thought that I had a good shot this time. I really did. And now I am more than confused....I am totally confounded.

Is there anyone out there reading this? I am putting this out there in the hopes that someone can give me a point of view that I am not seeing. I am trying to be as open minded as possible, and trying NOT to be negative or take this personally- but it is getting much harder to keep that attitude as the weeks fly by and I am still not gainfully employed.

I cannot think of one other thing that I can do to find a job that was the level that I was at (or better.) I apply online to jobs that correspond with my vision, I registered my with some agencies and a couple of recruiters that I have spoken with. So far not one lead from those contacts. I have networked with everyone I know... What else can I do? It's getting to the point where I will have to take a job for $8 and hour in order to have employment.... I made 3 times that in my previous position. Is there a point where it's acceptable to take such a step down? It's more than just ego- I really can't afford to work for $8 and hour- my bills are too high to do that...BUT I can't live on unemployment.... $275 a week just won't cut it ($6.87/hr...ouch!) I don't want it to hurt me to take a lower paying job just to be employed..and have that be my most recent job history and salary history for a potential employer to go by. It's a real issue for me...and I am not sure what to do anymore.

I'm putting this out there - I need some guidance... someone comment...PLEASE!!!

That's it and that's all.....

And the job hunt continues.....

So it's been a little over a week since my last post and I have had 2 interviews. The first one went well, but I was not comfortable with the company, the people and the environment. It looked too much to be like the XYZ Asshole Company in its practices and the biggest turnoff was that you get zero paid time off for the first 15 months that you are working there. Not even 1 sick or personal day. I think that blows!! So although I think I made a good impression, I think that if this one comes a knockin', I won't be letting it in. But somehow I have a feeling that they will find someone willing to take that garbage for way less money than I am worth. So there!

The interview that I had on this Monday was for the job that I REALLY REALLY want. My uncle got me in with a VP and he interviewed me, along with 2 other Senior Managers. I had 3 interviews in the span of an hour and a half. I was comfortable with the details of the position, the people that I spoke to, and I even felt like the environment would be comfortable. The only thing is that the position has not been opened up yet. From what I can tell, I was the only person interviewed for the position. The VP let me know that the job is not open yet, but as soon as it is they will forward my application and their notes to HR. I am praying to GOD that this job materializes, and soon. It's a decent commute from my home (only 5 min away from where I worked before) and although I couldn't get any salary info from them, I was at least told that the job paid salary plus bonus. I believe that it's a good job. I need the laws of attraction to work in my favor here... I WANT THIS JOB!!! Please Lord make it happen... and make it happen sooner rather than later!!! :)

An update on the job search.....

Well, so far I have only had ONE interview in almost 2 months of being unemployed...and let me tell you...it's not for a lack of trying. One thing I learned for sure...the job market these days is really competitive...and really hard. I had no clue how hard it would be. I am on the web for hours a day chasing down job postings... I apply...I get no response. I would follow up on the job postings...BUT they are almost ALL anonymous- meaning, you can't contact any human being regarding the application at all. In fact, most of the jobs posted don't even give you the name of the company you are applying to, and many don't specify what the pay scale is either. It makes me wonder if most jobs listed on the internet are only dummy jobs that aren't really there. For instance, the job may have been posted internally, and they INTEND to fill it internally, but some sort of protocol specifies that they MUST offer it outside. Basically, a lot of ghost jobs are out there. I am on Careerbuilder, Monster, HotJobs, and Craigslist constantly. Hell, I even got on some smaller sites like GoliathJobs, and Jobing. Alas, to no avail. I have worked my network to death, and so far it has not yielded one legitimate job lead. I am trying to stay positive, honestly I am, but the truth is that I am worried about finding something soon. I am starting to consider taking a job at the local Publix store just to be employed. Considering that I was making almost $50k a year in my previous job, it's a hard pill to swallow....

Stop the presses....I just got a call back on a position that applied for twice on Careerbuilder....yeehaw...an impromptu phone interview that sounded pretty promising.... I should hear back from them by later this week or early next week....

I think blogging about this was good luck, I need to do this more often...

Wish me luck.... that's it and that's all...... ;)