What a month April has turned out to be! As you all know, I finally got a job offer (3 to be exact!) and accepted the position working for the State of Kansas. I started that job this week. It’s a nice, short, 10 to 15 minute drive on the side streets. No highway -Yay! It feels so good to be working again!
Day One: It was pretty slow, I got to meet just about everyone in the office. It’s so different to work in an office with more then two people! They are so laid back and carefree. During lunch breaks they play board and card games. I learned about the type of clients we deal with, that can be pretty creepy if you think about it, because everyone that’s a client has committed a felon in the past. Not all are serious, but we do deal with sex offenders and murders. The afternoon, I sat through orientation, learned all the benefits and policies… yada yada yada.
Day two welcomed me with a carpool ride to Topeka for the Regional Meeting. A long hour ride early in the morning with 3 guys who listened to talk radio! Yep, you guessed it, snooze time! I bet I made a good impression on my second day! I just hope I didn’t snore! Regional Meetings are where the entire North Region gets together and talks about how to better the department and things that are going on with the state. Everyone kept telling me how boring it was, but I learned so much! Maybe it’s because I was the new girl. For instance, before I started this job, I was against the proposed sales tax on soda and sugar beverages. But at the meeting, I learned that the State proposed that tax to try and help meet budget cuts and save State Employee Jobs! I also learned that the State of Kansas is VERY poor these days! Enough about that, on to day Three!
Day three, four and five were all the same. I finally got a computer and started learning some of the basic programs. We have lots of meetings and group sessions we hold on Wednesday and Thursday, so the office was hopping all day long. Friday, I dove into some files. My new task is to reorganize the filing cabinets and make more space. No worries, I wont blog much about my job every week. lol. I was just so excited to finally be back at work and share my new experience with everyone!
I really think I’m going to like this job. There is so much to do and learn! I’m off to the Library to pick up a few books so I can learn a lot of the lingo and crimes! What a good week!
Showing posts with label job. Show all posts
Showing posts with label job. Show all posts
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
A New Job Awaits
Well folks, I received another job offer. This one, better then the other two. This is the State Job! I will be working Monday-Friday and 8-5! Perfect!
Here's Looking to the future! have a happy Monday!!!
I honestly didn't think I would get this job. It was my shortest interview and I thought I did horrible! I got the call on Friday while my husband and I were making a few returns. I was so excited I started jumping up and down and pumping my arms. All weekend I just kept thinking how I was amazed I got this job, in the back of my head, I keep hoping that they didn't get their candidates confused!
They are being thoughful and letting me go ahead on my vacation (which is coming up in a few weeks!) and I get to start on 4-26-10. I can't wait! I have enjoyed all the free time with my husband and dogs (and I'm going to miss them) and all the time I've got to spend doing whatever I wanted, but I am ready to work!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Job Offers!
I've been job searching for 6 months and I've received 2 job offers. I accepted the first one I received because I was afraid I wouldn't get another one. I am having a hard time deciding what to do. I've talked to everyone I know about it, and I still can't make a decision. I thought I'd ask you all for advice.
Job #1
Major Retail Company
Administrative Assistant
Part Time 20 hours
$1 less then the full time job
I like the manager
the job duties change daily
10 minute commute
Morning Shift M-F and I would have rotating weekends, about once a month
Job#2
Major Financial Company
Customer Service Rep - Call Center
Full Time 40 hours
$1 more an hour then part time job
I don't know anyone that I will be working with or the manager
repetitive work dealing with cutomers over their credit cards and bills
15 minute commute
Afternoon shift 1230-900pm
I would have to work every saturday and have off sunday & tuesday.
My husband works Sat-Mon 12 hour shifts during the day.
I'm leaning towards the Part time Job because I will have my afternoons to spend with my husband and dogs.
But I would be giving up half the money
I would have a variety of tasks to do, not the same thing ever day over and over at the call center.
Plus I wouldn't have to deal with mean cranky customers on a daily basis.
But we need the money! and I can sleep in. But with that schedule, it seems like thats all you would have time for is sleep & work.
Oh decisions! I honestly thought I would get one offer and I would have to take it. I never thought I would have to make a decision!
And there is one more potential Job working for the State. There is no problem making a decision there, State Jobs are great!
So what would you do? Job#1 or Job#2?
