Good news! I got a call for a second interview on Friday for the position I interviewed for a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately, I have to wait a week; my interview isn't until a week from Tuesday, but I'm feeling good about this. I'm trying not to get too excited, I mean, there is a possibility that I won't get this position. I still want to apply for another position that actually pays more, has more responsibility and will be a better "resume builder", but given the state of the economy and the fact I live in an area that is not so flush with great jobs I may just end up taking what I can get, you know? I hate settling, but I may have to do that and keep my eyes open. If I can get this position and get some experience with grant writing I will be in very good shape for the next place we move.
I really need to find a job--I'm starting to run out of things to do. I hate saying that because inevitably someone always says [insert stupid voice here], "I wish I was unemployed....I'd love to just lay around and stuff..." The problem is, rarely does unemployment accompany a windfall of money and/or the promise of a job (and therefore more money)in the immediate future. Don't get me wrong: Scientist has a good job and we're not hurting, but I hate feeling like I'm not contributing something financially. Plus, I'm bored. How much can one knit, read, cook, watch bad TV and play with one's cat?
Monday, January 26, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
A Glimmer of Hope
Not two days after I last posted about my frustration with not finding a job, I received a call asking me to come in for an interview. This position is with some people I know of, but don't actually "know" per se (as in, I'm sure the boss would recognize me right off the bat, but not necessarily know my name). I was encouraged to say the least.
The interview went well, but I could not get a read from the people conducting it. I hate that--I pride myself on picking up non-verbal cues and trusting my instinct (that comes from traveling: you learn to trust your 'gut' about people and places so not as to run into trouble), but I couldn't tell how well I was doing with either of them.
I must have done fairly well, because, when I emailed one of the interviewers later they said I would be hearing from them about a second interview (they'll be interviewing the top 3 candidates) by the end of this week. Now, when I read the email to Scientist he said it definitely sounded like I would be hearing from them. However, given my past experience I was a little wary of reading into anything.
The problem is I've applied to 3 other jobs, two of which I KNOW a) pay better, b) have more responsibility and c) will look way better on a resume. I've already gone in and talked to one person about one of the jobs (which should be posted on the HR website today), and have a feeling that I'll get an interview (we just met to talk about the position because someone in my department recommended me for the position that's about to go open). The thing is, getting just to the interview part might take forever--the job has to be posted two weeks, then they have to sort through the applications, do interviews, do second interviews....I'm thinking, realistically, IF I got through the second set of interviews it would be late February. The employers of the job I just interviewed for will already have long ago made up their mind. So, I don't know...
I guess this is all a moot point--I don't know for 100% I'll get a second interview or that I'll even get this job. And the other job--who knows? I hate being in limbo, but what am I gonna do?
The interview went well, but I could not get a read from the people conducting it. I hate that--I pride myself on picking up non-verbal cues and trusting my instinct (that comes from traveling: you learn to trust your 'gut' about people and places so not as to run into trouble), but I couldn't tell how well I was doing with either of them.
I must have done fairly well, because, when I emailed one of the interviewers later they said I would be hearing from them about a second interview (they'll be interviewing the top 3 candidates) by the end of this week. Now, when I read the email to Scientist he said it definitely sounded like I would be hearing from them. However, given my past experience I was a little wary of reading into anything.
The problem is I've applied to 3 other jobs, two of which I KNOW a) pay better, b) have more responsibility and c) will look way better on a resume. I've already gone in and talked to one person about one of the jobs (which should be posted on the HR website today), and have a feeling that I'll get an interview (we just met to talk about the position because someone in my department recommended me for the position that's about to go open). The thing is, getting just to the interview part might take forever--the job has to be posted two weeks, then they have to sort through the applications, do interviews, do second interviews....I'm thinking, realistically, IF I got through the second set of interviews it would be late February. The employers of the job I just interviewed for will already have long ago made up their mind. So, I don't know...
I guess this is all a moot point--I don't know for 100% I'll get a second interview or that I'll even get this job. And the other job--who knows? I hate being in limbo, but what am I gonna do?
Monday, January 12, 2009
Unemployment
So, like I've said before, I just graduated almost exactly a month ago and thus far I've had little luck in the job department. It's frustrating, for obvious reasons, but also because I actually have a good amount of solid experience in my field both here and abroad (not to mention a lot of other work experience in teaching etc.)
