M, my university student daughter, said to me recently, "This house makes me so unproductive!" When I asked her to elaborate, she explained that when she comes home for the summer, she has so many tasks that she wants to complete but the house sucks the life out of her -- not the people, but the actual configuration of the house. She can't find anywhere to sit that is comfortable enough for her to play her instrument, and with our open floor plan there is rarely a time when her clarinet playing wouldn't be disturbing someone or when their activities wouldn't be disturbing her.
When I started taking classes last year, I knew it would be best to move to another part of the house to study. My default spot is my bedroom, but that is associated with watching TV and sleeping. I wanted to get myself into work mode, so I moved all my gear into the living room on the couch. After a few weeks of doing that, I discovered two things. One, the living room couch is OK for sitting with visitors for a few minutes, but it isn't right for working. It didn't take long for my back to hurt. Two, I hated lugging my laptop and books up and down the stairs every day. I'm sure everyone else in the house hated seeing me do it, too, considering I have become more prone to falling.
In my still-ongoing job search, I've been looking at work-at-home jobs. One of the requirements the job listings always mention is a separate home office. It made sense to me in that context because most of the positions are for remote call center agents. You don't want the noise of your household seeping through when you are trying to help someone who called a place of business to ask about an order. I never thought I really needed a designated space for homework or doing bills, though. Until M's comment and my recent experience, I clung to the idea that one of the advantages of being at home was that I didn't need to be all prim and proper. I don't have to put on shoes, I can walk around in a t-shirt and shorts every day, and I can sit wherever and however I want. As it turns out, I still want to do my work at a desk.
I am longing for an L-shaped workstation with a hutch on top. I want to turn on my music, settle into my Aeron chair, and bury my head into my studies. I want M to have a comfortable place to practice her instruments when she is home. It would be nice to have a central place to put my books and our bills other than the precarious pile on my bedside table. Does this mean I am turning into a stodgy middle-aged woman? Maybe, but if it makes me more productive, I don't care.
Showing posts with label Work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Work. Show all posts
25 July 2013
02 October 2012
Perhaps I should start lying
Right before I wrote this post, I spent 90 minutes completing an online assessment for a part-time sales job at a mobile phone store. As many of you know, I spend a lot of time watching, reading, and listening to tech news. I like to keep up with the latest advancements in computers and mobile gadgets, so I thought this might be a good job for me. The online assessment apparently indicated otherwise because I got a rejection email as soon as I finished the test.
Unfortunately, this has been a recurring experience over the past three months. The instructions on each assessment caution the applicant to be truthful and that certain questions have been included in the assessment to trip up liars. It isn't in my nature to lie, anyway, so I give honest answers. I say "no" to questions like "Do you enjoy multitasking?", even though I'm pretty sure they want applicants who answer "yes". All my honesty is doing is keeping me unemployed.
Just once, I would like an opportunity to be brutally honest. I wish I could say on an application,"We both know that I am not applying for this job because I want to advance in the ranks of your organization or have an abiding love for the widgets your company makes. I need a job because I have bills to pay, and you need someone who will do the entry-level grunt work. I'm not a superstar employee, but I'm faithful and I'm consistent. You can expect to see me at the beginning of every shift doing my work. I don't have babysitter issues or transportation problems. I won't complain about how little money I make or how unfair the rules are around here. I keep my head down and do my job. Please hire me."
20 October 2009
There's No Room to Be Melancholy
Today I discovered one of the challenges of working in a small space with two other people. While I was at work one of my melancholy moods took over my body, spreading through me like a shot of hard liquor. There is no rhyme or reason for why this happens to me, but it is difficult to shake once I feel it coming on. How am I supposed to hide the urge to cry from a woman who is sitting two feet away from me without even a cubicle partition to separate us? All of a sudden, two years in this job is starting to sound like a life sentence.
03 October 2009
It's a new job -- what else can I say?
I feel as though I should post something about my new job since that is the only big news in my life right now, but I don't have much to say about it. Perhaps it is too early for me to form an opinion yet. After all, the last time I was enthusiastic about a job, it turned out to be in the Workplace from Hell.
In case I hadn't mentioned it, I'm working for at a local non-profit in their weatherization program. In my experience, working at a non-profit tends to be more laid-back than working in a corporate atmosphere. Get your job done, and you're golden. No one is breathing down your neck, trying to find out what you are doing every second of the day.
From what I understand, the program had three office employees (the director and two assistants) to handle applications for two counties. Then the two assistants moved on and the coverage area was expanded to four counties about two years' ago. So the director has been handling all the paperwork for four counties by herself. As a result, there are folders and papers on every surface in the office. To me, the biggest immediate need is for a filing system.
