The End of Nothing

Dear Readers,

I guess you do exist or at least there is one person out there reading. I haven’t written here for months yet as I look at my stats I see that people are still visiting my blog. Are you waiting? Waiting to see if I’ll write something else, to see what has happened to me? Are people coming here by mistake? Isn’t it funny that everyone always wants a solid ending, nobody like the vague unknown – they always want a solid ending with a ribbon tied around.

Lucky for you, I have a solid ending…well not really an ending because if it were, how depressing would that be? I’m in my (almost) mid twenties and I’m already at an end? No, that’s not true. I would say I’m at a beginning but that’ s not true either. Even though I haven’t had a “real” (career) job in college, I’ve still have had a lot of different job experiences. Most of them were retail/food service jobs and internships but all of those experiences were still memorable in their own way and worth something.

Sometime they may be skimmed on a resume but to me each experience mattered. Even working in the coffee shop of an electronic store taught me something. Granted, it taught me that people were creepy and that you had to conform to a million rules set by big businesses, but each experience still brought something to me.

It’s funny that this time I was giving the silence. I hate silence but there you go. At the end of August I was turned down for a job, nothing new, right? Well I had gotten a personal (not automated) e-mail from the respected job. He had even given me some advice, he told me to do some freelance writing so that I would have that experience to put down in my resume while job hunting. A week later he asked if I would like for him to keep my resume on file in case another position opened up, naturally I said yes. Three days later he called me and offered me the job. I actually think it was fitting that I was second choice (which I was but for some reason that candidate turned it down). Am I fishing for pity? No, I honestly don’t think it would fit if I were first choice because I don’t think I even want to fit that mold. I like having my own unique mold that sometimes isn’t at the top of everyone’s list. I hope that makes sense

I now write part-time for an insurance newsletter. Is it a dream job? Of course not, but is it a good job? Of course, most of all, it’s a starting point. I don’t even think dream job exits, if they did then I would be sitting at home writing on my computer all day, that is what I would be doing.  I don’t know how my story is going to end yet, my future is unsure and it is scary yet I am glad to have this. It is sort of nice to have your future being undecided. I have always had some kind of control of my life but this time it is out of my hands and yet it seems less stressful…if that even makes sense.

Why is my future undecided? Well this whole time I have been living at home and in March 2011, my parents will be moving to the Washington DC area (Arlington, VA to be more precise). If my job doesn’t give me full-time (which I will find out at the end of the year) then I will move with them. Will I stay in California or end up on the East Coast?

Who knows? For once, I am glad that I don’t know. I love Northern California and I want to live most of my life here but it would be nice to have a change, at least for a couple of years. Do people really spend their entire life in one place? Is that really fulfilling?

Will I keep blogging? I’m not sure. What do I have to blog about now? I feel that my life has turned pretty boring now. Being unemployed for a year,  has taught me something.  I don’t know if I could truly explain what it taught me (I know, what a let down), but I knew I would be different if I had received a job right out of college. I wouldn’t have learned from rejection to keep trying. I wouldn’t have had my own little struggle, nor would I have seen people differently. I saw how some people judged me for my situation and others were unconditionally supportive.

I felt like when I was unemployed I had more meaningful things to say and talk about. Now I have conformed to an everyday job, sitting in a little cubicle and waiting for the clock to strike. Am I complaining? No, or at least I am not trying to, I am enjoying my job. Do I sometimes miss my struggle? In a weird way yes, I miss the person I was, I am still her but I was a little more interesting. Would I want to go back to unemployment? Of course not. I am ready for my second part, third part, whatever part I am in.

Enjoy the struggle. Enjoy the conformity. Enjoy life. Enjoy it all.

Bad Signs

What are bad signs for interviews??

Well I recently had one happened to me. I was on an interview and talking with this lady who was very nice. I thought that it had went very well and she asked for my resume and references. I had a neat yellow/clear folder I kept them in and handed it to her. She took them out of the folder and handed it back to me and said, “oh here you keep this for the next one.”

