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wow

4 Sep

I would love to tell you all about my first day of work right now.  I would love to tell you how it was really great.  That the only “bad” things that happened were that my shoes made my feet bleed and that my boss above my boss had to inform me I was violating the dress code with my very cute capris.  I would love to tell you how they decorated my desk with streamers, yellow paper plates cut into suns and Starburst candy.  I know you’d like to know how I walked everywhere and everyone I met seemed really happy that I was there.  I wish I could tell you how they all made me feel so welcome and how I think I’m really going to like my job and co-workers.

It would be so great to tell you all of that but I’m super exhausted and must get to sleep to start it all over again.

Before I go though, there is one thing I have the energy to share – I’m really looking forward to another day there and hope the kids keep having great days too.
 

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Things Not to Say to a Mom Who’s Going back to Work

30 Aug

The following comments all come with a hint of snootiness from Stay-At-Home Moms I’ve come to know around town.  They make it pretty clear that I’m no longer in their “club.”

“Oh, you’re putting the kids in child care?”

“I guess you just have to do what you have to do.”

“That drive is awful.  I hated it and my kids were always so exhausted when I picked them up from day care.”

“You’re thinking about that day care?  I’ve heard some unsettling things about that day care.” (FYI – We didn’t pick that day care.)

“My daughter didn’t like that After-School program.”

“You are going to hate it when it rains.  The drive is even worse when it rains.”

“You’re going to leave for work that early?”

“You’re going to get killed on gas prices.”

“Well, if you say it’s worth it.”

“You have to drive how far every day?”

“Wow.  That’s going to be a really long day for your kids.”

“I’m sure you are going to miss all that quality time you get to spend with Nate.”

As if I didn’t feel bad/guilty/unsure enough about going back to work. Thanks for pointing out the obvious and for the support.  It would be different if they said what they said because they were genuinely concerned.  They aren’t.  They say it as they look down their nose at me.  I try to tell myself that they would do the same thing if they were in our position and given this opportunity.  Of course, I’m sure they would disagree.

 

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Vacation’s Over

25 Aug

After two months of waking up late, fun tennis matches, napping in the middle of the day, playing outside with the kids and spending almost every minute of the day together, it all changes tomorrow.  Andrew’s first day back on the job begins at 8 am and we couldn’t be more excited.

As much as this has been an uncertain time, we got to be together as a family like we probably never will again.  It may seem crazy to say, but I’m actually thankful for the layoff.  What seemed like such a challenge and a bad thing really wasn’t at all.  I’m so proud of how we made the most of the situation and didn’t let it bring us down.  I think it’s so awesome that Andrew will soon be on his way to doing what he always wanted to do.  Everything happens for a reason.

I wish you luck on your first day Andrew!  You continue to amaze me with your strength, determination and positive attitude.  You are a good influence!  (Says your pessimistic wife!)

 

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Job Offer

22 Aug

It seems at least one of the four companies I interviewed with likes me enough to want me to work for them. I have until 5 pm Friday to let the Gwinnett County Public Library know if I want to be a Part-Time Library Associate.

From a quick glance, it seems like it would be a great “mommy job.” I love libraries, it would be a stress-free job (compared to others), Nia would probably not need any after school care and the pay is good. But then you add that pay to what Andrew will make and subtract all the taxes, the gas to drive the 60 miles there and back and childcare for Nate because chances are I’ll have to work during some weekdays – well, it doesn’t seem so great after considering all of that.

I don’t think I’ll even take the other job if it’s offered to me.  It really hurts me to say that because working at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta would be such an amazing opportunity.  It’s just the drive is just so ridiculously long – especially when you add that I’ll be racing to pick Nia and Nate before the childcare they’ve been at all day is about to close.

It’s so frustrating.  All of that hard work and emotional blah I went through researching, applying and interviewing – for what?  These jobs seemed great and workable when I found them and applied.  What could be so different now that they aren’t anymore?

As much as I’m scared to take them, I’m just as scared to let them go.  What if I don’t get another offer?  What if this was the job I was supposed to accept?

All I can do is make a decision with my heart and mind and hope it all turns out ok.

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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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More Time to Mull it Over

11 Aug

It seems we have a little more time to consider the offer from Overland Contracting.  Apparently, the president of the company is on vacation this week and the recruiter told Andrew the others involved are working on it.  Right now, we wait until the recruiter calls us back and tells us we have to decide.  I think we’re leaning toward taking it but aren’t 100% on that.  We just have to be realistic.  Good jobs are hard to come by these days and it’s a great opportunity for him experience-wise.

As for me and my job search, I have an interview tomorrow with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta but I still haven’t heard back from any of the other companies.  The library people told me it would be two weeks before they made a decision and they would let me know either way so at least I’ll know where I stand one way or the other. The University of Georgia one said they’ll “be in touch” but they just stopped taking job applications on Friday so I’m giving them a few more days to “be in touch.”  The public schools one isn’t for me.  They want someone who will work nights and that just isn’t a mom-friendly shift.

I’m really excited for my interview tomorrow though.  Of all of the jobs, it’s the one I think I’d enjoy the most.  That’s probably why I’m so nervous.  That and the fact that it’s a three hour interview with an hour set aside for a writing test.  If they wanted me to write a blog about my kids for it I’m sure I’d do fine, but they actually want me to be all professional and knowledgeable and grammatically correct.

That’s funny.
 

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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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