Perhaps I have misinterpreted the situation, but right now I feel like I am in between two people who are looking to me to provide a sense of organization. The director doesn't have time to do it because she still has to get the new employees for the new offices trained. She told me Friday, "Make a list of the things you need to get organized, and I'll get them for you." The director is giving us information on how the applications need to be processed, but she seems to be leaving it to us to figure out the office flow. The program assistant who started the same day I did is only 26 and sort of looks to me to tell her what to do when the director is away from the office.
I can't help thinking that this would be a great job for my best friend Rabbit. She is a natural organizer. My organization gene only kicks in when there is such a mess that even a child could figure what needs to be done. I prefer being told what to do rather than coming up with my own ideas, especially at work. It is weird being treated like a competent professional.
In case I hadn't mentioned it, I'm working for at a local non-profit in their weatherization program. In my experience, working at a non-profit tends to be more laid-back than working in a corporate atmosphere. Get your job done, and you're golden. No one is breathing down your neck, trying to find out what you are doing every second of the day.
From what I understand, the program had three office employees (the director and two assistants) to handle applications for two counties. Then the two assistants moved on and the coverage area was expanded to four counties about two years' ago. So the director has been handling all the paperwork for four counties by herself. As a result, there are folders and papers on every surface in the office. To me, the biggest immediate need is for a filing system.
Perhaps I have misinterpreted the situation, but right now I feel like I am in between two people who are looking to me to provide a sense of organization. The director doesn't have time to do it because she still has to get the new employees for the new offices trained. She told me Friday, "Make a list of the things you need to get organized, and I'll get them for you." The director is giving us information on how the applications need to be processed, but she seems to be leaving it to us to figure out the office flow. The program assistant who started the same day I did is only 26 and sort of looks to me to tell her what to do when the director is away from the office.
I can't help thinking that this would be a great job for my best friend Rabbit. She is a natural organizer. My organization gene only kicks in when there is such a mess that even a child could figure what needs to be done. I prefer being told what to do rather than coming up with my own ideas, especially at work. It is weird being treated like a competent professional.
26 August 2009
Survived Another Job Interview
In case anyone's forgotten, I've been unemployed since the beginning of June. Hopefully, this will be a short period of joblessness; I had a good interview this afternoon. It is for a position in a small non-profit organization and the work seems perfect for my skill set. I'll find out next week whether I got the job or not. As they say in the old-timey churches, those that know the word of prayer . . .
One of the questions that the interviewer asked me was how I manage to juggle home life and work. I was able to honestly say that I don't have to do much juggling any more. I don't feel as conflicted as I once did. My days of dreaming of being a housewife are over. I know that I am more valuable to my family as a working woman because we benefit more from the extra income than from my meager housekeeping skills. With kids who are now old enough to clean and cook simple meals, my goal has shifted from being a stay-at-home mom to preparing my kids for living on their own. Taking over some of the household tasks is a great training ground for them.
One of the questions that the interviewer asked me was how I manage to juggle home life and work. I was able to honestly say that I don't have to do much juggling any more. I don't feel as conflicted as I once did. My days of dreaming of being a housewife are over. I know that I am more valuable to my family as a working woman because we benefit more from the extra income than from my meager housekeeping skills. With kids who are now old enough to clean and cook simple meals, my goal has shifted from being a stay-at-home mom to preparing my kids for living on their own. Taking over some of the household tasks is a great training ground for them.
16 June 2009
I've got the Short-timer's Jitters
This is my last week of work, and I don't know how I'm going to make it through. Even though my department shut down last Friday, I still have to show up for another week and do busy work so I can get checks for severance pay and unused vacation. Considering how long I was unemployed last time, I will definitely need those checks. So I know intellectually that I need to stick it out for a few more days, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to call in sick.
It's not like I hated this job. This was actually the first job I've had in a long time where I couldn't find anything to complain about. The work was simple, no one was on my back about meeting production, the people were friendly without being pushy, the office was clean, and the computers didn't look like 10-year-old rejects. I could have seen myself doing this job for several more years. Sadly, that was not to be. I knew that when I took the job, but there was a brief period of hope when I thought I could transition into something else in the same office. When that didn't work out and they gave me my definite end date, the jitters started.
It is difficult to stick with a job when your mind has already moved on. I know that I have to find another job as quickly as possible, but I'm looking forward to catching up on some home projects while I'm searching. It also feels strange to read all the emails about the brave new world my coworkers will experience with the upcoming computer transition and know that I won't be part of it.
It's not like I hated this job. This was actually the first job I've had in a long time where I couldn't find anything to complain about. The work was simple, no one was on my back about meeting production, the people were friendly without being pushy, the office was clean, and the computers didn't look like 10-year-old rejects. I could have seen myself doing this job for several more years. Sadly, that was not to be. I knew that when I took the job, but there was a brief period of hope when I thought I could transition into something else in the same office. When that didn't work out and they gave me my definite end date, the jitters started.