Right before Thanksgiving I had an interview which went super well. The interviewer (who, I'm pretty darn sure actually made the hiring decisions) said to me, "Well, once you graduate, if you're interested in this position, we can see what we can do", and then, not 5 minutes later the other person sitting in on the interview told me (after they showed me around and introduced me to everyone who worked in the department) "We will definitely be giving you a call." I found out two weeks later they offered the position to someone else.
Now, I'm not going to take this personally (really), but why ya gotta go building my hopes up like that when you don't know for sure you can hire me?! "We'll definitely be giving you a call"?! That's a total tease.
I'm not yet at the position where I'm completely frustrated. I realize I just graduated. I realize we just got past the holiday season and no one hires right before the beginning of the year. I understand this is a terrible economy to be looking for a job in, but.....I have a feeling there are other reasons why I'm not getting calls back and they have nothing to do with me, my education, or experience. And I'm not going into them on a public forum like this. Not yet at least...
Right before Thanksgiving I had an interview which went super well. The interviewer (who, I'm pretty darn sure actually made the hiring decisions) said to me, "Well, once you graduate, if you're interested in this position, we can see what we can do", and then, not 5 minutes later the other person sitting in on the interview told me (after they showed me around and introduced me to everyone who worked in the department) "We will definitely be giving you a call." I found out two weeks later they offered the position to someone else.
Now, I'm not going to take this personally (really), but why ya gotta go building my hopes up like that when you don't know for sure you can hire me?! "We'll definitely be giving you a call"?! That's a total tease.
I'm not yet at the position where I'm completely frustrated. I realize I just graduated. I realize we just got past the holiday season and no one hires right before the beginning of the year. I understand this is a terrible economy to be looking for a job in, but.....I have a feeling there are other reasons why I'm not getting calls back and they have nothing to do with me, my education, or experience. And I'm not going into them on a public forum like this. Not yet at least...
Friday, January 09, 2009
A fresh start
A lot of people think making resolutions is lame. I love them: resolutions make feel a renewed sense of hope, which is generally the kick in the ass I need given that they're made during one of the most miserable times of year. I also have a thing with lists (I get this from my mother, for sure), which also love because I have an overwhelming need to organize, organize, organize.
So, without further ado, here are (some of) my resolutions for 2009.
1. Work up to getting 200 minutes of cardio per week and lifting weights (for both upper and lower body) twice per week.
2. Start studying my Russian again (after a 3 year break!).
3. Stick with my knitting—including starting and finishing an “advanced” knitting project.
4. Be better about getting cards out to people for birthdays and Christmas.
5. Keep my blog at least reasonably updated. (Ahem)
6. Find a job!
So, without further ado, here are (some of) my resolutions for 2009.
1. Work up to getting 200 minutes of cardio per week and lifting weights (for both upper and lower body) twice per week.
2. Start studying my Russian again (after a 3 year break!).
3. Stick with my knitting—including starting and finishing an “advanced” knitting project.
4. Be better about getting cards out to people for birthdays and Christmas.
5. Keep my blog at least reasonably updated. (Ahem)
6. Find a job!
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Changes
I know in the past, oh, year and a half or so I've been really bad about posting updates on this blog. And, I know that I always seem to offer up some lame excuse about why I haven't been posting, but this time, I have a really good reason for not updating this blog for four months....For real.
I graduated last month with my Master's degree in Public Health. The last half of the semester was very trying to say the least; I was having problems with my program that I won't get into here, plus I was writing my 60 page thesis type paper thingy.
Right now I'm looking for a job. Needless to say, with the economy the way it is I'm pretty sure it's going to be awhile until I actually find something in my field that doesn't pay a few dollars a week. In the mean time, I'm going to try to entertain myself with various projects: painting all three of our bathrooms, going to a local Russian conversation circle, reading, and knitting (my newest love). And updating this blog--I'm going to make this a priority (I love writing and I have friends all over the country so why not make this a regular way of keeping in contact with people?). I'm even thinking of making some major changes. I need to mull this all over first, however.
I graduated last month with my Master's degree in Public Health. The last half of the semester was very trying to say the least; I was having problems with my program that I won't get into here, plus I was writing my 60 page thesis type paper thingy.
Right now I'm looking for a job. Needless to say, with the economy the way it is I'm pretty sure it's going to be awhile until I actually find something in my field that doesn't pay a few dollars a week. In the mean time, I'm going to try to entertain myself with various projects: painting all three of our bathrooms, going to a local Russian conversation circle, reading, and knitting (my newest love). And updating this blog--I'm going to make this a priority (I love writing and I have friends all over the country so why not make this a regular way of keeping in contact with people?). I'm even thinking of making some major changes. I need to mull this all over first, however.
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