Prior to successfully landing a job, these past nine months I was on a different journey as well. I had gotten so lazy, and was enjoying too much of the wrong kinds of food. Back in September 2009, I decided to join Weight Watchers. Six weeks later I became unemployed. I made a promise to myself that I would not let unemployment get me down. I started getting on the treadmill 3 to 4 days a week. I now had the time to devote to exercising and eating the right kinds of foods.
After 10 months of Weight Watchers, I am officially a lifetime member. With this new status, I am going to be a part of the Weight Watchers family. I have an interview on Thursday evening to be a receptionist/leader. Even though I am embarking on a new career, I know it's my turn to give back to others. I lost 20 pounds and intend to never gain it back. What better way to stay on track! My blog may now turn into a Weight Management blog to inspire others to get healthy, just like I did and to turn a negative situation into something positive.
So, if you are motivated, dedicated and quest for the best, then don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. Remember, What you believe, you can achieve!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
It's been a week since my last blog and I want to go back an close the book on the six job opportunities that I mentioned.
Starting with number six, I met with a staffing agency who, after interviewing me realized the position they had for me I was overqualified for. The salary is what someone who is just starting out would expect. Book closed.
Number 5 -- I never did get a chance to connect with the referral just because there was so much other activity going on. Book closed.
Opportunity number 4. I was invited to interview for this position last Friday and it went quite well. The department does research for the heath care industry. This book is still open.
The third one, I filled out the preliminary questions an then promptly received the typical generic thanks but no thanks e-mail. Book closed.
The second opportunity was an HR role with a well established Health Care company. I provided my pre-screen questions to them and apparently it went into the black hole. The typical no response syndrome. In my opinion, book closed.
The first one: This was a 4-month contract position and I interviewed last Thursday afternoon. On Friday evening I received a voice message saying that the company I interviewed with wants to know when I can start. I connected with the staffing agency late on Monday evening around 5:15 p.m. She told me the Solar Company I interviewed with wants me to start on Wednesday. Great news don't you think? However, she then proceeds to tell me that the rate was being reduced. Mind you, it was being reduced by ONE DOLLAR an hour. I told her that I was not happy with that especially since the commute was over an hour one way!. Her response was, aren't you glad you have a job! Now really, yes I am glad, but come on.
Needless to say, her rate is definitely better than unemployment, even if it was significantly less than my previous position.
Here is where the adventure begins. Literally 30 minutes later I received a phone call from a hiring manager for a position I interviewed with back in April and he is offering me a job. The salary is 20K a year MORE than the position at the solar company, it's a full time regular position and the commute is 7 minutes, yes, SEVEN minutes from my house. What a stroke of luck, that's for sure.
Now I was tasked with telling the staffing agency that I would not be accepting the position after all. And let me tell you, she was not pleased. She told me that I had already accepted the position and that I am scheduled to start on Wednesday. I told her that you never know when opportunity is going to knock. I said it was an offer that I just couldn't refuse. She continued to tell me that I was compromising my relationship with her staffing agency as well as with the Solar company. Book slammed shut.
The company that I will be working for is a Professional Service company that does business with utilities. My first assignment is with my former employer. How ironic is that. I will be located in that same building I left nine months ago.
My time as a job seeker certainly felt like Mr. Toad's journey to nowhere in particular.
I want to thank all of those who provided me with comfort and advice during this time. Thank you to all the members on my job search work who were an inspiration and gave me the confidence to persevere. I couldn't have done it without you. Special thanks to a former co-worker who stood by my side and told me to have faith. To a childhood friend, Cathy, who made me realize that help comes from unexpected places. To my children who told me that there was something better waiting for me. And last but not least to my husband who has been there through thick and thin. I love you with all my heart and soul.
So now I start my new journey and this time I know where I am going.
Starting with number six, I met with a staffing agency who, after interviewing me realized the position they had for me I was overqualified for. The salary is what someone who is just starting out would expect. Book closed.
Number 5 -- I never did get a chance to connect with the referral just because there was so much other activity going on. Book closed.
Opportunity number 4. I was invited to interview for this position last Friday and it went quite well. The department does research for the heath care industry. This book is still open.