By next one she did not mean a second interview for her company, no she meant my next interview with a different company because I clearly didn’t get the job.

Needless to say I did not hear from her, nor did she reply to my e-mail or telephone call.

What are some other tall-tale signs in interviews that say STOP (you didn’t get the job).

What are other signs? One of my friends went to an interview and she saw the lady say good-bye to another interviewee. Apparently, they seemed very “chummy” and when my friend went in the lady closed up and didn’t let up a smile. Unlike the interview before hers. No, she didn’t get the job.

My dad had a similar experience many years ago, the guy before him had come from the same hometown as the employer and they even hugged each other good bye (the patten boy pat-hug that is – which is a couple pats instead of an embrace). My dad said the employer had already been set on who got the position…and no it wasn’t my dad.

What are other signs the interview didn’t go well?

1. Only a few questions were asked. (or if NO questions were asked which has happened to me!)
2. They tell you the dreaded “we’ll keep you resume/application on file” which is 98% of the time a lie…or maybe not a lie but don’t expect them to call you ever again for an opening (if it does happen, which has happened to me ONCE, it is rare so don’t hold your breath).
3. “We’ll let you know by Wednesday or Thursday.” If you don’t hear from them by Wednesday then you probably didn’t get the job and on Thursday they will give you the horrid “rejection” e-mail/telephone call or *my favorite* the dreaded silence.
4. If they ask if you *really* want this job. No this hasn’t happened to me but I’ve heard about it happening.
5. They tell you we have a (insert number) of interviews left but we’ll let you know. Usually it is a high number of interviews and if only one applicant is picked..chances are it will be somebody else.

That is all I have for now! Stay tuned!

***Side Note: Chapter One: Graduation posted on www.baileymjames.wordpress.com this blog is a work of FICTION (it’s much more fun and exciting that way!) It is fiction and therefore won’t be boring like this one can be

And The Rest Is Silence

…and the rest is silence.

Isn’t that really what it’s all about? That line of literature, that simple little line, is my most favorite (from my favorite book…well play to be exact). I think that one line sums up life. Funny, huh?

It sums me up right now, okay not  being bleak, more like silence on the end  of the  job search. Also, silence on my part. I haven’t been overly adamant as usual, I’m losing my drive, sad, right? Oh well. It picks up every now and again…it probably will in a few days. Meanwhile, I joined a temp agency and guess  what?

They accepted me. That’s right, it’s almost like finding a real job, right? Sort of. Not so much but it is better than nothing. In fact they already have a gig lined  up. Nothing glamorous, just scanning documents at an a small insurance organization. It’s not in my field, but it’s a second part-time job and more money. I think I’m dealing that it will be a long while until I find that special full-time job.

After all, I feel like I’m gaining more by not finding it. Well by that I only meant my creativity. I would still love  a  full-time job because I would gain my own place to live. My own income. My own everything. My own life.

Months and months ago I applied for temp agencies  and never heard. The places that are supposed to find you a job, don’t even call you back? What kind of hope does that give you? Answer: None.

However, OfficeTeam is a great temp agency and was recommended by a friend.

I keep thinking what if I went to a high school reunion. I would have nothing to say. The other day I saw one of my classmates in San Francisco Magazine. She attended fashion school in Italy, was a nanny two years ago but then became a  budding stylist. She works for herself but is thriving with business. It started with her fashion blog and she now charges to style people.

Her blog is pretty cool, I’ll give her that and I am jealous of her awesome job. It sucks sometimes to see classmates doing so well. What’s your excuse then? You can’t use the “I just graduated.” “I’m young.” Time is ticking, time is almost  gone. (Yes I realize that ‘time is ticking’ isn’t actually correct but it’s not meant to be taken literal. Plus I like it better).