It is difficult to stick with a job when your mind has already moved on. I know that I have to find another job as quickly as possible, but I'm looking forward to catching up on some home projects while I'm searching. It also feels strange to read all the emails about the brave new world my coworkers will experience with the upcoming computer transition and know that I won't be part of it.
13 December 2008
Survived the week
This first week on my new job went more smoothly than I expected. The work itself, straight data entry, is simple and exactly what I wanted. There is very little thinking involved, so all I have to worry about is increasing my speed. Since everyone in my section is doing production work, I don't have to worry about making small talk, which we all know I'm not very good at. My coworkers all jam their headphones on and get to work. That's my kind of workplace!
The rough part comes with my life outside of work. My energy hasn't descended to basement level yet, but I don't feel like doing much when I get home. Blogging, reading, cooking, knitting, housework -- all out the window for the moment. Since I haven't done serious typing in a while, my arms and shoulders are pretty sore. I expected all of this to happen, so it isn't a total surprise.
This is the third time that I've gone through an extended period of unemployment, and each time I have learned something about myself that I can take into my next job. The lesson this time is that I need to fix what I can and ignore the rest. I can go to bed earlier and get more sleep so that the morning routine won't be so rough. I don't have a lot of work clothes (I've gained weight since the last time I was in a proper office two years ago) but I can make do with what I have. The house is not going to be perfect, but ABM and I talked about that and I think we have both lowered our expectations a bit. The childcare situation isn't ideal, but we have several people willing to help so we patched together a system.
My fantasy of being a perfect stay-at-home mom was just that -- a fantasy. I will never be a great housekeeper because I'm not that interested in it. Learning to cook has been great, but I can still do that on the weekends with better ingredients because I will have more money. I doubt that I will ever enjoy working outside the home as much as some women do, but I realize now that my time is best spent earning a wage that will help my family.
The rough part comes with my life outside of work. My energy hasn't descended to basement level yet, but I don't feel like doing much when I get home. Blogging, reading, cooking, knitting, housework -- all out the window for the moment. Since I haven't done serious typing in a while, my arms and shoulders are pretty sore. I expected all of this to happen, so it isn't a total surprise.
This is the third time that I've gone through an extended period of unemployment, and each time I have learned something about myself that I can take into my next job. The lesson this time is that I need to fix what I can and ignore the rest. I can go to bed earlier and get more sleep so that the morning routine won't be so rough. I don't have a lot of work clothes (I've gained weight since the last time I was in a proper office two years ago) but I can make do with what I have. The house is not going to be perfect, but ABM and I talked about that and I think we have both lowered our expectations a bit. The childcare situation isn't ideal, but we have several people willing to help so we patched together a system.
My fantasy of being a perfect stay-at-home mom was just that -- a fantasy. I will never be a great housekeeper because I'm not that interested in it. Learning to cook has been great, but I can still do that on the weekends with better ingredients because I will have more money. I doubt that I will ever enjoy working outside the home as much as some women do, but I realize now that my time is best spent earning a wage that will help my family.
08 December 2008
Preparations for my first day of work
Yes, it is 6:45p on the evening before the first day of my new job, and I am blogging instead of preparing. Most people probably don't have to do much before their first day. Since I don't drive and I get bored easily, I practically have to pack an overnight bag :-). Here's my list:
1. Pick out something to wear. This will be tough because I've gained weight since my last job and I didn't have many nice outfits even when I was 20 pounds lighter. I need something that looks nice but also goes with my most comfortable shoes, just in case I get a tour of the building.
2. Experiment with makeup. It's been two years since I've worn anything more than lip gloss, but I feel like I should put my best foot forward on this job.
3. Pack lunch and snacks. I only got a brief look at the break room, so I don't want to trust the vending machines to provide me with a good lunch. Also, I will have to wait a while in the evening for ABM to pick me up, so I'll need sustenance.
4. Load music and podcasts onto my Centro. I probably won't have a chance to sit at a desk and zone out on the first day, but I will probably be eating lunch alone so I will need entertainment. It's been a while since I've had to take podcasts on the road, so I'll have to updated my Podcast Ready account.
5. Pick reading material to take along. I'll need a book or magazine just in case the battery runs low on my Centro or I run out of podcasts.
6. Finish filling out benefit forms. I know I should have filled them out last week, but I'm a procrastinator.
I guess I am in semi-denial about starting work tomorrow. However, I don't want show up with air of nonchalance about me. I need this job, and I want my employers to feel that I want to be there. I can't let my misgivings about juggling work and home show through.
1. Pick out something to wear. This will be tough because I've gained weight since my last job and I didn't have many nice outfits even when I was 20 pounds lighter. I need something that looks nice but also goes with my most comfortable shoes, just in case I get a tour of the building.
2. Experiment with makeup. It's been two years since I've worn anything more than lip gloss, but I feel like I should put my best foot forward on this job.