The third one, I filled out the preliminary questions an then promptly received the typical generic thanks but no thanks e-mail. Book closed.
The second opportunity was an HR role with a well established Health Care company. I provided my pre-screen questions to them and apparently it went into the black hole. The typical no response syndrome. In my opinion, book closed.
The first one: This was a 4-month contract position and I interviewed last Thursday afternoon. On Friday evening I received a voice message saying that the company I interviewed with wants to know when I can start. I connected with the staffing agency late on Monday evening around 5:15 p.m. She told me the Solar Company I interviewed with wants me to start on Wednesday. Great news don't you think? However, she then proceeds to tell me that the rate was being reduced. Mind you, it was being reduced by ONE DOLLAR an hour. I told her that I was not happy with that especially since the commute was over an hour one way!. Her response was, aren't you glad you have a job! Now really, yes I am glad, but come on.
Needless to say, her rate is definitely better than unemployment, even if it was significantly less than my previous position.
Here is where the adventure begins. Literally 30 minutes later I received a phone call from a hiring manager for a position I interviewed with back in April and he is offering me a job. The salary is 20K a year MORE than the position at the solar company, it's a full time regular position and the commute is 7 minutes, yes, SEVEN minutes from my house. What a stroke of luck, that's for sure.
Now I was tasked with telling the staffing agency that I would not be accepting the position after all. And let me tell you, she was not pleased. She told me that I had already accepted the position and that I am scheduled to start on Wednesday. I told her that you never know when opportunity is going to knock. I said it was an offer that I just couldn't refuse. She continued to tell me that I was compromising my relationship with her staffing agency as well as with the Solar company. Book slammed shut.
The company that I will be working for is a Professional Service company that does business with utilities. My first assignment is with my former employer. How ironic is that. I will be located in that same building I left nine months ago.
My time as a job seeker certainly felt like Mr. Toad's journey to nowhere in particular.
I want to thank all of those who provided me with comfort and advice during this time. Thank you to all the members on my job search work who were an inspiration and gave me the confidence to persevere. I couldn't have done it without you. Special thanks to a former co-worker who stood by my side and told me to have faith. To a childhood friend, Cathy, who made me realize that help comes from unexpected places. To my children who told me that there was something better waiting for me. And last but not least to my husband who has been there through thick and thin. I love you with all my heart and soul.
So now I start my new journey and this time I know where I am going.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
When It Rains, It Pours
It is time for me to take a deep breath. I have found out that it is imperative to ensure that you do not have all your eggs in one basket. So as of this moment, I have six, yes, six pending opportunities. I must now take a deep breath because this means a lot of preparation is needed on my part. All I need is one successful interview and I will be a happy camper and then some.
I thought I would just write a little bit about each pending opportunity, so if anyone has advice they would like to send my way, I will definitely accept it.
The first opportunity is a 4-month contract through a staffing agency. Yes, I know, yesterday I was a skeptic, and today, I am the optimist I have claimed that I am. The interview is Thursday, August 5 at 3:00 p.m. with two managers and one peer. Root for me, please!
The second opportunity is a regular assignment in Human Resources with a well established company. I am at the preliminary stage where I must answer 12 pre-screen questions and return it to the HR recruiter by COB on Thursday, August 5.
The third opportunity is an EA role through a staffing agency. I answered a few preliminary questions already and am awaiting next steps.
The fourth one is definitely interesting. If my husband was telling this story I would tell him that I didn't believe it and that it was just another "fish" story. Anyway, I applied on-line for a Sr Admin role then went to LinkedIn and reached out to a current employee for assistance. They responded by telling me that it is their position that is being filled. Out of all the people on LinkedIn, I pick the one person who is vacating the job for another role within the same company. As a dear friend of mine said, "That is called serendipity." By the way, if you never saw the movie Serendipity, you should. It is excellent and I am a sucker for a great love story.
The fifth opportunity is from a former LHH client for an EA role. I need to decide if it's a good fit and then get the referral.
The last one is a temp to perm with yet another staffing agency. I am meeting with the recruiter tomorrow morning.
You know I believe there is a moral to this story. Give staffing agencies a chance. You just might find the right bean in the bag. (Smile Joe).
