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Uncertain Certainty

15 Aug

The Certain -  Andrew has accepted a job.  He is all set to start working as a Project Controls Analyst at Overland Contracting on August 25. 

The Uncertain – It is a significant amount less than he was making and we're trying to tweak our numbers to make it all work so I might still be able to stay home with the kids.  If not, my job hunt will continue.

The Certain – This job will eventually lead him to what he's always wanted to do – work in the field of Civil Engineering.  The prospect of that makes both of us really happy.

The Uncertain – How much will the required travel keep Andrew away from home?  He was told during the interview that workers can be away anywhere from a few weeks at a time to a few months. I'd be lying if I said I was 100% ok with that. 

The Certain – It feels great for us to know we will have an income and benefits again.  Fortunately, it all is timing out well with the end of the severance and everything. 

The Uncertain – Did we make the right decision?  Should we have gambled and waited for something else? 

The Certain – It's an income.  It's a great opportunity.  It's necessary.  It's a decision. 

That's certain.

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Rejection #1

14 Aug

From the person I interviewed with for the University of Georgia Press Publicity Manager position:

"This was a really tough decision, but I've narrowed it down to a small group and will not need you to come back in. You have some really great experience and I think you could definitely land yourself a job here at UGA. It's a tough environment right now though with these budget cuts, and I think that drove an unusually high number of qualified applicants to this job, including a couple from within the Press.

I am keeping your resume on hand in case no one in this group works out, but I didn't want to hold you up if you have other leads. I really appreciate you coming down here for the interview.

Best of luck with things."

Pretty much the nicest rejection email I could get.  I'm ok with it.  This was the job that kind of intimidated me – you know – since I have zero experience in book publishing.

At least I know the status of one of them.  Three to go!

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Ready or Not

13 Aug

The “Hello Kitty” backpack now sits filled with crayons, glue sticks, safety scissors, antibacterial lotion and notebooks.  Her matching “Hello Kitty” lunch box will soon be stuffed with her favorites.  She placed the order herself – peanut butter and jelly, applesauce and cheese crackers.  Oh and don’t forget the juice box, Momma.

Soon that backpack will weigh on her shoulders.  Now crisp and clean, on Friday it will begin its days of being dragged, kicked, dropped, tossed, used, abused and loved to pieces. The lunch box will soon start its important job of carrying the lunches I make with care – the one connection I’ll have with Nia during her long day away.  It will carry more than food, it will carry my love all zipped up with her PB&J – Momma hopes you like your lunch Sweets.  I’m thinking about you and hoping you have a great day at school.

I hope you learn a lot, laugh a lot, live a lot.  I hope your school days are happy days.  I’ll miss you while you’re there.  I’ll worry that you’re ok on your own.  You’re so small.  You’re so sweet.  Will they take care of you like they should?  Will they love your little ways like they should?  Will you make friends that you’ll have forever?  Will you want to invite them over to play?  Will kids be mean to you?  Momma can’t protect you there.  Be strong little girl.  Be brave.  Be nice.  Be helpful.  Be polite.  Behave.  Be fun.  Be you.

I love you Sweets.  Friday is your first of many days growing up but I will always remember you as my little girl with the “Hello Kitty” backpack that was adorably too big and that bounced when you walked.

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Extreme Tricycling

11 Aug

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Risky Business

11 Aug

We should be relieved right now.  We should be ecstatic.  I should be typing this in all caps letting you all know that Andrew got a job offer.  That’s great right?  Yes.  It is.  To a point.

We know we’re really not in a position to be too picky here but we also don’t want Andrew to sell himself short.  This company just isn’t offering him what we need.  We’re not looking to make what he was making.  We know the likelihood of that happening is slim.  We just want a livable salary.  One that we could manage on until I find something (or am hopefully offered something).

The practical, non-gambling side of us says we should take it.  But the other side of us, the one that feels like we’re settling and could be missing out on a better opportunity, says we should hold out a little longer.  We think we have good reasons to – he just went on two other interviews last week so those are potentials and there’s another hiring conference coming up this week that could offer a few possibilities.  It’s just such a risk.

We’re told he has to decide on Monday whether he’ll take the job.  I really don’t know what our decision will be.  It’s just such a tough call.  The job offers Andrew experience in Civil Engineering – something he’s always wanted to do.  But it also will require a lot of travel and time away from home.  We really have to consider all the pros and cons.

How could it be that I was less stressed when we didn’t have an offer on the table?  Makes no sense.  None.
 

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Jumping for Jobs!

30 Jul

The bait is finally being taken.  Now it’s just a wait and see if we can reel ’em in!

Right now, Andrew is on his second interview for a company called Overland Contracting that’s only 45 minutes away from our house.  He is so pumped about this job because it involves Civil Engineering, his degree.  He also found out yesterday that another 3 companies he interviewed with want him to come out for a second interview.  Two of them (amazon.com and RoadSafe Traffic Systems) would require us moving so even though they have a ton to offer, we’re trying to focus on the closer one first.  That one, Van Der Lande Industries, is about an hour and 15 minutes away (without traffic) so even it’s not ideal but Andrew is really interested in the position (Project Manager) and the opportunities it offers so he’s not too worried about the drive.  He goes for the interview with that company on Friday so this week has been great for him!

