Employed!!!

I received a phone call this afternoon. I have a job now. Woohoo!!!

Moving back to Kansas, hooray!

I'm sort of in a dance around the living room and sing "I have a job" mood. (Think Little Rascals "I have a dollar.")

I'm happy and relieved.

That is all.

Post-Interview Concerns

So I have just kept thinking since I left the interview that I failed to convince them that I want to be in that particular city. They would be making an investment in me as an individual, they need to know that I won't skip out on them in 6 months or a year for something "better."

The truth is though, that most of the other things I've applied for aren't panning out. Most of the other things I've applied for are also with large companies, and I like their small company. I like it for all the same reasons that they like it. They have me completely sold on wanting the job.

They have reason to be concerned that I don't have many friends in that place, but where do I really have many friends? My closest friends are scattered across the country. MHK still has a horde, but those numbers will rapidly dwindle. There is no doubt about that. Returning to MHK doesn't sound that great to me.

I've looked in some other major cities where I have friends, and I'm just not finding as many appealing options as I have found in Kansas. I do not want to move to any new city for a job I find only mildly appealing for a friend or friends that will probably only stay in that place a year or two.

I'm ready to establish a niche somewhere. I want to join a gym and a book club, to establish some reliable lifelong friends. I want to live cheap and stockpile money like a those quiet simple neighbors you hear about that ended up having millions in coffee cans. I want to be that crazy lady. I think our nation is on a permanent downward spiral. I don't want my retirment to be dictated by stocks I'm not sure will ever recover. So I'm ready to establish a lifestyle that is prepared for this change, and I'm happy about this potential simple life because I think a shift away from material wealth will be nice in this country.

Some people really despise the city of this potential job. I understand why, but I think this city will suit my needs. It may actually suit my needs because it tends to be despised. It doesn't feel like a big city. The city where I did my undergrad experiences similar constant criticism. I liked it there a lot. It's also the home city of my dear friend Molly, so I can count on seeing her any time she visits her family.

Please, please let me have this job. I really do like the city. All I really need is my silly cat, a home, and some books. I'm easy.

My Bologna Has a First Name

I have been singing the Oscar Mayer bologna song a lot lately...and the Armour hot dog song. My family can be pretty negative sometimes, so I like to break into random jingle singing. Mom generally joins me in singing.

Most of the rest of the family thinks that I'm weird. Yesterday, Dad grabbed some napkins out of the side of the car and tried to shove them in my mouth as I sang. He thinks he's pretty funny.

Focusing on the positive would be a good goal for my family. As a family we can kind of turn into a vortex of negativity spiralling out of control. This has a great deal to do with why I want to move further away again. I hope my stay with my parents can be very, very brief. I love them, but I can only take so much.

I've decided to think as if I have this job. I'm still applying for other jobs, but I'm also looking for apartments close to the job. I have my little heart set on it. I'm ready. This job sounds great--small company, intellectually challenging, learning opportunities, collaborative and respectful work environment. I really can't imagine anything better.

I'm also ready to have enough money to put some in my savings account and my retirement plan, to not have to move in 6 months or a year, to be able to afford the environmentally friendly lifestyle I believe in. I'm also ready to be able to garage my car. I have a nice car; it deserves a garage.

Best yet, I'm excited to be able to visit my dear Kansas friends on weekends. I only have one friend in the city of the potential job, but I have several within 2-3 hours, 3 different cities to choose from for visiting friends.

...on a random note, I'm watching a movie with my mom, and the person giving background of the movie during the commercials said one of the actors chose to be in this movie, cancelling his contract to be in another movie because he was "allergic to people who take themselves too seriously." Awesome.

I'd Like to be Thankful for a Job

...except, I don't have a job just yet.

In fact, this company hasn't actually contacted me to set up the final interview. That makes me a bit nervous.

I do know that they have contacted some of my references, so that's good.

Hopefully on Monday they will be calling. I better just head to hang with friends in Manhattan, so that I can make the interview scheduling easier.

I think I will leave my parents' on Sunday to do so. I will miss cat again, but hopefully soon I will have a job and we can be reuinted as cat and cat lady.

I am still waiting to hear back on a handful of jobs, and I have plans to put more applications out.

And back to my cat...she is currently pacing across the desk, right in front of the computer screen. Cats are awesome.

Job Update (part 5)

So I was a bit confused. I wasn't top 2 for the job before. I was top 2 for that round of interviews. There were 4 rounds, so 8 people were asked to do the writing test portion. Still not too shabby. I'm pretty much a rockstar.

Even more rockstar worthy is the fact that now that they've reviewed the writing test, I'm actually in the top 2. I've got a 50% chance of getting this job.

Of course, I have to do another interview--with the bosses. That's what decides who gets the job. It's a casual interview to see who fits best with the company culture. I can do this. I'm pretty loveable, right?

*Fingers crossed*

Job News Delayed

So...I got an email today that the guy who is reviewing my application materials got swamped with work and will not be getting back to me as soon as hoped.

I'll find out if I got the job by the end of the week.

I'm still really impressed with the practices of this company. A lot of places would have just made me wait without saying anything.