I thought I would just write a little bit about each pending opportunity, so if anyone has advice they would like to send my way, I will definitely accept it.
The first opportunity is a 4-month contract through a staffing agency. Yes, I know, yesterday I was a skeptic, and today, I am the optimist I have claimed that I am. The interview is Thursday, August 5 at 3:00 p.m. with two managers and one peer. Root for me, please!
The second opportunity is a regular assignment in Human Resources with a well established company. I am at the preliminary stage where I must answer 12 pre-screen questions and return it to the HR recruiter by COB on Thursday, August 5.
The third opportunity is an EA role through a staffing agency. I answered a few preliminary questions already and am awaiting next steps.
The fourth one is definitely interesting. If my husband was telling this story I would tell him that I didn't believe it and that it was just another "fish" story. Anyway, I applied on-line for a Sr Admin role then went to LinkedIn and reached out to a current employee for assistance. They responded by telling me that it is their position that is being filled. Out of all the people on LinkedIn, I pick the one person who is vacating the job for another role within the same company. As a dear friend of mine said, "That is called serendipity." By the way, if you never saw the movie Serendipity, you should. It is excellent and I am a sucker for a great love story.
The fifth opportunity is from a former LHH client for an EA role. I need to decide if it's a good fit and then get the referral.
The last one is a temp to perm with yet another staffing agency. I am meeting with the recruiter tomorrow morning.
You know I believe there is a moral to this story. Give staffing agencies a chance. You just might find the right bean in the bag. (Smile Joe).
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
My take
I was sitting here today thinking about some positions that I had applied for. I told myself a while back that I would only apply to companies directly, avoiding the middle man. However, when desperation sets in, I look at a job posting that I think it sounds great. Then I notice it's with a staffing agency and say to myself, what harm can it cause? Then after I have applied and I come to my senses, I "google" that staffing agency with the word "scam" after it. Lo and behold, hundreds of disgruntled people complaining about these agencies.
Here is what I discovered.
A lot of you will not know that recruitment is sales driven, where YOUR resume is just a tool to be used to fill their databases. I can list all the agencies to stay away from, but that would take up a lot of time so I’ll just say stay away from all of them. There are a few amazing ones, but for every good story to be told there are at least 10 bad ones. It's sad but true...
So what am I getting at? My gripe is that recruitment is run a bit like car sales. Most consultants no nothing of the industry they are recruiting for. Less than 100% of the agencies you will deal with all have sales people dealing with your application.
They really don’t care if you get a job or not. If you do that's great, but they're more interested in that financial threshold they need per month so they can earn commission. You're just a number on the books, you're a meal ticket if you like!
Here is a bit of free advice. Don’t ever list your references on any application. This is used (or rather misused) as a contact into YOUR business, and they will call them. Only after you interviewed with a potential employer should you need to provide reference information.
Job boards like “Careerbuilder” are looked at by millions of potential employers apparently (yeah right!). Rather, it’s looked at by millions of staffing agencies trying to find companies to call so they can get vacancies to chase. They're just sharks on a feeding frenzy.
There, I feel better now.
Here is what I discovered.
A lot of you will not know that recruitment is sales driven, where YOUR resume is just a tool to be used to fill their databases. I can list all the agencies to stay away from, but that would take up a lot of time so I’ll just say stay away from all of them. There are a few amazing ones, but for every good story to be told there are at least 10 bad ones. It's sad but true...
So what am I getting at? My gripe is that recruitment is run a bit like car sales. Most consultants no nothing of the industry they are recruiting for. Less than 100% of the agencies you will deal with all have sales people dealing with your application.
They really don’t care if you get a job or not. If you do that's great, but they're more interested in that financial threshold they need per month so they can earn commission. You're just a number on the books, you're a meal ticket if you like!
Here is a bit of free advice. Don’t ever list your references on any application. This is used (or rather misused) as a contact into YOUR business, and they will call them. Only after you interviewed with a potential employer should you need to provide reference information.
Job boards like “Careerbuilder” are looked at by millions of potential employers apparently (yeah right!). Rather, it’s looked at by millions of staffing agencies trying to find companies to call so they can get vacancies to chase. They're just sharks on a feeding frenzy.
There, I feel better now.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
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