Thank you dear readers who have been following my unemployment plight. (If there actually were any followers, that is.) My plight has come to an end. As of Monday, Nov. 22, I was officially employed at the technology company I previously mentioned. It's been a long, strange year. A long, strange journey. But I have arrived. And I am so grateful.
I still remember the feeling I had the night I learned I was losing my job: terror and anxiety. I had no idea what my life had in store for me. All I knew was I was afraid. I don't really like change. I remember Daniel's calm words telling me everything will be OK.
And he was right. Eventually everything was OK. Everything is OK. For me. I'm one of the lucky ones. There are still plenty of unemploy-eds out there, and I pray they find work before their unemployment ends.
Signing off.
-Unemployed Nation
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
When it rains it pours
Before I arrived in Portland I had an interview scheduled at the IT/computer company and a standardized test scheduled for a county position. I passed the test and was invited to take the typing test in the middle of the month; and a recruiter called about the IT/computer company position. He has a written offer in his hand but cannot extend it to me until I pass the background check. Since then I've been contacted by a recruiter from a technology sales company in Arizona for a project management position and a recruiter in Washington for a marketing assistant position. Who knew I was so marketable after all? Not in California. But the Northwest is an entirely different story. I've never had so many job opportunities at one time.
My sister says I should consider myself lucky. She says it's nearly impossible for people to find work in Portland. Her friends support her claim. I do feel lucky. There are many who have been out of work for more than two years. I haven't yet hit my one year mark and for me Portland has been a wealth of luck and opportunity. Or maybe it's just timing. The turning of the tides. Kismet.
Whatever it is, I'm thankful. It's been a rough year. Thankfully the worst is over. And now ... there's nothing but good stuff ahead.
My sister says I should consider myself lucky. She says it's nearly impossible for people to find work in Portland. Her friends support her claim. I do feel lucky. There are many who have been out of work for more than two years. I haven't yet hit my one year mark and for me Portland has been a wealth of luck and opportunity. Or maybe it's just timing. The turning of the tides. Kismet.
Whatever it is, I'm thankful. It's been a rough year. Thankfully the worst is over. And now ... there's nothing but good stuff ahead.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
The plan ... I can't wait.
So here's the plan:
I will leave for Portland to move in with my sister on Oct. 19. Should I find a job here in Arizona before that time (which would likely take a miracle on God's behalf), I'll stay. If not, I'll go. I have a possible job lead here, but we'll see if that really takes me anywhere; and I've been invited to take a written exam for Clackamas County in Oregon on Oct. 25.
So hopefully something will work out. I don't have a preference one way or the other between staying or going. Arizona is starting to cool down (thank God) and my stuff is already here -- so out of laziness I feel it would be beneficial to find a job here. But should I find a job in Portland instead, I think it would be an exciting point in my life. I've always wanted to live there.
On a separate note, I've finished my manuscript and the feedback is starting to trickle in. I've had someone who is very dear to me read the manuscript and she said she couldn't put it down. She kept wanting to read and see what happened. On the other hand, she gave me some good criticism (one thing I had already been contemplating and something I hadn't thought of -- which was good). I'm excited to get more feedback and make changes so I can start querying agents. Right now I'm researching which agents/agencies I want to query first and ranking them. I can't wait to get this process going!
I will leave for Portland to move in with my sister on Oct. 19. Should I find a job here in Arizona before that time (which would likely take a miracle on God's behalf), I'll stay. If not, I'll go. I have a possible job lead here, but we'll see if that really takes me anywhere; and I've been invited to take a written exam for Clackamas County in Oregon on Oct. 25.
So hopefully something will work out. I don't have a preference one way or the other between staying or going. Arizona is starting to cool down (thank God) and my stuff is already here -- so out of laziness I feel it would be beneficial to find a job here. But should I find a job in Portland instead, I think it would be an exciting point in my life. I've always wanted to live there.
On a separate note, I've finished my manuscript and the feedback is starting to trickle in. I've had someone who is very dear to me read the manuscript and she said she couldn't put it down. She kept wanting to read and see what happened. On the other hand, she gave me some good criticism (one thing I had already been contemplating and something I hadn't thought of -- which was good). I'm excited to get more feedback and make changes so I can start querying agents. Right now I'm researching which agents/agencies I want to query first and ranking them. I can't wait to get this process going!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Should I stay or should I go?
