Get a new job

Well, things aren’t really shaping up on this goal. I had an interview for a great job last week, but it started off a disaster (they didn’t have the right security clearance for me to go onsite, so I had to sit in the visitor’s centre and do the interview there), and I felt like a bit of a second-class citizen. Then the interview itself – well, one guy was completely unhelpful, wouldn’t make eye contact, very shy, etc. But on top of all this I felt I didn’t nail the questions they gave me. I think I did ok, but didn’t nail it. I feel disappointed as I had done so much preparation and worked so hard for the interview, and I know I could excel at the job.

The next day a professor friend of mine lined me up with a mini-job at his university. He is going to create a position for me and I am going to act as consultant to some of his projects, which is certainly good. But he told me that they almost always hire from within wherever possible, because they are told to do so. So how do I get in the system if I’m not in it already? Maybe this mini job will help.

Aside from that, just trawling through websites again. I have plenty of freelance to keep me busy and bring in some money but I am getting pretty worried – time is moving on, the recession is here, the state budget is in crisis, and it’s generally a bad time to have quit a job and be in visa-status limbo. I should have my green card in a few weeks (fingers crossed) which will help. But I can’t get over feeling like I worked my guts out over the past three years for what? For this? It wasn’t worth it. Now I’m looking at having to take an entry-level job and start from the bottom all over again. But I’m over-qualified so chances are I can’t do this even if I wanted to.

Blurgh. Keep on trying. Nothing much else to report. I feel angry, scared, frustrated, and everything else rolled into one. I’m not very good at the whole blind faith thing, I suppose. I guess I’m just tired of watching my husband do this for a year and can’t help feeling there is a long road ahead of me.

Maybe I just need to work harder to guarantee success. Maybe I should just get my head down and commit to working 12-16 hours a day, pursuing every avenue there is. Sounds exhausting, but at least I wouldn’t have time to worry or stop and think.

Onwards and upwards?!

Sooo, I have a job interview lined up for next week, but I’m going to cancel it and withdraw my application because I really don’t want to work there and think the move would look funny on my resume. It’s nice to have interest, but my time is precious and the job is just not right for me.

On another front, I have had a very positive response from another application…the job’s been open for ages but they got back to me within an hour and asked for samples of my work…if that goes well perhaps an interview will be on the cards. Now, this is a job that is at a fantastic place I would love to work at. The job is junior compared to my last position and would be a step down, but would be a major foot in the door. So lets see what happens. I’m under no pretenses that this will go anywhere. It’s out of my mind now until I hear anything else from them.

If I do get the interview, I’m likely to be asked (as I was at the last one) “why on earth are you applying, isn’t this position below your experience?” I can handle those questions. It will ultimately come down to the whim of the hiring manager and how confident he feels in taking on someone who isn’t an internal candidate and who is over-qualified. He’s very new so might be afraid to do it, but we’ll see.

Time to put in more apps and hope for the best.

Well, my ex-boss and I hit it off quite well over the phone today. Had a friendly chat, he seems to be (despite being a bad manager) genuinely on my side, which is good since I’ll need him to write references for me.

He’s offered me a month’s work as they need help. The pay is ok, not as much as I hoped it would be given that I am the most qualified person in the world to do this for them and have done it for years. I need the money so I’ll probably say yes although it’s going to make my schedule pretty hectic. Have to weigh it up first.

Then I got an email out of the blue with another offer of work – next week – bad timing so I’m not sure whether or not to take it. And another lead to follow up on with another ex-colleague.

The work offers are nice, and have given me confidence that I can do this freelance thing in earnest when I want a more flexible job. But what I really want now is a full-time kick-arse challenging and rewarding role. I know I deserve it and I know I can do it. It’s just about making it happen.