3. Pack lunch and snacks. I only got a brief look at the break room, so I don't want to trust the vending machines to provide me with a good lunch. Also, I will have to wait a while in the evening for ABM to pick me up, so I'll need sustenance.
4. Load music and podcasts onto my Centro. I probably won't have a chance to sit at a desk and zone out on the first day, but I will probably be eating lunch alone so I will need entertainment. It's been a while since I've had to take podcasts on the road, so I'll have to updated my Podcast Ready account.
5. Pick reading material to take along. I'll need a book or magazine just in case the battery runs low on my Centro or I run out of podcasts.
6. Finish filling out benefit forms. I know I should have filled them out last week, but I'm a procrastinator.
I guess I am in semi-denial about starting work tomorrow. However, I don't want show up with air of nonchalance about me. I need this job, and I want my employers to feel that I want to be there. I can't let my misgivings about juggling work and home show through.
25 November 2008
Now Exiting Brokeville
Before I had a chance to blog about my job interview yesterday, I was offered the job! Thank you to everyone who prayed for my family and to everyone who got me through my interview jitters on Twitter yesterday. The holiday season will still be lean because I am not getting my first check until after Christmas. In a way that is a good thing. We won't be tempted to go overboard buying presents. I won't be leaving Brokeville right away, but at least I can see my exit.
The job is a data entry position at an insurance company. It is straight data entry, without all the reading and pondering that slows me down. If I have time to think and second-guess myself, it tanks my productivity. I like data entry, so I'm hoping I will be happy there. There is a strong possibility that the job will be phased out in June when they go through a computer software conversion, but at least I will earn money for the next six months. This last period of unemployment has put me and ABM in a more frugal frame of mind, so I think we will be in a better financial state if I find myself jobless during the summer.
In the past, working outside the home has really drained me because I am a naturally low-energy person. I'm hoping that since the kids are old enough to help with the housework, I will be able to keep up with other tasks like baking bread and tending my garden. The kids have already become accustomed to that stuff. Even if I can't, I'm still thankful for this job. We came too close to being truly broke this time around. I don't want to experience that again.
The job is a data entry position at an insurance company. It is straight data entry, without all the reading and pondering that slows me down. If I have time to think and second-guess myself, it tanks my productivity. I like data entry, so I'm hoping I will be happy there. There is a strong possibility that the job will be phased out in June when they go through a computer software conversion, but at least I will earn money for the next six months. This last period of unemployment has put me and ABM in a more frugal frame of mind, so I think we will be in a better financial state if I find myself jobless during the summer.
In the past, working outside the home has really drained me because I am a naturally low-energy person. I'm hoping that since the kids are old enough to help with the housework, I will be able to keep up with other tasks like baking bread and tending my garden. The kids have already become accustomed to that stuff. Even if I can't, I'm still thankful for this job. We came too close to being truly broke this time around. I don't want to experience that again.
14 July 2008
Disclosure Policy
I've mentioned before that I would be writing sponsored posts on this blog from time to time as a way to supplement my income. It has been a while, though, so I am posting a more formal disclosure policy as a reminder. There will also be a link to this policy in the sidebar.
--------------------------------------------
This policy is valid from 14 July 2008
This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me, known online as Dani in NC. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.
This blog abides by word-of-mouth marketing standards. I believe in honesty of relationship, opinion, and identity. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space, or post will be clearly identified as paid or sponsored content.
As the owner of this blog, I am occasionally compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites, and various other topics. Even though I receive compensation for my posts or advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party in question.
This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.
To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org
--------------------------------------------
This policy is valid from 14 July 2008
This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me, known online as Dani in NC. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.
This blog abides by word-of-mouth marketing standards. I believe in honesty of relationship, opinion, and identity. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space, or post will be clearly identified as paid or sponsored content.
As the owner of this blog, I am occasionally compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites, and various other topics. Even though I receive compensation for my posts or advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party in question.
This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.
To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org
16 April 2008
Job-Hunting Rant
I do the majority of my job-hunting online. Most of the local openings are listed on Careerbuilder, so that is where I place most of my applications. They have a function called Saved Jobs, which I have just discovered is practically useless.
The idea behind Saved Jobs is that it saves a record of jobs that you applied for. Well, it saves the date but nothing else! This is useless to me because what I really need is the job description. If the job listing has expired, couldn't Careerbuilder leave the job description in my Saved Jobs file and disable the Apply Now button?
If you are wondering why this aggravates me so much, I will give you an example from this morning. I got a message on my answering machine saying that XYZ company wants to talk to me about the job I applied for online. The company name didn't ring a bell. I have been keeping my own list of my job hunting activities, and it showed that I applied to XYZ company on 13 Mar through Careerbuilder. When I went to Careerbuilder, the job had expired. I don't have any idea of the job description, the hours, or the location. I don't like to go into a phone interview without brushing up on the job. Grrr.