Job #1
Major Retail Company
Administrative Assistant
Part Time 20 hours
$1 less then the full time job
I like the manager
the job duties change daily
10 minute commute
Morning Shift M-F and I would have rotating weekends, about once a month
Job#2
Major Financial Company
Customer Service Rep - Call Center
Full Time 40 hours
$1 more an hour then part time job
I don't know anyone that I will be working with or the manager
repetitive work dealing with cutomers over their credit cards and bills
15 minute commute
Afternoon shift 1230-900pm
I would have to work every saturday and have off sunday & tuesday.
My husband works Sat-Mon 12 hour shifts during the day.
I'm leaning towards the Part time Job because I will have my afternoons to spend with my husband and dogs.
But I would be giving up half the money
I would have a variety of tasks to do, not the same thing ever day over and over at the call center.
Plus I wouldn't have to deal with mean cranky customers on a daily basis.
But we need the money! and I can sleep in. But with that schedule, it seems like thats all you would have time for is sleep & work.
Oh decisions! I honestly thought I would get one offer and I would have to take it. I never thought I would have to make a decision!
And there is one more potential Job working for the State. There is no problem making a decision there, State Jobs are great!
So what would you do? Job#1 or Job#2?
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
50 Worst Interview Mistakes
I've been brushing up on my interviewing skills and ran across this article on YAHOO and thought I would share. It made me laugh becuase over 1/2 of these are no brainers! Working the past 8 years in the staffinng industry, I can remember people doing just about all of these! Heres the article.
You may have heard the horror stories--job hunters who take phone calls or text during an interview, or bring out a sandwich and start chomping, or brush their hair, or worse. You wouldn't do any of those things, would you? Of course not.
But there are tons of other job interview no-no's you may not have thought of. Or that you've forgotten. The job hunting trail is long and arduous, and a little refresher course can't hurt. So for your edification and enjoyment, here are 50 (yes, 50!) of the worst and most common job interview mistakes:
1. Arriving late.
2. Arriving too early. (In my experience, I would recommend no earlier then 10 minutes early)
3. Lighting up a cigarette, or smelling like a cigarette.
4. Bad-mouthing your last boss.
5. Lying about your skills/experience/knowledge.
6. Wearing the wrong (for this workplace!) clothes. (I have been trained to tell my job hunters to dress one step better then the work attire. If it's casual, you should dress business casual)
7. Forgetting the name of the person you're interviewing with.
8. Wearing a ton of perfume or aftershave.
9. Wearing sunglasses.
10. Wearing a Bluetooth earpiece.
11. Failing to research the employer in advance.
12. Failing to demonstrate enthusiasm.
13. Inquiring about benefits too soon.
14. Talking about salary requirements too soon.
15. Being unable to explain how your strengths and abilities apply to the job in question.
16. Failing to make a strong case for why you are the best person for this job.
17. Forgetting to bring a copy of your resume and/or portfolio.
18. Failing to remember what you wrote on your own resume.
19. Asking too many questions.
20. Asking no questions at all.
21. Being unprepared to answer the standard questions.
22. Failing to listen carefully to what the interviewer is saying.
23. Talking more than half the time.
24. Interrupting your interviewer.
25. Neglecting to match the communication style of your interviewer.
26. Yawning.
27. Slouching.
28. Bringing along a friend, or your mother. (If you have to catch a ride with someone, leave them in the car! I've had so many people bring their driver in to the interview, AKWARD! Also, employeers are really needing someone dependable, and showing that you have to depend on someone to drive them to their job all the time)
29. Chewing gum, tobacco, your pen, your hair.
30. Laughing, giggling, whistling, humming, lip-smacking.
31. Saying "you know," "like," "I guess," and "um."
32. Name-dropping or bragging or sounding like a know-it-all.
33. Asking to use the bathroom.
34. Being falsely or exaggeratedly modest.
35. Shaking hands too weakly, or too firmly.
36. Failing to make eye contact (or making continuous eye contact).
37. Taking a seat before your interviewer does.
38. Becoming angry or defensive.
39. Complaining that you were kept waiting.
40. Complaining about anything!
41. Speaking rudely to the receptionist.
42. Letting your nervousness show. (Sometimes this is impossible to do! I am bad about covering this up!)
43. Overexplaining why you lost your last job.
44. Being too familiar and jokey.
45. Sounding desperate.
46. Checking the time.
47. Oversharing.
48. Sounding rehearsed.
49. Leaving your cell phone on.
50. Failing to ask for the job.
You may have heard the horror stories--job hunters who take phone calls or text during an interview, or bring out a sandwich and start chomping, or brush their hair, or worse. You wouldn't do any of those things, would you? Of course not.
