Tag Archives: job search

job search, under employment, unemployment

Rare

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There are rare days in life, when things seem to fall into place easily. I’ve had a few of these days, for which I’ll always be grateful. Yesterday was one of those days.

After driving home from the little house in the city on Thursday, I slept soundly and deeply, Attila at my side. I arose early, expecting a busy day, but I did not know just how busy it would be.

When Terra and I were traveling to visit Luna and family, I received a phone call from Attila, to relay to me a message. In December I’d attended a job interview, not heard back from them and ceased to think about it. On Wednesday they called and left a message for me to get in touch. So, sitting in the car, at a rest stop along the way to visit Luna, I returned the call. They offered me a job interview, a second one, on Thursday morning. I accepted.

That was yesterday morning.

While readying myself for the interview, I received a telephone call in regards to another interview I’d attended last January. They offered me a temporary position, part-time, flexible hours, which I accepted immediately. So when I headed into the scheduled interview on Thursday, I already had a new part-time job.

The interview went well, better than I’d hoped, and I was offered the job on the spot. A full-time job. Which I accepted. I start Monday morning.

Now I have a full-time job, a part-time job (where I just attained a relocation) and a new temporary part-time job. Three jobs. When it rains it pours. I think I can handle all three, I hope I can handle all three. I will be very busy for the duration of the temporary part-time job, then things will calm down as I will only have two jobs, one full-time and one part-time.

Hooray! Our bills will be paid!!!!

I am so glad I took my little excursion to the little house in the city, it will be quite a while before another opportunity of a week away. That worked out rather well.

There is also a delightful side effect to all these events. I was scheduled to work three days with the negative coworker, although that is not my office, these hours had been scheduled before the relocation. With shameful pleasure I called yesterday to inform her that I could not work those days. This is of benefit to the new employee who replaced me, as she will pick up those hours. It works well for everyone.

Thank you universe!!!

To celebrate, Attila and I immediately ordered firewood to heat our house next winter. What a relief, I was very worried about where the money for heating fuel would come from; that worry is gone.

Attila has promised to remind me of my present state of relief, if there are times when juggling three jobs gets a little overwhelming!

Worldly Distractions

Weather

-3 °C
Condition: Cloudy
Pressure: 103.0 kPa
Visibility: 16 km
Temperature: -3.0°C
Dewpoint: -3.2°C
Humidity: 99 %
Wind: calm

Quote

“Nothing in the world is permanent, and we’re foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we’re still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it. If change is of the essence of existence one would have thought it only sensible to make it the premise of our philosophy.”
W. Somerset Maugham
1874 – 1965

Note

W. Somerset Maugham

“The death of his mother left Maugham traumatized for life; subsequently he kept his mother’s photograph by his bedside for the rest of his life. Two years after Edith’s death, Maugham’s father died of cancer. Maugham was sent back to England to be cared for by his uncle, Henry MacDonald Maugham, the Vicar of Whitstable, in Kent. The move was catastrophic as Henry proved cold and emotionally cruel. The King’s School, Canterbury, where Maugham was a boarder during school terms, proved merely another version of purgatory, where he was teased for his bad English (French had been his first language) and his short stature, which he inherited from his father. It was at this time that Maugham developed the stammer that would stay with him all his life, although it was sporadic and subject to mood and circumstance.
Maugham was miserable both at the vicarage and at school. As a result, he developed a talent for making wounding remarks to those who displeased him. This ability is sometimes reflected in Maugham’s literary characters. At sixteen, Maugham refused to continue at The King’s School, and his uncle allowed him to travel to Germany, where he studied literature, philosophy and German at Heidelberg University. During his year in Heidelberg, Maugham met and had a sexual affair with John Ellingham Brooks, an Englishman ten years his senior. He also wrote his first book there, a biography of opera composer Giacomo Meyerbeer…”
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Somerset_Maugham

All you can do is your best.

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All you can do is your best. I attended the interview today and did just that, my best. I wasn’t happy with a few of the things I said; answers could have been better said, better examples might have been provided. It was a pleasant experience. I am pretty sure I did not procure the position. There was one question that seemed pivotal, it was yes or no answer and lies would have been transparent… my answer was no and it was probably the wrong answer. The real indicator was, they did not request references. Kudos to them though, they treated me with respect and dignity throughout.

Sun Emerges Near Peterborough Ontario, February 19, 2011

Sun Emerges Near Peterborough Ontario, February 19, 2011

So, that out of the way, on with the rest of my life.

The weather is much warmer, but the weather people say there is to be another night of -21C, Friday night. Sheesh.

I am exhausted. Interview preparations and the experience itself have left me yawning and nodding off at the keyboard this afternoon. And wouldn’t you know it, after sitting down in my easy chair for a short winter’s nap, the cell phone rang. Wrong number of course, we don’t use our cell phone except for emergency calls. That was that for the nap.

Worldly Distractions

Weather

-1 °C
Condition: Cloudy
Pressure: 101.5 kPa
Visibility: 13 km
Temperature: -1.0°C
Dewpoint: -2.6°C
Humidity: 89 %
Wind: W 13 km/h
Wind Chill: -5

Quote

“If you think you’re too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.”
Betty Reese [Who is Betty Reese?]

Lifting Weights

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Life is full of surprises! Sometimes unwelcome, sometimes very welcome indeed. The universe has been lifting weights, including one from my shoulders.