Now that I know I can't trust the job sites to track this information for me, I guess I will have to write it all down myself. It's not that big a deal, but it is frustrating to find out a month later that something I was counting on doesn't work.
The idea behind Saved Jobs is that it saves a record of jobs that you applied for. Well, it saves the date but nothing else! This is useless to me because what I really need is the job description. If the job listing has expired, couldn't Careerbuilder leave the job description in my Saved Jobs file and disable the Apply Now button?
If you are wondering why this aggravates me so much, I will give you an example from this morning. I got a message on my answering machine saying that XYZ company wants to talk to me about the job I applied for online. The company name didn't ring a bell. I have been keeping my own list of my job hunting activities, and it showed that I applied to XYZ company on 13 Mar through Careerbuilder. When I went to Careerbuilder, the job had expired. I don't have any idea of the job description, the hours, or the location. I don't like to go into a phone interview without brushing up on the job. Grrr.
Now that I know I can't trust the job sites to track this information for me, I guess I will have to write it all down myself. It's not that big a deal, but it is frustrating to find out a month later that something I was counting on doesn't work.
29 January 2008
Apparently yesterday was a fluke
I was hoping that yesterday's burst of energy and enthusiasm would last a couple more days, but it seems that was not to be. I woke up this morning with a dizzy headache, reminiscent of the bout with vertigo I had last year. Yesterday I was so focused and accomplished several things. As I type this, it is mid-morning and all I've done is load the dishwasher and wash some sweaters. I haven't had breakfast and I haven't done my job hunting for the day. Truthfully, I'm fighting the urge to go back to bed.
A day like this illustrates why I have difficulty in the workplace. I have one or two productive days filled with optimism, followed by several days where I am either physically or emotionally unable to get myself in gear and face my responsibilities. When I am at home, it is easier to work around my bad days and still get the work done in a reasonable amount of time. Unfortunately, out in the working world I have to adhere to someone else's schedule. Why can't I just win the lottery?
A day like this illustrates why I have difficulty in the workplace. I have one or two productive days filled with optimism, followed by several days where I am either physically or emotionally unable to get myself in gear and face my responsibilities. When I am at home, it is easier to work around my bad days and still get the work done in a reasonable amount of time. Unfortunately, out in the working world I have to adhere to someone else's schedule. Why can't I just win the lottery?
17 January 2008
Job hunting again
Yes, I am job hunting again. I was fired on Tuesday. Although I worked hard, I didn't fit in with the "We are all family" culture of the office. You guys know that I'm not a very social person. It takes me a LONG time to warm up to coworkers. I'm not rude, but I don't jump into conversations or sit down at the lunch table with others. Unfortunately, that didn't sit well with my supervisor. Despite my good work performance, she decided I wasn't a team player.
ABM is NOT happy with me right now. This is the third job I've had in six years. He is starting to think that I am purposely getting myself fired from these jobs, but that is not the case. It took me nine months to get this last job, and that put a lot of stress on ABM to keep the family afloat. No matter how much I hated this job, I was working hard to keep it because I don't want to put the burden of supporting this family solely on ABM's back. I kept my mouth shut as much as possible at work to avoid blurting out any snarky comments about the job. I guess I kept my mouth shut too much.
The good news is that I had a phone interview on Wednesday and I am going in for a skill assessment this coming Tuesday. It is not exactly the kind of job I want, but at this point I'm just chasing a paycheck. If I can get this job and it gets me through to the end of 2008, then it's all good.
ABM is NOT happy with me right now. This is the third job I've had in six years. He is starting to think that I am purposely getting myself fired from these jobs, but that is not the case. It took me nine months to get this last job, and that put a lot of stress on ABM to keep the family afloat. No matter how much I hated this job, I was working hard to keep it because I don't want to put the burden of supporting this family solely on ABM's back. I kept my mouth shut as much as possible at work to avoid blurting out any snarky comments about the job. I guess I kept my mouth shut too much.
The good news is that I had a phone interview on Wednesday and I am going in for a skill assessment this coming Tuesday. It is not exactly the kind of job I want, but at this point I'm just chasing a paycheck. If I can get this job and it gets me through to the end of 2008, then it's all good.
11 November 2007
Ending one week, beginning another
One week down, and another 1300 weeks or so to look forward to. That's roughly how many weeks I have until I reach retirement age. Perhaps marking them off on the calendar will make me feel better :-).
Seriously, though, my first week back in the working world was fairly mediocre. I can't say that I hate the job, but I'm not excited about it. Usually, I have at least a little curiosity about a new job and the company I am working for in the beginning. This time around, I just want to get on with it. I want to hurry past the training period so I can settle into doing the work and counting down the days. I don't want to get to know people and share lame jokes. I want to do my job and collect my paycheck.