I always thought my blog would be better. Something special. It’s not, it’s just one person’s thoughts. That’s all. How boring. I thought it would be something more. Hopefully, my other blog will be. My other blog is a  fiction story. One I have been working on for a while. It is of course inspired by current situation but the plot is different (all the  side stories). I mean my life isn’t exciting enough to be  a story, so I created Bailey James. I like her world…it’s much more interesting than mine. She’s a lot nice than I am too. Ha.

www.baileymjames.wordpress.com

It will still take time for me to post the first chapter, I’m halfway through. (I’m far in the story but  I had to rewrite the entire first chapter because I hate what I wrote…except for the last part of chapter one). So in a week or two, it will be  posted.

It’s nothing special yet…but hopefully one day it will be. Even if it’s not, at least it something I can be proud of and you know what? That’s enough.

So if I spoke with a classmate from high school, I would tell them that I’m working in retail and at a temp job. My life isn’t very exciting and I live at home. However, I would tell them that I’m happy and that would be the truth. That is enough.

…and the rest is silence.

Shameless…Self Promotion…Shame!

Another site to visit that I have created.

www.baileymjames.wordpress.com

It’s sort of the same idea but fictional, which will actually make it a little more exciting than this one. Yeah. Okay, that’s all. I know this is barely a post…but I’ve been barely active in the job market recently.

Well to clarify, I have been active but there has been no action. There is a possibility I’m waiting on but when isn’t there one? I am also joining the forces of a temp agency today…better than retail. Anyways, Bailey James might be a little more exciting. Check it out.

Set Your Path

Everyone has a path…or do they?

After college some people travel, they get up and go. Okay maybe not just like that but sometimes it seems like it. It seems that some people aren’t meant to be standing still in the same place all of the time, some people were just born to travel. The rest of us wish we could travel but have insufficient funds. These people find a way, you wonder how they can afford to travel across the world but somehow they make it happen.

Then there are the people who find jobs after they graduate. They dive into the work force working 8 to 5 and start to walk the walk. They find that they get tired around 10 p.m., something they never thought would happen. They have their own apartments, their own job, their own life. Are they happy? Who knows, but it’s a start.

Then there are the people who want to go to school again right after they graduate. They start studying for the GRE. No, maybe they were already studying for the GRE during college. Or maybe they try to get a job, find that it’s hard now – they panic, so they decide to go back to school. After all, for some (not most, just a few) they don’t know what else to do and in a way it’s an escape from reality. Don’t get me wrong, I think it is wonderful to further your education. It something I would want to do in the future. However, some people I know said they are going back to school because they can’t get a job now. They are at the end of the rope, they want to be fully educated and equipped.

Let’s just hope that when they leave Grad school, they can get a job. I had an internship at a non-profit organization in Washington D.C, it was for summer only and the pay was minimum wage but it was a wonderful experience. After I was leaving my supervisor managed to get another intern – only this time unpaid. The guy had e-mailed her looking for an internship or entry-level position. Somehow, she had gotten him to agree to an unpaid internship. Let me tell you the position wasn’t too easy – as an intern I had tasks all day long and I even worked at home a few times. That is fine with me but I was getting paid. This guy had just graduated from Grad School. He had his Masters. I had just graduated with my B.A. and yet I was paid and now he wasn’t going to be.

How is that right?

Last but not least there are the people who go back home after they graduate. They left their dreams behind in college, back when they thought it was possible that they could come true. They take jobs – whatever type they can. Retail, food services, odd gigs, receptionist or they go into the world of temp agencies. Maybe we know the way but we are just having a hard time getting there. Maybe we’re not lost – we’re just not there yet.

Maybe we are all the same. The people who travel the world, the people who go back to school, the people who get the job, the people who go back home. Maybe we’re all in the same place after all. Once those travelers get back, they have to deal with the world that they left. The people that went back to school – they have to get out eventually and then they have to create their path like the rest of us. Then the people who get a job right after – they dive into the work, make it their life but they have to figure out if it’s something they really want. What did they once want to be? The people who go back home – who take jobs you could get when you’re in high school. The ones who feel lost – well it turns out we’re not alone. Maybe we’re all really on the same page.