But there are tons of other job interview no-no's you may not have thought of. Or that you've forgotten. The job hunting trail is long and arduous, and a little refresher course can't hurt. So for your edification and enjoyment, here are 50 (yes, 50!) of the worst and most common job interview mistakes:
1. Arriving late.
2. Arriving too early. (In my experience, I would recommend no earlier then 10 minutes early)
3. Lighting up a cigarette, or smelling like a cigarette.
4. Bad-mouthing your last boss.
5. Lying about your skills/experience/knowledge.
6. Wearing the wrong (for this workplace!) clothes. (I have been trained to tell my job hunters to dress one step better then the work attire. If it's casual, you should dress business casual)
7. Forgetting the name of the person you're interviewing with.
8. Wearing a ton of perfume or aftershave.
9. Wearing sunglasses.
10. Wearing a Bluetooth earpiece.
11. Failing to research the employer in advance.
12. Failing to demonstrate enthusiasm.
13. Inquiring about benefits too soon.
14. Talking about salary requirements too soon.
15. Being unable to explain how your strengths and abilities apply to the job in question.
16. Failing to make a strong case for why you are the best person for this job.
17. Forgetting to bring a copy of your resume and/or portfolio.
18. Failing to remember what you wrote on your own resume.
19. Asking too many questions.
20. Asking no questions at all.
21. Being unprepared to answer the standard questions.
22. Failing to listen carefully to what the interviewer is saying.
23. Talking more than half the time.
24. Interrupting your interviewer.
25. Neglecting to match the communication style of your interviewer.
26. Yawning.
27. Slouching.
28. Bringing along a friend, or your mother. (If you have to catch a ride with someone, leave them in the car! I've had so many people bring their driver in to the interview, AKWARD! Also, employeers are really needing someone dependable, and showing that you have to depend on someone to drive them to their job all the time)
29. Chewing gum, tobacco, your pen, your hair.
30. Laughing, giggling, whistling, humming, lip-smacking.
31. Saying "you know," "like," "I guess," and "um."
32. Name-dropping or bragging or sounding like a know-it-all.
33. Asking to use the bathroom.
34. Being falsely or exaggeratedly modest.
35. Shaking hands too weakly, or too firmly.
36. Failing to make eye contact (or making continuous eye contact).
37. Taking a seat before your interviewer does.
38. Becoming angry or defensive.
39. Complaining that you were kept waiting.
40. Complaining about anything!
41. Speaking rudely to the receptionist.
42. Letting your nervousness show. (Sometimes this is impossible to do! I am bad about covering this up!)
43. Overexplaining why you lost your last job.
44. Being too familiar and jokey.
45. Sounding desperate.
46. Checking the time.
47. Oversharing.
48. Sounding rehearsed.
49. Leaving your cell phone on.
50. Failing to ask for the job.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Job Interview
Well, after being rescheduled for the 3rd time, I had my interview. I didn't mind being rescheduled, it gave me more time to prepare. As previously blogged, I was nervous and worried about stairs. I reassured myself that no matter what, I was going to this interview. I tried talking myself out of it. But there was no good reason to 'not' go to the interview. I sit around sad and depressed because of money struggles and I sit and complain that no one has called for an interview... there was no way I was letting me talk myself out of this interview.
How did I do? Hopefully Great! I felt great when I left the interview. Lots of good questions and good answers. They offer everything that I have been wanting in a company and more! The company received over 600 resumes the first weeks posting. They narrowed it down to about 20 candidates. I was one of the lucky few that got selected for an interview. Today, they told me they received over 200 more resumes! I know times are rough right now, but wow, 800 resumes for one position! I've got my fingers crossed, my toes crossed and everything else I can cross. I should find out by the begining of April if I get the job. Wish me luck!
