The Job Search Continues

I have been waiting to write this post because talking or writing about this just makes me so upset and I am still very anxious when I think about it. 

If you missed my last post about my job search you can go here to read it. 

Tuesday I got a call from Company A and I did not get the job. I really did not have high hopes since I had not been called yet for a second interview. The HR person seemed a little annoyed and said that the company hired someone who was refereed by another employee. It made me feel a little better to know that it was not me. I am sure she was frustrated because she reached out to me for the job and it must be annoying knowing you do your job and they ignore your choices. 

So knowing I did not get the job at Company A did not upset me too much because I had very high hopes for Company B and was anxiously waiting to be contacted by the recruiter. I e-mailed her Wednesday and was told that she had reached out to the CEO but had not heard back. Thursday I heard that the recruiter had spoken to the CEO and that they should have a decision by Friday afternoon. Now I am worried because I am wondering why it is taking so long to make a decision. Friday afternoon comes and goes and now I am in panic mode. This can not be good, if they have not contacted me then that means I did not get the job. 

I e-mailed the recruiter again at 5:30. Seven o'clock rolls around and I get this e-mail

An offer was made to another candidate this afternoon, and it was just accepted this evening. I greatly appreciate the interest and time that you spent interviewing with (Company B). It was a pleasure working with you. Please let me know if I can ever assist you in the future.

Then I cried and cried wondering what the heck is wrong with me? I have a MBA that I just got, I am currently going to school for a degree in Web Design, I have over 6 years admin experience and am Advanced in Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook. Why can I not get another admin job? What sucks is this one was an Executive Admin with work in marketing with a small company that is ready to grow. There was also the chance to work from home or in coffee shops or in the office. Also the chance for events in the evening and trade shows in DC. Something I really could have gotten behind and helped them grow. I am angry, sad, upset and worried all in one. Money is very tight and I am not sure how I am going to pay my rent this month let alone next month.

I asked the recruiter if they indicated why they did not choose me and this is my answer:

I know that it was a difficult decision for them. I will certainly keep you in mind for  other opportunities.

Which tells me nothing, thank you.

On the bright side my husband is waiting to hear back from an opportunity at Taco Bell to be an assistant manager at the store across the street. The Manager seemed really excited to hire him, but we are waiting on the background check. This is where we always have trouble for two reasons; My husband has the same name as his father and sometimes their records cross and we used to live in NH which has a back log of background checks and since it is not electronic it takes forever. My husband has already lost job opportunities because companies cannot wait so long.

Hopefully things start to look up because I really do not want to lose my apartment, especially when I have no where to go and Big J starts school on the 18th.

Anyone know of any jobs in Charlotte, NC? Admin, Clerical? Or work from home opps??

 

Catching up with Captain Jack Harkness of Torchwood

Guest post written by Meg Walters I was a little worried about the new season of Torchwood, especially since it's been a while since it was on the air and that Starz was doing it. But, so far I love it! It's very similar to the third season of Torchwood instead of the standard supernatural mystery investigation show, a la an alien CSI. Of course, they couldn't do it without Captain Jack Harkness. I don't think they could have legally done it without him! I liked Jack Harkness ever since I first saw him guest star on Doctor Who. So you can imagine just how excited I was to find out that he was getting his own spinoff with Torchwood! As soon as they announced the new show, I was looking for spoilers for it. One night when I was doing that, I saw the website CLEAR-INTERNET.com and after I read through it some I decided to change over my internet service to it. But one thing I am wondering about Jack Harkness is what he's been doing with his life since the third season ended. They're trying to be vague about that, but I'm sure it will be revealed pretty soon. This post was sponsored by Blogvertise and Clear-Internet

101 Offline Activities Book Review

101 Offline Activities You Can Do With Your Child

Here’s a brief time out that EVERYONE in your family will enjoy: disconnect from the Net, put away your digital toys, and get ready for some good old-fashioned fun.  Even 20 minutes a day can be rejuvenating for you and a great way to connect with your children. In 101 Offline Activities You Can Do With Your Child, you’ll find activities that tap the most advanced computer of all time—the one between the ears.  Best of all, you can do most of the activities with little or no preparation!


Steve and Ruth Bennett are the authors of the million copy-selling activity books, 365 TV-Free Activities You Can Do With Your Child and 365 Outdoor Activities You Can Do With Your Child, as well as numerous other activity books. The Bennetts have written widely on families and quality time. Steve is the founder of AuthorBytes, a company that creates Websites and digital collateral for authors; Ruth is a landscape architect who specializes in public parks, university quadrangles, and children’s play spaces.They have two young-adult children and live in Cambridge, Massachusetts.