Line up inside connections at all the employers on my shortlist
– 5 out of 6 done, 1 to go
Get on top of my job applications
– plan to be on top of this situation by mid-end next week
Work out a freelance schedule
– 2 assignments down,
– will know more when I talk to my ex-boss next week
Try to line up more freelance work at the employers on my shortlist
– contact C.
– pursue contact from R.
Updated LinkedIn profile
– Chase up leads from LinkedIn contacts

1 down, 3 to go
3 down, 6 to go

Have a couple of freelance assignments lined up to keep me busy, and 10+ jobs to apply for in the next few days. I learned that the “dream job” I nearly got was given to an inside applicant…so I couldn’t really have done much better than I did. It gives me encouragement for other applications.

I often feel like I’m getting nowhere and it’s hopeless, but I know that that’s not the right, or an accurate, attitude to have. I want a job badly, and I will get one. They might make it difficult but they can’t stop me!

I finally heard back regarding my second round interview a couple of weeks ago. I didn’t get the job. Apparently I came a close second out of more than 100 candidates. I did get a nice note from the hiring manager saying that I was very professional and that it was a difficult decision to make. Still, second still means no job! But there is the opportunity of some freelance work with them which would be exciting and a new avenue for me. So that’s something.

I feel that I did myself justice on this application and that there’s not really anything I could have done better. So at least I can’t beat myself up about that. I also think they made a mistake as I would have gone very far with the job, but that’s their choice.

On the freelance front, I have now lined up some PR work at a decent rate. My first assignment starts next week, so we’ll see how it goes, but there’s the real chance that if they like my work they will continue to keep me on on a freelance basis and this could be a permanent fixture.

I also received another invitation for more freelance work at my old company over the next couple of months – the pay isn’t great but it will cover a month’s rent which is nice! I feel like I have some things to keep me occupied while looking for the “real deal” full-time position that is right for me.

In the meantime I may have lined up some freelance work with a PR company across the pond. They offered a really low rate, I negotiated a reasonable rate and they seem to be prepared to pay it. I’m glad I know my worth and won’t settle for less. I’ll be chatting to them at the end of this week so hopefully we can move forwards then. It will be good experience even if not the most thrilling work and will keep me occupied and in work while I look for a better, full-time position.

Still no word from the employer I had an interview with nearly two weeks ago. It’s safe to assume I haven’t got the job, but it would also be nice to see an employer showing some courtesy for once and actually letting me know. I suppose this is the game of looking for a job – you do everything and they give nothing – but a bit of common courtesy and keeping your word when you say you’ll get back to someone never hurts.

I have also been asked by a non-profit to help with some editorial/consultancy work. This is worthwhile and something to add to my resume.

On the “proper job” front, more jobs have popped up that I can apply for – a couple of ones I am a perfect match for and others for which I can also apply.

I’m finding it hard to keep my chin up, especially when people around me are either in a good job or getting a new job and moving up the ladder, and with less experience and education. I have to accept the situation for the moment and stop resisting it. I have to realise that this, too, will pass, and that it may take a little time to find the right match for me. No matter how bored or worried I might feel, I’m not desperate and should take the steps needed to get me into the right job.

I’ve been called back for a second interview this week for the “dream job”. I call it the dream job because it’s at a place I would love to work, and I think it would be a pretty good job with a good salary and a great career move, although I know there is no such thing as a dream job – every job has its pros and cons.

Anyway, second round here we come. I am down to the last 2/3 people, so I have a great shot. But in the back of my mind I really don’t think I will get it since I know the competition I am up against and just think someone else will perform better on the day. I shouldn’t think like that but I’ve only been unemployed one week and it would be too simple for it all to fall into place that quickly and easily. The struggles over the past few years have taught me that nothing has been easy or is likely to be easy, so I’m restraining my hope. Nevertheless, I’m going to go for it and see what happens. The key is to be myself, to not be a stranger and to show them how enthusiastic I am about the job.

a very good job has come up, and I have a good connection on the inside who has said they will pass my resume to the person who is hiring. A lucky break! I want to do justice to myself. I know I’m ideal for the job. It would be a great opportunity. Fingers crossed for an interview and then I can shine! Here’s hoping….