I know it sounds like I am starting this job with a bad attitude, but it is actually necessary. I have found that if I start having fun with my coworkers on lunches and breaks, it only reminds me how much I dislike the actual work and would rather be at home. My work is always better at the beginning of a job when I don't know anyone and I eat lunch alone every day. It's strange, but it allows me to focus on the work and makes me more efficient. I need this job to last because I can't face job-hunting again. If that means being a hermit at work, then so be it.
Seriously, though, my first week back in the working world was fairly mediocre. I can't say that I hate the job, but I'm not excited about it. Usually, I have at least a little curiosity about a new job and the company I am working for in the beginning. This time around, I just want to get on with it. I want to hurry past the training period so I can settle into doing the work and counting down the days. I don't want to get to know people and share lame jokes. I want to do my job and collect my paycheck.
I know it sounds like I am starting this job with a bad attitude, but it is actually necessary. I have found that if I start having fun with my coworkers on lunches and breaks, it only reminds me how much I dislike the actual work and would rather be at home. My work is always better at the beginning of a job when I don't know anyone and I eat lunch alone every day. It's strange, but it allows me to focus on the work and makes me more efficient. I need this job to last because I can't face job-hunting again. If that means being a hermit at work, then so be it.
07 November 2007
My clumsy gene becomes dominant once again
I'm only 3 days into my new job, and I've already shown my supervisor and my coworkers how clumsy I am. I was walking out the side door and forgot that there is a little drop down from the doorway to the sidewalk. I lost my footing, my left knee buckled, and I hit the concrete hard. This isn't the first time this has happened to me. I have a long history of taking a dive in very public places :-p.
I took the fall at the end of the workday so there weren't too many people still there, but my supervisor and my office mate both came running. I kept trying to shoo them away but they wouldn't hear of it. See, I wasn't getting up right away so they must have thought that I hurt myself pretty bad. The thing is that I can't get up immediately after a fall, even it is fairly minor. It always takes a few minutes for my legs to get the message that they still work :-). This delayed reaction causes me a lot more embarrassment now that I am 100 pounds overweight. I feel as though people think my inability to get up has to do with my size. So, in this case, I pushed myself off the ground a little soon than I should have and tried not to look like I was in pain as I walked out to the car.
ABM, my ever-sensitive husband (NOT!), joked about buying me a walker. He's a laugh riot, that one :-p. He is also the cause of my second trip of the evening. As I was hobbling around with pain shooting through my ankles and calves, I tripped over the DVD player that my dear husband left in the middle of the bedroom floor. Yeowch!
It is now 5 hours later and my legs and ankles still hurt. Of course, I can't go to the doctor because my health insurance doesn't kick in until the first of the year. I don't want to take a sick day because I just started this job. So here's hoping that a good night's rest will keep me from limping in to work tomorrow.
I took the fall at the end of the workday so there weren't too many people still there, but my supervisor and my office mate both came running. I kept trying to shoo them away but they wouldn't hear of it. See, I wasn't getting up right away so they must have thought that I hurt myself pretty bad. The thing is that I can't get up immediately after a fall, even it is fairly minor. It always takes a few minutes for my legs to get the message that they still work :-). This delayed reaction causes me a lot more embarrassment now that I am 100 pounds overweight. I feel as though people think my inability to get up has to do with my size. So, in this case, I pushed myself off the ground a little soon than I should have and tried not to look like I was in pain as I walked out to the car.
ABM, my ever-sensitive husband (NOT!), joked about buying me a walker. He's a laugh riot, that one :-p. He is also the cause of my second trip of the evening. As I was hobbling around with pain shooting through my ankles and calves, I tripped over the DVD player that my dear husband left in the middle of the bedroom floor. Yeowch!
It is now 5 hours later and my legs and ankles still hurt. Of course, I can't go to the doctor because my health insurance doesn't kick in until the first of the year. I don't want to take a sick day because I just started this job. So here's hoping that a good night's rest will keep me from limping in to work tomorrow.
05 November 2007
Made it through my first day
Well, I survived the first-day-on-the-job jitters without throwing up or having a panic attack. Yay, me! My biggest fear was that I would have trouble finding my way around my workplace because there are several buildings. So I used my lunch break to figure out the quickest route to the important stuff: the bathroom, the snack machine, and the coffee pot :-). That made me feel much calmer.
I packed a self-heating cup of coffee and an oatmeal snack along with my lunch. I wanted to be ready just in case I felt too panicky to find the break room or they didn't provide coffee. Despite my preparation, I didn't even get to drink any coffee! We went from one activity to another and there never was a good time to take a break. Do you know how hard it was for me to concentrate on my benefits package with no caffeine to clear my head?
The work itself seems more complicated than I first thought, but that may just be the way my trainer is explaining it. My last two jobs had full-time training departments, and I am afraid they spoiled me. It's been a while since I've been trained in a casual manner by the person who last held the job. I've been on the other end of such a training situation, and I know that I tend to give the new person way too much information up front. That is what my current trainer is doing to me. Add to that her obvious assumption that I've never touched a computer before ("When the field is greyed out, that means you can't enter anything." Gah!), and I missed that coffee a lot. Still, the trainer is a nice woman and I know that she is trying to make sure I am well-versed in the ways of the job I've taken on.