Tonight I have the house to myself. My friend and her husband's house that is because I currently do not have a home. Actually I'm not entirely by myself. I'm dog sitting their two dogs, mild-mannered Bama who likes to stay in their bedroom all night away from 6-month old sometimes rambunctious Sake.
I've been here since Tuesday night. As soon as I arrived, I felt relieved. I was away from an environment where I was no longer wanted, and it was nice to be in a place where people actually wanted to be around me. To say that I'm better now is slightly premature. Better in what way I'm not sure.
I moved to Arizona to be with Daniel hoping that eventually I would find a job. I've been here three weeks and I have no job, no home, no Daniel. The one positive thing I had in my life since I lost my job last January (Daniel) is now gone. Instead of having a pity party for myself (which I'd really like to do) I'm forced to forge ahead on my own. I've been diligently applying for jobs all week long, and I have people working overtime trying to get me a job anywhere they have contacts. I have a few months to find a job before my unemployment runs out. In a few weeks I'll have an indefinite but temporary place to stay until I find a job and can find my own place.
I suppose in the event that I don't find a job, there's nothing here for me in Arizona anymore. Should I stay or should I go? I suppose only time will tell.
Right now my life is on a path I never meant to travel. Not on purpose anyway. Nine months ago everything in my life was great. I had a job. I had a life for myself in California. I had an apartment. I had Daniel. Now I have nothing.
I've been here since Tuesday night. As soon as I arrived, I felt relieved. I was away from an environment where I was no longer wanted, and it was nice to be in a place where people actually wanted to be around me. To say that I'm better now is slightly premature. Better in what way I'm not sure.
I moved to Arizona to be with Daniel hoping that eventually I would find a job. I've been here three weeks and I have no job, no home, no Daniel. The one positive thing I had in my life since I lost my job last January (Daniel) is now gone. Instead of having a pity party for myself (which I'd really like to do) I'm forced to forge ahead on my own. I've been diligently applying for jobs all week long, and I have people working overtime trying to get me a job anywhere they have contacts. I have a few months to find a job before my unemployment runs out. In a few weeks I'll have an indefinite but temporary place to stay until I find a job and can find my own place.
I suppose in the event that I don't find a job, there's nothing here for me in Arizona anymore. Should I stay or should I go? I suppose only time will tell.
Right now my life is on a path I never meant to travel. Not on purpose anyway. Nine months ago everything in my life was great. I had a job. I had a life for myself in California. I had an apartment. I had Daniel. Now I have nothing.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Moving on and out
Yesterday my friend Katherine drove up from where she lives in Gilbert and helped me pack. We got through the entire kitchen which was a big looming monster in front of me -- something I was dreading sorting through. I have a lot of kitchen stuff, but with Katherine's motivation; we got through it. Daniel's kitchen actually looks morbidly empty with all of my stuff gone. But maybe that's the way he likes things.
It helped having someone else there because I have been packing and unpacking for so long, the thought of packing more stuff just depresses me. In four months I will have had four different addresses. (My magazine publishers are going to be so irritated with me.) I am a Nomad -- only not by choice and that kind of sucks, but what are you going to do. Move on.
My sister says to look at this like an adventure and in a way, it kind of is. I can take a job anywhere (if I can actually find a company that will hire me). The sky's the limit.
Trying not to get my hopes up here but Katherine (who works in sales and makes very nice living) says there's an opening for an assistant at her company. Basically secretarial sort of work, but she thinks A) I could do it and B) it would be getting my foot in the door and hopefully eventually get me into sales where I would hopefully make a very nice living as well.
I'm not opposed to staying in Arizona. OK, I'm slightly opposed. I came here because Daniel came here and I thought we would be together. Now that we're not, I don't want to be in the same state as him (nothing against him as a person and not that I'd ever run into him -- we would live way too far away for that.) But it feels like Arizona was supposed to be an "us" thing not a "me" thing. I had great plans for the things we were going to do together in Arizona. Now that I have to adjust my plans from "us/we" to "me," I'd rather take my "me" plans to another state and do them alone without the ghost of Daniel and our past relationship haunting me.