Review
This book could not have come at a better time since I am home with my children all the time right now. (I lost my job in February) My husband and I also end up entertaining 2-5 other neighborhood children each day who come to play with Big J. Two of which are known for being bored all the time. 


The great thing about these activities is that some only require your time, or the time of bored children of course. The ones that do require items typically need items that you would find around your house such as paper plates, pens and a muffin tin. The activities are designed to do at home, on the go or even while waiting in line while running errands. 


Each activity has:

• Easy to follow instructions
• List of required Items
• Category 
• In the kitchen
• At home
• Anytime, Anyplace
• Out and About
• On the Road

Two of our favorites are:

      *Gimme Shelter - Big J and friends are currently into building tents and forts so this is a great one for them. Using couch cushions, pillows, blankets, chairs and props children create their own cabin and even a pretend campfire out of blocks and paper. 

      * Fresh off the Press - Using a store circular I can keep Big J occupied "matching" the items in the flyer to ones in the store while getting my shopping done. 

One we are looking forward to trying soon:

      * Travel board games which uses the Make Before you go Card Board Game - Using simple household items (cardboard, glue, scissors) create a portable board game which can be used to play highway bingo, concentration and lotto. 

This is a great book for anyone who has to entertain children, especially if you always hear "We are bored."

To purchase

Book can be purchased from Amazon or Barnes and Noble for $19.95 (at time of post)

Autographed copies are also available for $25.00 through the offline activities website. (Click on Buy the Book) 

“This post was written for Family Review Network and offlineactivities.com who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are mine."

Welcome Wednesday Blog Hop

I am always looking for blog hops to increase my GFC, FB and Twitter followers. Leave a comment and I will follow back. 

Waiting for Peace & Quiet

I hate waiting, it makes it even worse when you are waiting for news that you really need.  I have been out of work since the end of February after being laid off after 3 1/2 years and have been staying home with my two girls and my husband. Yes we are all in the house 24/7. Well you know except for errands and walks and interviews. Which due to lack of funds errands are low and due to the heat walks have been cut down too. Interviews come and go, some weeks I get a couple and others I hear nothing.

The week of Big J's birthday which was the 12th I actually had two. Company A is for an Office Manager job, but I still have not heard anything back about going in for a second interview. Now this does not mean much around here because sometimes it takes forever! Company B which is for an Executive Assistant/Marketing/ and more position,  I interviewed with three people on a Friday, then had a phone interview with a fourth person on Wednesday and then a third interview with another partner on Monday. (If you understood that it was this Monday) So now I am waiting and waiting to see if I am actually going to be offered the position. I am thinking that three interviews was a good thing but I am not sure if I was the only person who was being interview that much of not. The recruiter said she has not heard back yet but I am really hoping to hear something tomorrow.

By something of course I mean a job offer because things are getting pretty desperate around here and I really do not want to have to move out of our apartment. Where would we go? I have not idea, likely a long term stay hotel until one of us lands a job and we can get back into an apartment. Not a happy thought with a 5 year old about to start kindergarten, a 17 month old who still gets up anywhere from 1-3 times a night and 2 kittens. I am trying to stay positive in thinking that one of these two positions will work out in the end. God does have a plan, I just wish he would let me in on it every now and then.

It will be nice to get back to work because I may actually get some peace and quiet. I am really looking forward to peeing in peace, that does not happen very often in a house with kids! Even when I close the door my 5 year old thinks it is ok to just open it. Which is so not ok when her friends are here. Speaking of her friends, they are here all the time!! There are 2 boys that live downstairs that I believe are 6 and 8. Then there are 2 other children that live on the 1st floor, 1 girl who is 7 and 1 boy who is 5. The boy and girl are pretty much here everyday, although sometimes we are lucky and Big J goes down to see them instead. Usually she goes down and then about 10-20 minutes later they are back upstairs because we have the cooler toys. The two boys come up every now and then (I think they visit their dad a lot) but they like to play our video games. There is also another boy who is 8 or 9 that lives a few apartment buildings over that comes over just to play our video games. It is funny because he asks for Big J and if she is downstairs then he asks if my husband is home.

It will be hard to leave my family, especially Little J who I think will have a very hard time when I leave. She is very attached to me, but I have noticed that the last week or so she is getting better if I leave or take a nap. It used to be that if I slept in the morning and my husband got up with the girls, Little J would be banging on my door most of the morning looking for me. Now she does not even bother me. But she is still very happy to see me when I do get up.

Ok now that I have gone on and on. I am off to read for awhile before bed.

Share with us if you are waiting for something and what it is?