Jumping Through Their Hoops

It's almost the end of the month.  I have two companies interested in me, although I think one company's interest is higher than the other at this moment. 

The one I've been working with, has asked for my references and required me to take Office tests.  Three tests: Word, Powerpoint, and Excel.  I wasn't really nervous about the tests, but my work and school schedule has been all over the place these last few weeks, including weekends.  

Jobs and classes have been cancelled, only to be crammed into make up dates.  I've had to finagle interviews, tests, work schedules, homework, and life into small time fragments; not an easy task.

The three tests I took were something.  I aced the Word and the Powerpoint.  My weakness I knew, was going to be Excel.  Even though I use all the programs everyday at work, which I consider myself a pro user, I don't use all the functions that some companies may require.

I was a bit nervous but I passed Excel quite well.  I did a little refresher course from online videos to make sure I knew what everything was used for in the program.  You can't go from one window to another to figure out how to do things while you take the test.  It stops cheating on the same computer, although I could have used another computer to look up answers.  I didn't. 

I plan to take some classes to update my Office skills. 

I e-mailed the recruiter after I completed the tests and she said I did very well.  Thank goodness.

Now for the references. 

I had to really look for some very close friends.  It's one of my weaknesses because I moved a lot and my last 3 jobs were with one person each as the owner or boss.  I don't even know if the last two are still alive because they were caregiving jobs.  The ideal references would be a boss, a former boss, and someone I've known for a long time.  I contacted the three people I felt I could trust.  For anyone who asked me to be a reference, I always ask if I say yes, then it has to go both ways...if I am your reference, I get to use you as a reference, too.  I built up my references quickly.

One of my best friends who was a former boss and mentor, was my first choice.  If I could choose one person to represent me in anything, it would be him.  He's just amazing and I know he would do what he could to help me out.  I spent a lot of time and energy helping him out when he worked with me.  He has integrity.  He is very helpful and kind. 

He text me this morning to tell me that he already got the call from one company about me.  I asked how it went, and he said that the person on the other line said that he was a good reference and asked about my talents.  Whew!  That's really a lot to ask. 

I've never gone through references before.  I've had them on applications for other jobs when I started college.  I don't know if the other two will be called, but if they are not called, I'm good because of this first guy.  I'm sure the other two would contact me if they were called. 

I promised a steak dinner to my friend if I get one of the two jobs.  See?  I show appreciation.

Although I am excited about this job opportunity, I'm not holding my breath.  I am still going to another interview with the IT company next week.  Whew!  Timing is going to be tricky this week and next.  I have been put on a schedule in less than 24 hour notice today.  That's how good I am with multi-tasking.  You can never be sure.

I'd like to have something by September.  I need a break from searching for a new job.  It's been tiring.  I'd like to know that my efforts since last year (well, since I attained my bachelors, although I was looking two and a half years before I started working for the current job) have not gone in vain. 

I think it's going to go well either way. 

More Opportunites, Better Outlook

It's a pretty good week, so far.  I have had an interview at least once a week.  My latest interview seemed to be a really good fit.  It seems like every time I get an interview, the job seems better than the previous job interview.

The interview went well and the person who I interviewed with seemed to connect really well with me.  We were laughing and talking about all of my experience.  There was nothing that prohibited me from showing my best side and from being the right person for the job.

For some reason, I have a lot of hope for this job.  It's a recruiting job that will allow me to recruit a variety of people.  I really like this idea although I don't get to just focus on IT recruiting.  The pay is pretty good.  It's not as good as my last interview which have haven't written about here.  But the pay is good enough that if they do offer it to me soon I am ready to go.

The previous interview I had last week was with an another IT company.  This one was located in the city and paid really well.  But it was only focus on IT.  Even the benefits were wonderful.  It was a dream job.  Unfortunately, I haven't heard anything this week from the person I spoke to so I'm almost thinking that it is not go.  That's okay.  I have a good feeling that the job I interviewed for this week, is something that I will have a really good chance at getting.

I hope I'm not getting my hopes up.  I e-mailed the person I interviewed with and thanked her for the interview.  She said that she's going to get a hold of me on Friday or Monday so I have something to look forward to.  But now I am extremely anxious for Friday and Monday to get here.

In the meantime, I have to figure out what I have to do with my job now.  I have to make sure that someone will be able to do my job and that there will be enough people to replace all the positions that I take care of right now.  That is going to be hard.  I have a feeling that I might wind up working on Saturdays with this company until they are comfortable with me leaving the job.  The other thing is I don't know if the new job is a contract job or a full-time job.  So if I get that phone call on Friday I will definitely asked the following questions:

1. Is this a full-time job?
2. If not, how long as the contract job?
3. And if this is a contract job, what do I get to do next?
4. Do I get benefits?
5. When is payday?
6. Do I get vacation time or time off?
7. Will I be required to work long hours while I'm training for the first few months?

I'm actually really excited about this new job.  It sounds like I'm going to be over a department of new hires and I'm in charge of things like payroll and making sure they get their jobs done.  I think I'm ready for this new challenge.

Every time I think that I have a good chance of procuring a new job, I always feel guilty about leaving my old job.  I really like working with my boss but circumstances now have it that I need to get a job that I'm passionate about and that will pay my living expenses.  I do have to say that this current job I have, introduced me to recruiting which I absolutely love.  And I wouldn't mind working with my boss and some of the people I work with in another capacity.

I do hope I'm not jumping the fence though.  But I'm really excited and I can't wait to hear what's going to go on.

Cross your fingers, say your prayers, send good wishes, I hope to have good news by the weekend or next week.

What To Do About the Blog

I had another interview today.  It was with an IT recruiting company.  It is something that I want to do because that adds a little more experienced my recruiting experience. 

I had been thinking about this question:

When I find a job, what will I do with this blog?

I think the first thing I would do is celebrate the fact that I got a job.

The next thing I would probably do is talk about my recruiting experiences or my job experiences, if I don't get a recruiting job.

I would also talk about some of the fun things I'll be able to do with a steady job.

So just because I won't be looking for job doesn't mean I won't be writing about work.  I've gone back to twitter and have signed up with a bunch of recruiting accounts that have passed on some interesting information.  I want to use the information to write about on this blog.  I want to make my blog stand out a little bit more.  Until the new job is found, the next phase of this blog is on the standstill for the moment.

I had a really good interview today.  I took time out to talk to other people in the office.  I hope they really liked me.

The person who interviewed me found out I did a lot of other office work and so he's even offered to think about me for another position that's going to be open next month.  I would rather have a new job by the end of the month.

Looking at the pros and cons with this opportunity, the only con is that it will pay less than I want, but the pros is that I will get a weekly paycheck and bonuses.  So the con really isn't that big a deal if I know what I'm doing.

The manager said it will take about 2 to 3 months for recruiter to get to know the system.  I don't think it would take me that long.  I already know how to recruit.  The only thing that would take a little bit of time with be getting my customers together, but I have such a huge network of people through social areas that I think I would be able to do a really good job.

I'm still looking at other jobs.  When I came home, I had an e-mail waiting for me about another job opportunity.  I'm at a loss here because I would love to do the IT recruiting but I would love to do more recruiting to get more people work.  I know that IT recruiting makes money.  It's not easy to get into IT recruiting and this would be a wonderful experience.  Plus I love the building and the people there seem to be really really good.  I would even learn the cultural language that was there.  There is definitely a certain culture, both work wise and ethnic wise.

I will have to see.