You can not let a good week go to your head

Well it has been a really good week that can be game changing in a lot of ways, but maybe not. As you know I had three interviews this week, one of which was a third interview. I also have a second interview based on one these in two weeks. Why two weeks lag time, the person is coming inn from out of the country.

These good things can lead to a person getting sloppy and resting on their laurels. I am fighting this right now. I want to think that I will be getting an offer on one of these three positions but I can not count on it. I actually want to think that I will get and offer on the third interview before I get to go on the second interview but is that all realistic? NO!

After more or less taking yesterday off to visit with a friend today I had to start the process over again knowing that I may get a phone call any second telling me that I had a job. It should be noted that this is a totally different feeling than thinking that you are going to get every and any job that you apply for. At least here you already know that they like you to some degree and you know that you would be a good fit for the job. And beyond that I am excited about this one job and feel that I would kick butt at it.

If I do not get it will I be crushed, you bet. Will it be the end of the world, well maybe. But it will not be the end of the world unless I let it be, which I will not. I got up this morning and started all over again applying for jobs touching base with my contacts and thinking about how I am going to pay my bills. A normal day in my world the way it stands.

Things are looking up!

There are two old adages: First be careful what you wish for you may get it and if you want something too much you may not.  I have been getting lots of interviews the last few days not even weeks and things are looking up.  But I am afraid that by getting excited about one job over another, there are now three that I am in the running for, that I will not get the one that I want.  

Wait what did I give up for lent, being negative.  But I would really like one of these three jobs over the other two but I do not know if it will pay me what I would like.  Which leads to another questions, what are you willing to work for these days.  I would say some days I would work for rent and health insurance, but those are days that I do not look at my now sad savings accounts.  So am I willing to work for less than I was making at my last job?  I was able to pay my bills and save some money but I was not able to get myself out of debt so is that a good thing?  I have learned to live with less so maybe I can follow through on that but I know myself better.  I will want to go to the movies and buy music CD's.  I will want to treat all my friends to lunch like they have been treating me for the last few months.  So will what I was making good enough?

It can be since I would not have to pay for my health insurance, which is a large chunk of money.  I can also keep on taking books out of the library rather than buying them.  Those are things that I can live with.  

I guess the bottom line will be make me an offer if it is fair to both of us I will take it.  Tomorrow I will tell you about what a third interview with a company president feels like.     

A New Week A New Job?

I Took Friday off, it is not something that I do often but I needed a day without thinking about everything.  I did do the report that my first interview in Thursday asked me to do.  So here it is after 5 on Monday and I  have not heard from them yet.  I am disappointed but not devisated.  Which all comes down to the fudge job.  Which is a story for another day.  

Right now I guess all you need to know all I need to think about is that I will have had four interviews in four work days.  Today's interview went well but I am not sure how much the job is paying.  That does not make so much of a difference theses days but I would like to make enough to live on.  This ordeal has taken a toll on my savings and I would need enough to live and to rebuild it.  Ok I would settle for enough to live right now.  As I told my friend the other night I want my old life back.

That is a life that I can go out for a slice of pizza with out having to think about it for ten minutes.  That would be ten minutes of thinking about the cost not the calories.  Or renting a movie and not feeling like I will not be able to afford to eat for a meal or two.  A real life.  I know that everyone is cutting back but I do  not think a slice of pizza or a movie rental every month is a lot to ask. Ok pity  party of one is over, at least for now.  I have to get ready for tomorrow's interview.

I do not have a lot of hope for this one but I will go and come away knowing more about my self.    

One out of Two is not bad

When we last left off yesterday I was excited about two interviews that I had scheduled for today.  And as the title of this posts states one out of two is not bad.  I first interview which was really a second interview went really well.  To quote a quasi friend I WOW them.  Which is a good thing.  As things stand I will have a third interview with them some time next week and meet with the big cheese or the President of the company.  Since I would really like this job I am really excited.  They asked me to do a report and they will have it.

The second interview which was a first interview posed and age old question, do you cut and run when you know that you do not connect on a first date?  At the start I knew that this job was most likely not a good fit but you never turn down an interview at least I would not.  You never know where it may lead and what may come of it.  So I went.  The interviewer told me that I was over qualified for the job which I knew but is that a good thing or a bad one? At the start I was answering the questions selling myself as if I was the best thing since well take your pick.  Unknowingly that was the incorrect thing to do in this case.  Is honesty only the best policy or if I fudge a little would I have been in consideration for a job I would have hated from second one?

Now the bigger question what do you say in the thank you letter. Not the standard I am really interested in this position stuff since I know that I am no longer being consider.  A poll of three people all said that this is a good position to be in since you know what your status is but also to mention that you appreciated their time and please to keep you in mind if something more suitable came up.  That I can do.  

Now on ward and upward to Monday's first and only interview and possibly a third interview on Tuesday for the job I would really enjoy. 