More than the last several jobs I've had, this one gives me a comfortable feeling. From the moment I finished the interview, I knew that this was my job. It feels right. I don't sense the stress that was thick in the air at my last two jobs. Of course, I could be deluding myself. I could end up hating this job as much as I hated the other ones. However, I am choosing to have a good attitude right now. There's plenty of time for hating my job later :-).
I packed a self-heating cup of coffee and an oatmeal snack along with my lunch. I wanted to be ready just in case I felt too panicky to find the break room or they didn't provide coffee. Despite my preparation, I didn't even get to drink any coffee! We went from one activity to another and there never was a good time to take a break. Do you know how hard it was for me to concentrate on my benefits package with no caffeine to clear my head?
The work itself seems more complicated than I first thought, but that may just be the way my trainer is explaining it. My last two jobs had full-time training departments, and I am afraid they spoiled me. It's been a while since I've been trained in a casual manner by the person who last held the job. I've been on the other end of such a training situation, and I know that I tend to give the new person way too much information up front. That is what my current trainer is doing to me. Add to that her obvious assumption that I've never touched a computer before ("When the field is greyed out, that means you can't enter anything." Gah!), and I missed that coffee a lot. Still, the trainer is a nice woman and I know that she is trying to make sure I am well-versed in the ways of the job I've taken on.
More than the last several jobs I've had, this one gives me a comfortable feeling. From the moment I finished the interview, I knew that this was my job. It feels right. I don't sense the stress that was thick in the air at my last two jobs. Of course, I could be deluding myself. I could end up hating this job as much as I hated the other ones. However, I am choosing to have a good attitude right now. There's plenty of time for hating my job later :-).
02 November 2007
A lady of leisure no longer
Remember last week's bout of interview flu? Well, it has morphed into a case of new job nerves. Yes, folks, they offered me the job for which I interviewed last week. I had a good feeling after that interview; the workplace felt like the health department where I worked before I had the twins. At the health department, everybody worked together until the work was finished, period. I excel in that kind of environment.
So if I think I will fit in at my new job, why am I having trouble breathing? I'm afraid of getting on that treadmill again. God knows we need both incomes to keep this family afloat, but I am not a good mother or wife when I work. I snap at ABM and the kids and I let the housework slide. I could tell myself right now that it would be different this time, but I doubt that it will be. For someone with my strong introverted tendencies, it takes a lot of physical and emotional energy to do simple things like make small talk with my coworkers. By the end of a work day, I don't want to cook dinner, check homework, or talk to my family at all. I'm horrid to live with, and I don't want to be that way again.
Oh my gosh, I just realized something! I was in such shock when my new supervisor called me that I didn't ask anything about their lunch facilities or if they have a coffee pot. What if I am in an office where no one drinks coffee? You'll have to talk me off a ledge!
OK, enough of this. I am going to feed my kids, fold some more laundry, and try not to burst into tears. Pray for me, ya'll.
So if I think I will fit in at my new job, why am I having trouble breathing? I'm afraid of getting on that treadmill again. God knows we need both incomes to keep this family afloat, but I am not a good mother or wife when I work. I snap at ABM and the kids and I let the housework slide. I could tell myself right now that it would be different this time, but I doubt that it will be. For someone with my strong introverted tendencies, it takes a lot of physical and emotional energy to do simple things like make small talk with my coworkers. By the end of a work day, I don't want to cook dinner, check homework, or talk to my family at all. I'm horrid to live with, and I don't want to be that way again.
Oh my gosh, I just realized something! I was in such shock when my new supervisor called me that I didn't ask anything about their lunch facilities or if they have a coffee pot. What if I am in an office where no one drinks coffee? You'll have to talk me off a ledge!
OK, enough of this. I am going to feed my kids, fold some more laundry, and try not to burst into tears. Pray for me, ya'll.
24 October 2007
Interview flu
I have two job interviews scheduled for this week. Most job seekers would be happy with this sudden flurry of activity. Not me. The longer I stay home, the more difficult it becomes for me to leave the house. It would be easier if ABM was here to drive me to the interview. I would be able to vent all my nervousness in the car en route. Riding with the MIL means I have to keep all that anxiety bottled up because she doesn't get it.
My first interview is tomorrow, and all I want to do today is stay in bed and pretend it isn't happening. My head aches, my stomach hurts, and I've lost my appetite. I've never done well in interviews, but I am at even more of a disadvantage this time. My skill set is out of date, and my last two jobs ended with a termination and a layoff. I'm not the bright young thing with the untarnished record that I once was. My quiet demeanor isn't enough to charm interviewers into overlooking my faults. How can I convince a potential employer that I have something to offer when my work history doesn't show it?