I don't even know if that makes sense? And maybe leaving the state is paramount to running away. But running away worked for me when I ran away to California. Or did it? Because look where I am now. Same spot I was at when I ran to California.
Ultimately where I end up and where I go will depend on the job I land. I'm crossing my fingers that I find one soon.
It helped having someone else there because I have been packing and unpacking for so long, the thought of packing more stuff just depresses me. In four months I will have had four different addresses. (My magazine publishers are going to be so irritated with me.) I am a Nomad -- only not by choice and that kind of sucks, but what are you going to do. Move on.
My sister says to look at this like an adventure and in a way, it kind of is. I can take a job anywhere (if I can actually find a company that will hire me). The sky's the limit.
Trying not to get my hopes up here but Katherine (who works in sales and makes very nice living) says there's an opening for an assistant at her company. Basically secretarial sort of work, but she thinks A) I could do it and B) it would be getting my foot in the door and hopefully eventually get me into sales where I would hopefully make a very nice living as well.
I'm not opposed to staying in Arizona. OK, I'm slightly opposed. I came here because Daniel came here and I thought we would be together. Now that we're not, I don't want to be in the same state as him (nothing against him as a person and not that I'd ever run into him -- we would live way too far away for that.) But it feels like Arizona was supposed to be an "us" thing not a "me" thing. I had great plans for the things we were going to do together in Arizona. Now that I have to adjust my plans from "us/we" to "me," I'd rather take my "me" plans to another state and do them alone without the ghost of Daniel and our past relationship haunting me.
I don't even know if that makes sense? And maybe leaving the state is paramount to running away. But running away worked for me when I ran away to California. Or did it? Because look where I am now. Same spot I was at when I ran to California.
Ultimately where I end up and where I go will depend on the job I land. I'm crossing my fingers that I find one soon.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Dear God, I need a sign
My life is crumbling around me. There is no hope of a job. There is no future for me here. I have no place to live and no permanent place to go. I can't rent an apartment because I don't have a steady income, and I don't even want to be in Arizona anymore now that I lost Daniel.
I am so utterly shocked, lost, and afraid.
And I have no clear direction. Forget normal stuff like job-hunting and paying my bills. I need to pack up my stuff and go. Immediately.
But where to? I have friends that offered I could come back to California and live with them (but I need a job). My sister suggested I move to Portland (which seems ideal because I always loved to visit, but I need a job). I could stay here and find my own place which I'm sure my friends that live here are pushing for (but that damn lack of job situation is rearing its ugly head again). Obviously I could move back home and live with my mommy (and I wouldn't even need a job right away), but I'm way too old for that. I am not ready to move back to the place where I grew up.
I used to have dreams, and now they are gone, and I need to find new dreams, I suppose.
My rock, my support is gone. Poof! It was instantaneously.
I am too numb to move, let alone pack, let alone worry about finding a job. I need a sign. Please, God, give me some sort of sign. California? Oregon? Here? Home?
(Dear God: a "sign" is also known as a job opportunity. Thank you for such a lovely day. I wasn't outside at all, but I'm sure it was lovely. Thank you for my health, my family, and my friends. Now please find me a job. Amen.)
I am so utterly shocked, lost, and afraid.
And I have no clear direction. Forget normal stuff like job-hunting and paying my bills. I need to pack up my stuff and go. Immediately.
But where to? I have friends that offered I could come back to California and live with them (but I need a job). My sister suggested I move to Portland (which seems ideal because I always loved to visit, but I need a job). I could stay here and find my own place which I'm sure my friends that live here are pushing for (but that damn lack of job situation is rearing its ugly head again). Obviously I could move back home and live with my mommy (and I wouldn't even need a job right away), but I'm way too old for that. I am not ready to move back to the place where I grew up.
I used to have dreams, and now they are gone, and I need to find new dreams, I suppose.
My rock, my support is gone. Poof! It was instantaneously.
I am too numb to move, let alone pack, let alone worry about finding a job. I need a sign. Please, God, give me some sort of sign. California? Oregon? Here? Home?
(Dear God: a "sign" is also known as a job opportunity. Thank you for such a lovely day. I wasn't outside at all, but I'm sure it was lovely. Thank you for my health, my family, and my friends. Now please find me a job. Amen.)
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