What a difference a day makes!

Taking things one day at time is not such a bad thing to do especially in todays climate.  Yesterday I was really down, things were not going well and I had yet to dig out my car.  The car thing may not seems so big but since I did not do it I was more or less trapped in my house.  To top off the not bad not good not anything day, while cleaning up after dinner I realized that the pipe connecting the sink to the drain was no longer connected.  Funny thing though I learned that VIVA paper towels really absorb a lot of water.  

What does all that have to do with my job search not much but quite a lot all at the same time.  After feeling worthless and unwanted yesterday I made sure that I got up early with a fresh start. I also wanted to contact my landlord early so the sink would get fixed, it will on Friday, but that is besides the point.  I had a plan today a list and I was going to stick with it.  And for the most part I did.  The car is dug out and I went into the real world both good things seeing as I have two count them two interviews tomorrow.

One is a first interview the other is a second, well kind of sort of a second.  The job that I was blogging about yesterday that they re-scoped and I did not know what my status is, I do now.  The new HR person called me to discuss the opening based on my newly submitted for the re-scoped listed resume.  After she asked me a few questions I told her of my history with the position, of which she was not aware of.  I made her aware that I was really excited about the opportunity that this opening represented and how I told the person that first interviewed me that I would act as a consultant if I was not longer a good fit for the job.  After checking this out she called back and want to see me again.  I was on cloud ten!

I really think that I would be a good fit for this company and really hopes it turns out well.  If not I have another new interview later on in the day.   I am not so sure that this job as good a fit I may be beyond what they are looking for.  Yesterday, I was down and would have sold myself to the unemployment devil to make them think that I was perfect and even taken a huge pay cut to get money coming in, but today is a new day.

Then there is another interview on Monday.  I have to look into the company more but hey it is going to be three interviews in three work days.  I think that I am doing well today.  But like I started off saying you have to take one day at a time.  Tomorrow although is a two interview day, yes I like saying and thinking that, can be another story.  But like all nice Jewish girls I gave up negativity for lent.   

Set backs are sometimes a good thing

Well last night I had a few mental set backs.  First one was hearing that one of the less active members of my "so you do not have a job" support group got a job.  That is a good thing but I had also applied to the job and did not even get an interview.  It makes you take a step back.  Then a job that I came really close to getting but knew that I did not announced who they did hire.  I guess I was/am upset about it since the person was listed in our local newspaper in the business section as a new hire under non-profits.  It is a dream of mine to be listed in that section of the newspaper.  I know it is silly but I always wanted a job that was important enough to be listed there.  The last bit of news that I got I think I posted about yesterday; a job that I was really interested in was re-scoped and kind of downgraded.  Since I was really into the job I would still take it if offered.

So you ask where is the good stuff in all of this, it is not obvious to say the least.  The good stuff is that I get to keep on trying to find the perfect fit for me.  I get to start all over again.  I re-worked my resume and I am going to post it again to see if I get more than the standard sell insurance calls.  But the best thing is that I did not have to dig out my car yet, no I am kidding.  The best thing is that I get to keep on trying and I know that there will be a light at the end of this tunnel.  

I also started this blog so at least now if asked on an interview what I know about Web 2.0 I can say I have experience in blogging.  That is a very positive thing.  What I need to figure out is who this blog is for, me to vent in a public yet not really forum or some one else.  I will let you know what I figure out.

Also as a follow up from yesterday's self directed questions; although I did not have money in my unemployment account I was told not to worry that it is there and I will get paid this week. I also followed up about the COBRA and they are still looking into it. So no real resolution on either items but there was follow up.

One last note for all that did not know Safari rocks there is an automatic spell checker on everything that you type as you type it.   For the spelling impaired like myself that rocks.  Now if it could only tell me when a comma is correct over a semicolon it would be perfect.          

March which is 9.5 months of looking

Hello, today is March 2, 2009 which is the first work day of the month unless you live on the east coast which I do. Then it is just a snow day. Neither really matter to me since for the last 9.5 months I have had the same job looking for one. When I first lost my job or had it eliminted in May I had high hopes of finding a new one within weeks. A trip to my local DOL One stop employment center told me that it would be months, but I was going to be the exception to the rule.

Many interviews and "so you do not have a job" support group meetings later I am still out there. The thing of it is that many other people have joined me since I have undertake this journey, like 2 million have joined me. Which makes it harder. Tomorrow I will find out if I have run out of unemployment benefits. I did not want to do it today seeing as it is a snow day and I could not call to find out if there was a mistake. I think there was an extentsion but I am not sure that I get it. I also get to find out if I get the COBRA bail out that some people are getting. If not I will see more of my savings disappear.

Well since I am depressing myself not something that you should do when you are unemployeed, staying positive is VERY important, I will end it here and give up an update on where I stand tomorrow. Tomorrow I will talk the new version of it is not you it is us.