I've got a feeling (woo-hoo!)

As soon as I focused my sights on Portland, things began to look up. I was invited to take a standardized test for a county admin position and a well-known computer/IT company invited me for an in-person interview.

I left my vehicle back in Arizona because I haven't ruled out the possibility of Arizona employment. Besides, Portland has a wonderful public transportation system that I knew would suffice for a little while. The problem is, my vehicle registration is about to lapse. It's due Nov. 2 (in California) and as there's really no viable alternative; my vehicle will soon be illegal to operate. I guess I'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it. Apparently, if need be, I can register my car in Arizona and then should I move to Portland I can receive a refund.

Because I was taking public transportation I arrived at the standardized test sight 45 minutes early. I was so early that the employees who administered the test weren't even setting up yet. I was there alone for about five minutes when another woman arrived. She was older -- by at least 10 years. Once registered we were led into a room that housed 16 tables with four chairs at each table. There were 64 others taking the test. In my testing group. We learned that they group you alphabetically according to your first name and I was in the fourth round of tests that day. En total: 550 people were invited to take the test.

Sheesh.

The first portion of the test was timed. We got 15 minutes to answer 35 questions. The idea was to be able to identify how fast you can alphabetize, recognize similar pairs of letters and numbers, and sort through codes. I was reading question no. 35 when the proctor told us our time was up. I instinctively filled in "C" as my response. In high school it was common knowledge that if you didn't know the answer during a standardized test you should mark "C" as the correct answer. Why? It was the most common answer, apparently. I peeked over at the woman next to me -- she had only finished 22 questions. After seeing her test, I thought I was in pretty good shape.

Before I continue, I need to interject to say that I love standardized tests. I always have. My favorite time of the school year was always standardized testing. I always got a rush from completing the tests. And I always did really well. All throughout grade school and high school I scored off the charts in all standardized tests. Post high school, however, was a different story. I've taken three standardized tests since then: the GRE, the LSAT, and the Treasury Enforcement Exam. On the GRE I scored an OK score -- but nailed the writing portion of the exam. If you had to equate traditional letter scores to my LSAT score it would surely have been an F (though I'd like to preface my "F" with the fact that I did not study at all for that test). And I barely passed the Treasury Enforcement Exam by the skin of my teeth. I think I got a 76 and you needed a 70 to pass. Still not sure how the Secret Service passed me up with that rockin' of an exam score but whatever.

The admin standardized test was similar to the ones we all took in grade school and high school, so I enjoyed this one. I also enjoyed the fact that I was the first person to hand the test in to the proctor. I always feel like the first person done should get some sort of special prize. Like one wrong answer should be discounted just because you're done first. I sped through the test partly because I was still in the "timed" mind frame from the first part of the test. But really it was my goal to finish first. I wanted to be the first one done. Also, I've learned to go with your gut instinct. I don't like to review tests and change answers because almost always your gut instinct is right.

If I passed the standardized test (and really -- how could I not?), I'll be invited to take a typing test the middle of November. If I pass the typing test (25 wpm is passing -- shoot me if I don't pass), I go on an eligibility list.

The following day I took the MAX out to the suburbs for my IT company interview. I arrived an hour early. (You really can't trust public transportation entirely, so you can't be too careful.) When I informed the security guard that I was a little early for my interview, he looked at me in disbelief and said, A little early?!

So I waited for an hour. I reviewed my notes. I reviewed what I wanted to say. The review lasted 20 minutes. For the remaining 40 I pretty much sat there and stared at people as they walked in and out of the building.

I don't want to say this. I know I shouldn't say this, but I have a good feeling about this job. Even before I arrived for the interview and then again when I was there waiting, I just had this feeling ... like I'm going to end up working here. My intuition is usually right, so I don't want to jinx anything. Of course, my intuition is usually negative. Like ... I know I shouldn't be dating this guy because _______, but I'll date him anyway. Always, always when it comes to men my intuition is right. I'm hoping that my intuition about this company/job is right.

The interview went OK. I interviewed with two women, which I always feel is tough when you're a women. Women often don't get along with other women. But these women gave me no reason to believe either one of them were one of those women. They were very nice and polite and made me feel comfortable immediately. Plus we laughed a lot during the interview and that has to count for something. Right?

One of the questions they asked me was something along the lines of this:

How do you establish a rapport with people you don't know from different departments?

I looked at them and with all seriousness said:

I find that the best way to get to know people is through food. People usually come together for food.

They laughed. I laughed. But then we all agreed it's true.

There were a few questions I flubbed -- a few I answered without really answering the question. But I'm sure no one aces an entire interview, right? I'm sure there's always some element of nerves that prevents anyone from escaping from one of several horrible interview mishaps such as: mind going blank, stuttering, saying um too much, etc.

I really have no way to gauge how the interview went. I know I didn't knock it out of the ballpark, but I think the fact that we laughed several times was a good sign.

I've got a feeling (woo-hoo!) that this job's gonna be a good job, that this job's gonna be a good-good job. WOO-HOO.