My first interview is tomorrow, and all I want to do today is stay in bed and pretend it isn't happening. My head aches, my stomach hurts, and I've lost my appetite. I've never done well in interviews, but I am at even more of a disadvantage this time. My skill set is out of date, and my last two jobs ended with a termination and a layoff. I'm not the bright young thing with the untarnished record that I once was. My quiet demeanor isn't enough to charm interviewers into overlooking my faults. How can I convince a potential employer that I have something to offer when my work history doesn't show it?
01 August 2007
Padding the coffers a bit
If you have been reading my blog for a long time, you may have noticed some changes in my sidebar in recent weeks. I've added a couple affiliate badges as well as links to other blogs that I am writing. This is my attempt to bring in a little extra cash while I am looking for a full-time job.
I was rather hesitant about putting ads on this, my personal blog. I have visited blogs that were almost impossible to read with all the search engine optimization that had been done to them. My goal is to avoid alienating any of you. With that in mind, I promise this:
--I will make sure that any sponsored post is clearly labeled.
--I will only take ads that make sense with the content of this blog.
--I will do my best to avoid the "hard sell".
These guidelines will extend to my gaming blog and my reading blog, as well. So don't let the ads scare you off. Pull up a chair!
I was rather hesitant about putting ads on this, my personal blog. I have visited blogs that were almost impossible to read with all the search engine optimization that had been done to them. My goal is to avoid alienating any of you. With that in mind, I promise this:
--I will make sure that any sponsored post is clearly labeled.
--I will only take ads that make sense with the content of this blog.
--I will do my best to avoid the "hard sell".
These guidelines will extend to my gaming blog and my reading blog, as well. So don't let the ads scare you off. Pull up a chair!
13 July 2007
SEO -- Oh, no!
Most jobless moms have had this thought: "Maybe there is something I can do from home to earn a little extra cash." Since I like to write, I thought maybe I could write short articles or blog for money. How hard could it be?
Oh, boy. Writing for sites like Associated Content is more complicated than I thought. Apparently there is this thing called search engine optimization (SEO). As far as I can tell, what it means is that an author has to try to use popular search terms in her article so that the article will show up on the first page of results when someone does a search. You also have to pick a topic that hasn't been explored to death or there will be too many search results and your article will be lost in the crowd. Do a search and you will find all these guidelines about where the words should appear in the article and how long the article should be. It makes my head swim.
Creating a blog and adding Adsense or an affiliate program is even more confusing. All the advice about blog names, keywords, and ad placement sent me into a panic. It took me over a week just to come up with a name for my book review blog. I've moved the ads three times already. All the fuss about the setup is keeping me from actually reading any books!
Yesterday, I wrote an article and submitted it to Associated Content. I thought I did a pretty good job of using the proper amount of keywords and keeping the article to the optimum length. This morning, I found an article on the same topic on a different site. It was much better than mine and used all the ideas that I left out of mine because I was trying to stick to the length that is supposedly best for getting picked up by search engines. I was so bummed because I could have written a better article if I hadn't been worrying about SEO.
This is what inspired yesterday's poem. The writing is difficult enough for me. The business of making my writing pay is downright paralyzing. I'm beginning to think that this isn't the gig for me. I am still going forward with my plan to create a few different blogs and monetize them, but I can't let myself get sucked into the whole optimization trap. A blog is nothing without good content, and that is what I want to focus on.
Oh, boy. Writing for sites like Associated Content is more complicated than I thought. Apparently there is this thing called search engine optimization (SEO). As far as I can tell, what it means is that an author has to try to use popular search terms in her article so that the article will show up on the first page of results when someone does a search. You also have to pick a topic that hasn't been explored to death or there will be too many search results and your article will be lost in the crowd. Do a search and you will find all these guidelines about where the words should appear in the article and how long the article should be. It makes my head swim.
Creating a blog and adding Adsense or an affiliate program is even more confusing. All the advice about blog names, keywords, and ad placement sent me into a panic. It took me over a week just to come up with a name for my book review blog. I've moved the ads three times already. All the fuss about the setup is keeping me from actually reading any books!
Yesterday, I wrote an article and submitted it to Associated Content. I thought I did a pretty good job of using the proper amount of keywords and keeping the article to the optimum length. This morning, I found an article on the same topic on a different site. It was much better than mine and used all the ideas that I left out of mine because I was trying to stick to the length that is supposedly best for getting picked up by search engines. I was so bummed because I could have written a better article if I hadn't been worrying about SEO.
This is what inspired yesterday's poem. The writing is difficult enough for me. The business of making my writing pay is downright paralyzing. I'm beginning to think that this isn't the gig for me. I am still going forward with my plan to create a few different blogs and monetize them, but I can't let myself get sucked into the whole optimization trap. A blog is nothing without good content, and that is what I want to focus on.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)