Maybe you don’t figure out your life until you reach 30. No that’s not true..you have to get used to not being in your twenties anymore. Maybe not until you reach 40. Nah, that’s mid-life crisis time.

50? Nah.

65? 80?

Or maybe you never reach that point after all.

Maybe it’s not about reaching that point…maybe it’s just all about trying to get there. That’s the real story. Don’t you think?

Phone Tag: You’re It. You’re Out.

Ever played phone tag before with a friend? After a while, it can get annoying. Now imagine playing phone tag with someone you’re trying to get for a phone interview, it can become very awkward, to say the least.

Not all employers schedule a phone interview time, I like it when they do though because you know you are about to get it over it. Some employers simply tell you to “give them a call.” That happened to me yesterday, an employer responded to my cover letter/resume e-mail and paid me a huge compliment by saying it was well written and he would like for me to call him for a brief initial phone interview.

I called him the next day (he had e-mailed me at around 5:30 p.m.), I made sure to get up early so he wouldn’t be too busy. He had left me his office and cell phone. I decided to call his office phone and left a message when no one picked up. You know what, my subject line is inaccurate. I did not play phone tag with him because I was the only one tagging. After he didn’t call back all day, I e-mailed him informing that I called and I would love to set up a time. I also put in how I would love to chat with him for the position.

He responded by telling me to call his cell phone anytime from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. I looked at my clock, it was 5:00 p.m and I thought, what the hell, maybe I can catch him.

I left another message by saying I would call back tomorrow. How pointless was that? He said he would be in and out of calls today.

*Update: I finally got a phone interview and that is all it was. No real interview. No job. No chance. Can you really tell who I am by a simple phone call?

I hate phone tag. I especially hate it when you’re the only one involved and it feels like a game of stalking.

I also hate phone interviews, it isn’t the same as meeting someone in person. You can’t see their expressions or reactions and it can be a lot more awkward.

Phone interviews is a tool to weed out candidates. I don’t think I have had a phone interview before where I was asked to come in for an in person interview.

How sad is that? I guess some people don’t impress on the phone and that makes me one of them. I am talking about an actual phone interview though. I have had employers call me, ask me what I’m looking for and then asked me to come in. However, I have had 10-15 minute phone interviews and then that’s it. The story would end.

Ring. Ring. Can the tension rise any higher? Ring. A lump in my throat. Ring. All of the words went out of my head and I forgot what I was going to say.

Tag you’re it.

I’m out.

Where Have All The Questions Gone?

Dear Readers,

Have you’ve been to an interview before where they didn’t ask you any questions? I have. I went on an interview today for an Administration Assistant at a Funeral Home. Of course I am looking for a full-time job in the communication field but I feel like that isn’t happening anytime soon, so I am also looking for a second part-time so I can make more money. Sounds fantastic, huh? Anyways, I went in, filled out a seven page application, waited for an extra 20 minutes and was finally “interviewed.” Basically, he just sat down, explained the job to me and I mentioned my part-time job. We talked about what the work schedule would be and then he thanked me for coming in. That was it.

Can anyone say red flag? Was I not supposed to mention my current part-time job and saved that information for later? Did he check me off the list while I was talking to him? Apparently so. Seriously, not one question was asked. Wait scratch that, he did ask me if I had any questions. What do you do in a situation like that? Are you supposed to somehow insert all of your knowledge and skills without the employer asking?

Is that what they expect? I’ve had a couple million page long application, an excess amount of waiting time but I think I have always been asked at least one question. Normally they ask a lot of questions and that is what I prepare for. At least this interview was easy. I most likely (obviously) didn’t get this position but at least they didn’t waste my time with pointless questions. If in their head they knew I wasn’t the one, at least they didn’t lead me on too much. Maybe all interviews should be like this.

Or maybe not since for once I would like to get the job.

Hm I think my next post will be about behavior of interviewers. Have you’ve ever been interviewed by an employer who were completely rude?

Oh have I got stories to tell.

Until then, please ask some questions.