Sad news is that the list of jobs I have to apply to this week will all have to be applied to. There is no hope that hearing good news on this other job will prevent the need.

I need a cookie. I think I've earned it.

Phase 2 of Application Done

I turned in that load of work. I just decided, no more second guessing, so I turned it in. We'll see what happens.

I'm nervous.

If I don't get this, it's because I don't know enough about aviation, which would be a pretty fair reason not to hire me.

I'd like to have a job though. There is only one other job that I'm still waiting to hear back from. The rest have all been rejections.

Making a Plan Stan

So, I have a ton to do at work since I was sick last week. I'm planning to work 10 hour days this week to make up for last week.

I also have to accomplish the job application tasks for one job, and they are pretty demanding tasks. Mostly, I'm pretty impressed with the hiring practices for this company. This is going to be a lot of work, but they are successfully giving me a reasonable sense of the work and expectations for this job. It also helps them to weed out anyone who doesn't really want the job. This is too much work for someone who is on the fence.

The tasks are broken up. Task 1 involves reading and writing 5 questions (with correct and distracting multiple choice answers) for two different chapters, totalling 10 questions. Task two is a proofreading assignment. Task 3 is to review and respond to customer questions, and task 4 is a research task. I have to look at the expectations, and collect the materials I would use to accomplish the task, but I don't actually have to do it.

My plan is to work this in phases. So last night, I did half of task 1 and all of task two. Essentially, I read 1 chapter, wrote 5 questions, and did all of the proofreading. Tonight I will try to do the other half of task 1 and task 3. If I have enough energy, I will also try to do task 4, but I'm not sure that will happen. I would really like to get all of them done asap, but with my workload, that would burn me out and probably reduce the quality of my work.

I also need to look back through what I've already created and remove any Oxford commas that I might have accidentally included. I noticed almost right away that this company uses an Oxford free style, but that doesn't mean my MLA brain automatically put that knowledge to use. Best double check. On a positive note, they have utterly convinced me that I will not be bored at this job. Until I make steep jumps up the learning curve for the subject matter, I will be using my brain more than I did in grad school, I think. Should be good.

Well...it's time to head to work.

How the Interview Went

So I had an interview yesterday. I would honestly be surprised if I got the job, but it was a good interview trial run experience. I have some good ideas to make things go better the next time.

Mostly, I failed to ask a few questions that would have helped me to provide better responses to other questions. Now I know. I have a better plan. Glad I learned something. Time was not wasted.

Now I need to get some serious work done, but I feel deathly tired, and my stomach is in all sorts of knots. I would just like to do nothing for a few days. Life is hitting in full force right now, and some of it just isn't that great.

Got an Interview

I have an interview. It wasn't my first pick, but I've been really impressed with the company's hiring practices, so this potential job is growing on me...a lot.

There were two definite jobs I wanted, and this wasn't one of those two. However, I think it has pushed one of those top two jobs below it.

What's more, the interview is on Halloween, which happens to be a Monday. For me this means that I can be in MHK on the Saturday before to attend the Halloween party being thrown by the English graduate student group. It works out especially well because I will be in Denver training people the whole week before, so I will be about 4.5 hours closer than if I were home in GJ.

I will get to see so many friends who were first years during my second year of grad school and even some of my favorites from my own class (cough, Mariya and Lacey). I couldn't be happier to get to see them all. I've missed them a ton.

I'm also so excited to be a Kansan again (and yes, I know most people think that's weird).

When is there time?

It doesn't matter what someone suggests I do, I think the best response is "when is there time?"

I work, I tutor, I crochet. Life isn't bad, but then the last two weekends I have been forced to drive at least 5 hours away, taking Friday's off, and I'm behind on everything.

I need to do laundry. I need to work out. I need to make more progress on my crochet projects. I need to catch up on sleep. I need to make up work hours. I need to apply for jobs. I need to create a website.  I need to cook. I need to clean.

When is there time? I don't want to do any of it. I want to magically have a job, a cute apartment, a fitness routine, and energy to cook. At least, I am excited about the job potentials I am finding. I am just sad that applying is cutting into my crochet time.

Just so you know, I am not traveling again unless it's for an interview. I'm staying home with my silly cat to relax when I can.

New Career Goal Perhaps

So I'm going back into web content management, yet somehow I wandered to Macmillan's website this morning to see their jobs Macmillan owns TOR, which is my favorite fantasy publisher. I found a posting for an archivist/content manager, and I thought, that sounds like me.

Unfortunately, I don't know that I could ever truly demonstrate the skills to get a job like that, but I don't want to get another degree, at least not just yet. For such a job, I really might have to study library science. That would be fun. There's also the thought of getting some formal training in graphic arts and information systems to work towards such a career. I need to find somewhere I can just take courses at my leisure without being enrolled in a program.

Blergh. Okay, must not be distracted. Must write.

Job In Hand, I'm Now Motivated

I can't be distracted by job searching anymore...it turns out I can be distracted by looking for a boat and an apartment.

I'd really like another snark, but I can't find a used one in a convenient location. If I have to drive several states over to buy it, it no longer is affordable. I really can't afford to store one anyway, but I dream.

Finding an apartment is a reasonable distraction, right?