Light Shoulders

Light Shoulders

Since my request to relocate at work, the opportunity to work seems to be coming my way. I have the equivalent of fifteen days of work scheduled over the next two months. I am in shock and awe. Sometimes things just fall into place and this seems to be one of those times. This turn of events was not anticipated.

In addition, one of the interviews I recently attended, for a temporary position, looks like it may materialize into about six months work. The hours for this position are flexible, meaning I can juggle the job I already have with the temporary position. That would make for a very busy schedule for the duration of the six month contract, but who’s complaining!

The temperature will fall to -24C tonight. Attila will have an extra fire in the little wood stove downstairs tonight, to keep the basement temperature above freezing. Today is quite windy, which always makes it more challenging to keep the house warm. Although the house is well insulated, it is an older cottage and there is no barrier wrap such as tyvek on the exterior walls. Tomorrow night the predicted temperature will fall to -26C, and Sunday night it will be even colder at -30C. Attila will be working hard with the firewood to keep us warm this weekend.

And… there is a snow squall warning in effect, does that seem fair! Humph!

Worldly Distractions

Weather

Snow Squall Warning in Effect
-10 °C
Condition: Cloudy
Pressure: 100.7 kPa
Visibility: 16 km
Temperature: -10.0°C
Dewpoint: -14.9°C
Humidity: 68 %
Wind: WNW 21 gust 35 km/h
Wind Chill: -18

Quote

“It is easier to fight for one’s principles than to live up to them.”
Alfred Adler
1870 – 1937

The Fit

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Yesterday was eventful.  My official request for relocation has been submitted to my supervisor.  I have asked to be relocated to an office where I have worked occasionally and enjoyed every minute spent on the premises.  This may be employment suicide, I’m not sure.  I feel anxious about change.  The hours are fewer, the drive is longer, the work is the same.  There is no more hope at the new location of regular hours than there is at the old location.  The attraction of the new location is the the fit; it is a better fit for me.  I felt there was nothing for it but to dive into the change and hope for the best.  The whole process may take months and months.

Where did the morning go! Attila has come and gone at lunch and my perception is that the day has barely started. Lets see, shower, dishes, call to lawyer, lengthy job application that included an hour and a half online test, email, call to bank… It all makes sense now.

My birthday is in January. There is a downside to this. Our biggest whopping bills come in December and January, no frivolities. My birthday comes at the end of a long string of celebrations… Luna’s birthday, Christmas, the New Year, Terra’s birthday, Attila’s mother’s birthday and finally my birthday. By January most of us are watching our pennies and our pounds. Added to that is the fact that January is a very bad month for travel, so most years it is just Attila and I celebrating here in the snowy bush. Do I sound like I’m complaining? Well, maybe a little bit.

My most memorable birthday was one that went unnoticed by anyone but me. A single Mom on my own, there wasn’t really anyone to know when my birthday arrived. My solution to this was to throw a huge party the night of my birthday. It was, hands down, the very best party I’ve ever attended/hosted. Not one single guest knew it was my birthday. Musicians played well into the night, academics debated in the dining room, in the kitchen and anywhere else they could find that was quiet enough to hear each other speak. The whole night was magical. It was my birthday present to myself.

Since a party is not an option this year, I’m hoping for a homemade pizza, a movie, a chocolate cake, talking with my loved ones and a big hug from Attila.

I think I’ll curl up in front of the afternoon fire with my Kobo, while visions of chocolate cake dance through my head.

Worldly Distractions

Weather

-12 °C
Condition: Cloudy
Pressure: 101.2 kPa
Visibility: 16 km
Temperature: -12.0°C
Dewpoint: -14.2°C
Humidity: 84 %
Wind: NNE 9 km/h
Wind Chill: -17

Quote

“The nice thing about egotists is that they don’t talk about other people.”
Lucille S. Harper

My life is worth more than their profits.

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Here it is, Thursday already!  So far, so good at work; an unexpected and welcome turn of events.  If this continues I will have to rename my negative coworker!

The job interview and test went well yesterday afternoon.  I don’t expect to hear anything back from them for weeks and weeks; better to know this will happen than to wonder.  That possibility will go on the back burner until further notice.  A response to another application I sent out was bluntly rejected.  However, the fact that feedback was offered is something to be appreciated in this day and age.

It has been cold here, but not as cold as it has been in other parts of Canada.  We have snow here, but not as much snow as they have in other parts of Canada.  Attila is kept busy with splitting wood and building fires.  He is keeping Mist and I warm and comfortable.  My desk is near the outer wall of the house, well away from the masonry fireplace, so that I must bundle up well to sit for any length of time, as it is quite chilly.  I could move the furniture around, but have yet to envision a functional configuration.  Fortunately, I’ve lots of warm sweaters, socks and slippers to keep me snug.

Terra has a birthday this week, Happy Birthday Terra!  The past year has been a very good one for Terra, she accomplished a lot: she graduated and found a great job (although not perfect yet).

I need help from fellow Canadians.

As I’ve mentioned before, I have anaphylaxis.  Food labeling is a life or death issue for me, and others.  The new labeling laws in Canada have not been passed yet and I need help.  I will be submitting my views to Minister Stockwell Day, the President of the Treasury Board, and to Prime Minister Stephen Harper using this reliable and respectable web site: http://www.allergicliving.com/petitions/food-labelling/.  The Finance Canada And Treasury Board Secretariat has already viewed this entry, very quick to monitor public reaction.  It would be great if other bloggers included this link for their readers.

Spread the word if you can.

As far as I can tell, it is the food industry that is lobbying against labeling laws.  My life is worth more than their profits.