As for me, I just had a phone interview with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta this morning.  He told me he’d be calling back to set up an in-person interview so I think it went well.  That job is to be a Web Content Editor for a new site they’re creating that’s geared toward helping families have healthy lifestyles.  It sounds really awesome and I love that I’d be working on something that’s meant to help others.  That’s the reason I even wanted to be a journalist.  My mom learned about medicine to help her through a story she saw on the news, that’s when I knew what I wanted to do.  As a Web Content Editor, I would write, proof and publish stories and oversee any content put on the site.  I would also have to come up with ideas for features on the site and make people want to go to it for health information.

Tomorrow, I have that interview with Gwinnett County Public Schools.  That one is to be a Communications Specialist with the Broadcast and Distance Learning Department.  That position is probably the closest to what I did as a News Producer.  Besides that, I also have an interview set for next Friday with the Gwinnett County Public Library as a Library Associate.  I think I would really like this job not only because I’m weird and I love libraries but because (as awful as it may sound) there’s really no huge responsibility with it. I think that might be the best thing for me since I’ve been out of the “real” world for so long.  It would help me ease back into things.  It may not sound all that great but the pay is actually better than one of my other possible jobs!

So that’s where it all stands for now.  Hopefully, some of these possibilities will turn into realities soon!

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One down, One to Go

25 Jul

It’s over and I’m still alive!  I don’t have any mental scarring either!  I actually think the job interview I had today was kind of fun.  Is that demented or what?

It’s hard to explain but I was pumped at the idea of getting ready for a job, even if it might not be mine.  It felt good to trade in my shorts and tank tops for a suit and heels.  It made me feel like I could do this.  I could be a working mom again.  I felt empowered.  I think that might have carried over to my interview because I was as cool, confident and conversational as it’s possible for me to be.

Today’s interview was for the position of Publicity Manager at The University of Georgia Press. The Press publishes about 80 titles a year, ranging from educational books to subjects with broader appeal like fiction or as I noticed in the lobby, a book all about my favorite friends – Georgia bugs.  As the Publicity Manager, I would be the main point of contact between the author and The Press.  I would set up events like readings, signings and lectures and then work to promote them through the media.  I would have to convince newspaper book reviewers to read a UGA Press book and publish a review.  (I would even get to travel to New York City to meet with reviewers there!)

Overall, I think the only thing that will keep me from getting this job is the fact that I don’t have the book publishing experience.  The head of the department was very nice and seemed interested in what I had to offer but he also told me he put the posting on a publishing industry website.  I do think I would really like this job.  Besides the fact that the hours are typically 8 – 5 and it’s only 25 minutes away from our house, it just sounds like a fun job.

No matter what the outcome may be, I’m really glad I got one interview under my belt.  It was good practice and I learned a valuable lesson.  Take Pepto before I leave the house.  Luckily, I was early this time and was saved by a Kroger with a clean restroom.

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Job Interview on the Fly

25 Jul

He left a message at 1 pm.  Saw my resume.  Wants to hold interviews this week and next.  Call him to set up a time.

I call back at 3 pm. He tells me he has to sort through all the resumes, commenting that he has so many because of the bad economy.  I reply that the open position is also an exciting opportunity.  He agrees and then begins to set up an interview time.  He asks me what days I would be free. I’m available tomorrow if he’s open, I announce.  It’s set.

Right now, I’m reviewing a list of possible questions I could encounter tomorrow.  I’ve manicured my nails. I’m grooming my eyebrows.  I’m second guessing my outfit.  What purse should I carry? Should I wear a necklace?  Will my throat still hurt this bad tomorrow?  (I caught the kids’ colds.)  The only thing I’m not worried about is getting there.  I actually scouted it out earlier tonight.

That’s about all I can do. Worry and wait until 10 am tomorrow.  That’s when I’ll be trying to convince my inquisitor that I’m the next Publicity Manager for The University of Georgia Press.
 

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The Key to Conquering the Commode?

23 Jul

Right now, Thomas the Tank Engine underpants are taking a tumble in our washing machine.  After that, they’ll be dried and given to a 2 and a half year old boy who has yet to master the whole peeing and pooing in the potty business.  I’m hoping that Nate will be so in love with the drawers that he won’t want to defile them.  I already know he loves them because the very moment he saw them he wanted to rip them out of the package and put them on.  I told him, “No, Mommy has to wash them first.”  He took them to the bathroom sink, tossed them in and said, “Mommy wash.”

Here’s to Thomas!
 

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Getting My Foot in the Door

22 Jul

Not 12 hours after I boo-hooed about not getting any love with my job applications, I got an email for an interview!  I will be interviewing for the position of Communication Specialist with the Broadcast and Distance Learning Department of Gwinnett County Public Schools on Thursday, July 31.

Based off the description on the job posting, it seems like something I would be good at and would like.  It’s basically producing programs for the school system’s 24/7 educational television channel and supervising video-conferencing for distance learning.

I’m just so excited to have a chance and I did it without having an “in” to help me get my foot in the door.  Every job I ever had I got because I knew someone who knew someone.  Not this time.  I just can’t even believe it!

Now, I just have to prepare!  I have a new suit and heels all ready to be worn but my brain needs a re-boot.  Luckily, Andrew has a bunch of professional advice on interviewing from his recruiters so I’m going to be reviewing all of that but when it really comes down to it, they either like you or they don’t.  We’ll see if it’s a match or not!

 

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