My goal for today is to get all caught up on grading. I'm going into the office to tackle this great feat.

Tomorrow is project day. I will finish that sucker. Friday, I will annotate for Indian Children's Lit. Saturday, I will do my project proposal for Han Yu's class. Sunday, I will finish Cracking India. Monday, I will read for 759. Tuesday, I will write my response paper and probably wrap up the proposal started on Saturday. I cannot plan beyond that.

Since I'm going into the office, I won't make it out to hang with CB until this evening. I think I will watch a few episode's of Merlin with said cat to reward myself for grading. Season 2 is thus far good, and available on Hulu.

I Decided to Take a Job

When I first heard that the Division of Wildlife job would be available around the time that I finish grad school, I thought I would save it as a last resort. I decided to go for it, but not even as a last resort. I think it's going to be a much better option than anything else.

1. I already know the job.
2. They've increased the pay.
3. They're transitioning to a new CMS, so I won't get bored because there's an extra challenge.
4. The natural gas industry in the area has shut down, so rent is affordable.
5. Barring workshopping for classes, I haven't spent as much time on my novel as when I worked there before.
6. It's far enough from home.
7. It will give me time to look for more long-term jobs without worrying about a writing project.

The 6 month thing is a bit of a nuisance for signing leases and whatnot, but I'm ready to indulge in all the things I like. Grad school has been very limiting.

Does My Sister Want Me Home?

My twin sister, Molly, keeps sending me job postings near her. Some of them are good, and some of them are just okay. She said she found them while looking for jobs for her fiance, but part of me takes it as a "please come home" request.

I've been fairly set on not going home. I like being an independent person in a way I never felt like I could be at home, but I'm about to the leave behind the tight-knit graduate community I've become a part of, and I know how hard it is to make friends in the working world, especially if I don't work with people my own age. I'm shy; making friends is hard. Maybe I should go home. I do love my sister, but I don't always feel like I fit in with her friends, so I'll be an isolated extra wheel.

Dear gods of magically perfect jobs, please find me something where I won't be bored and where I can easily make friends. That's all I want. I want to use my brain and feel challenged and to have fun people to work with and possibly hang out with.

Job searching makes me miss Chris. I don't have anybody that's gonna be there no matter where I go, except the cat. That's the problem though; I couldn't count on him to be there either. Splitting was good. Gotta focus. No time for sadness. This is grad school not high school. Buck up, Schurl.

Step 1, Get Job. Step 2, Write Novel.

I'm on a writing kick again...not really. I don't actually have time to write a novel, but I really want to be working on my novel right now. I guess that's it. I need to find a 9 to 5 job where I can go home and write after work.

If all else fails, I'm applying with the Colorado Division of Wildlife again. They increased the pay. The rent in GJ went down, and now I know Amber who can hook me up with a geek circle there. It's only 6 months again, but maybe I can find something that's a good fit while I'm there. (Look at me assuming I'd get in, but Loyse would probably appreciate not to have to train someone.) It's so hard to apply for jobs while in grad school. I'm not able to put my full effort in.

Anywho, when I worked for them before, I had time to write (and to read!) because when I left work, I was done for the day. Maybe I can get one novel done in that 6 months, find a new job before my time there is up, and start seeking publication.

Quite honestly, though I was a bit bored at work and didn't like GJ much for social reasons, I was generally happiest with my life then. I worked out every day. I cooked amazing food. I worked on my novel. I read books that I wanted to read. I crocheted. The only deterrent is that I made almost no friends there, and my old roommate is moving away. Hopefully Amber can hook me up with a proper crowd of nerds.

Graduate School or Life?

I have a list of things to do a mile long this weekend. Some of which are for school some of which are for fun.

School Things     Write New Section of Writing Project Grade Students' Correspondence Portfolios Read for Indian Children's Lit Read for Technical Communication Read 1 Source and Write 1 Annotation for Indian Children's Lit

Life Things     Apply for Dream Job & Others Cook Fancy Dinner with/for Friends Attend Nerdy Harry Potter Fan-based Wizard Rock Concert Make Scones for Chris (He washed my car because I was having a bad day--love him!)

Today, I am prioritizing "Life Things," even though there is no way that I can get all the "School Things" done tomorrow. Oh well. Some of them can be done during the week, and I did spend half my morning preparing resources for the group project my students are currently working on.

On another note, what a cooking weekend!

I feel like I haven't spent time with Mariya and Lacey in a thousand years, so we're gathering to make a bulgur risotto with corn, shrimp, and red bell pepper for dinner. Nic, Christy, and Ryane are gonna be there, too! It's gonna be like old times when Nic and I were single--a couple of straight cats surrounded by lesbiens. Chris and Ashley won't be there, but we'll live since we'll be surrounded by awesome friends.

Tomorrow, I will bake the scones while I read for Indian Children's Literature. I have a lot of stuff I want to use up, so I'm going to make some white cheddar and dill scones, some banana walnut scone, and perhaps some chocolate & coconut scones. I'm excited, but kind of sad. Chris leaves for Omaha at the end of the month. When will I next get to butter him up with baked goods? :(

Okay...it's job application time!