How did I do? Hopefully Great! I felt great when I left the interview. Lots of good questions and good answers. They offer everything that I have been wanting in a company and more! The company received over 600 resumes the first weeks posting. They narrowed it down to about 20 candidates. I was one of the lucky few that got selected for an interview. Today, they told me they received over 200 more resumes! I know times are rough right now, but wow, 800 resumes for one position! I've got my fingers crossed, my toes crossed and everything else I can cross. I should find out by the begining of April if I get the job. Wish me luck!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Good News!
As I sat and sulked in my big fat leather chair, thinking about how no one has called me for a job since October, I received a phone call. An interview! Yes! Finally, someone was interested in me. Super excited! An administrative assistant position for a major candy company. Great, a fat girl interviewing for a candy company. I have been going over all the "right" answers in my head. I've told myself 100 times to relax and not be nervous. I'm perfect for this position.
But..... 1 little word has me freaking out and about to cry. Stairs. The interviewer said "we'll go up stairs". Oh lord. Not only was I kinda worried already about my size, now I have to climb stairs? Let's just stack the deck even further against me. I can't do stairs. I have bad knees and I'm carrying an extra 200 pounds of fat on me! I will be so out of breath! My husband is trying his best to calm me, however I just want to cry and cancel this interview. The thought of being embarassed and losing a potential job because I am so damn fat kills me.
I just hope I can get past my fears and have a good interview!
But..... 1 little word has me freaking out and about to cry. Stairs. The interviewer said "we'll go up stairs". Oh lord. Not only was I kinda worried already about my size, now I have to climb stairs? Let's just stack the deck even further against me. I can't do stairs. I have bad knees and I'm carrying an extra 200 pounds of fat on me! I will be so out of breath! My husband is trying his best to calm me, however I just want to cry and cancel this interview. The thought of being embarassed and losing a potential job because I am so damn fat kills me.
I just hope I can get past my fears and have a good interview!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Laid Off... again
I show up for work and my time card is missing... two of my good friends that are in my cubicle are missing too.... "Tonya I need to speak with you"...
Well, I got word today that I am no longer needed at my part-time job. I knew in the begining it was seasonal, however my supervisor told us they were going to keep the part time night crew and not lay off after Christmas... Well my supervisor got to keep the girl she feels sorry for and let everyone else go. Some tears were shed because now I am completely jobless.
I went straight to the Library and started applying for jobs. Hopefully something turns out for me.
Happy Friday!
Well, I got word today that I am no longer needed at my part-time job. I knew in the begining it was seasonal, however my supervisor told us they were going to keep the part time night crew and not lay off after Christmas... Well my supervisor got to keep the girl she feels sorry for and let everyone else go. Some tears were shed because now I am completely jobless.
I went straight to the Library and started applying for jobs. Hopefully something turns out for me.
Happy Friday!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Job Interview
Today was my first job interview in 8 years. I have a part time job and have been on interviews for it and others, however they basically just want to make sure you'll work the schedule and show up. They don't ask technical questions and questions that will make you think.
I'm a staffing recrutier and finding people jobs is my job. You'd think that in the industry that I'm in, I would be good at interviewing and writing a resume... well I'm good at telling people how to interview, just not good at taking the advice!
Today's interview was over the phone, since this is the first one in eight years, I was nervous... and it showed. I spoke quickly in my answers. I was unsure if what I was answering was the right thing to say. My allergies were acting up, so I had a stuffy nose. And to make things worse, over 500 people applied for this job. Part of me thinks I'm just over reacting and the other part wants to cry. This is a fantastic opportunity and I feel like I let it slip through my fingertips.
We will find out in two weeks if I get call back for a 2nd interview. **keeping my fingers crossed**
I'm a staffing recrutier and finding people jobs is my job. You'd think that in the industry that I'm in, I would be good at interviewing and writing a resume... well I'm good at telling people how to interview, just not good at taking the advice!
Today's interview was over the phone, since this is the first one in eight years, I was nervous... and it showed. I spoke quickly in my answers. I was unsure if what I was answering was the right thing to say. My allergies were acting up, so I had a stuffy nose. And to make things worse, over 500 people applied for this job. Part of me thinks I'm just over reacting and the other part wants to cry. This is a fantastic opportunity and I feel like I let it slip through my fingertips.
We will find out in two weeks if I get call back for a 2nd interview. **keeping my fingers crossed**
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