Tag Archives: Employment

Flutter By, Butterfly

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Earlier this week, I had a job interview.

I didn’t write about it before, because I am leery of jinxing myself. I wrote all about Groupon and that fell through, and then dished about my interview with my ex’s company. I prefer to keep these things on the down low now, just on the off chance that it is possible to control the universe through my words. Kind of like a Butterfly Effect, but instead of an insect causing chaos it’s a blog…I guess you’d call it a Bloggingfly Effect? But a couple of days have passed, and whatever is going to happen will happen. I would like to at least mention it because the blog is a reflection of my life, and when I’m old and decrepit I’d like to be able to flip through the pages of this virtual journal and remember what was going on way back when.

They say a butterfly flapping its wings can lead to a hurricane. Similarly, a blogger flapping his gums can lead to a lost opportunity. (Courtesy of duhokwriters.com)

The interview took place downtown, and as soon as I walked into the building, I was blown away. It’s a rather nondescript looking two-story white office building on the outside, but inside, it’s all artsy and funky. Lots of glass and wood, framed paintings, and natural light. There are offices along the walls, a reception desk in the middle, and an upstairs loft with a few more offices, including the President and CEO (whom I interviewed with). It’s all very cool and urban and hip. Cubicles? They don’t need no stinkin’ cubicles! So right off the bat, it earned brownie points with me.

As for the interview itself, I think it went very well. The P/CEO told me she’d looked over my online portfolio and was impressed with my work. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: those three days spent in November putting together the site were the best use of my time since I’ve been unemployed. Any writer, published or not, should have a portfolio to display his or her clips – it really does open doors. We chatted about my duties at my last job, freelance writing, and this position. While there are one or two qualifications missing from my work history, I’m hoping that they are minor ones. I asked her what skills her ideal candidate possesses, and she said – in order – writing and creativity. Definitely my strengths, and to prove the point, I came up with a marketing idea for her on the fly – a way to promote our local wineries – that she liked a lot. I wanted to show her I was an idea man, and I think that was a good move on my part. As the interview was wrapping up, I thanked her, shook her hand, and told her that I want the job. I read someplace that surprisingly few candidates ever come right out and say that during an interview, and I wanted to emphasize how much I really do want it. (I do…it would be perfect). But, of course, I’m sure the other candidates in the running all have their strengths and talents, as well. I am confident that I gave it my all, and certainly didn’t give her any reason not to hire me, as I have in the past (more on that in a second). She asked me for references as we were parting, and I forwarded those to her promptly, once I got home. That’s always a good sign. Doesn’t mean I’m a shoo-in, but if she wasn’t interested in me as a serious candidate, she wouldn’t ask. So now I’ll just wait with bated breath and see if anything comes of this.

The truth is, I’m in a tight spot. Money (or lack of) has become a real issue. On top of that, my initial unemployment claim is about to run out – next week, I believe. I know there are extensions available but that’ll probably entail more paperwork and who knows what else. I want to be a freelance writer, more than anything else (and the P/CEO asked me why I don’t continue pursuing that since it’s such an ideal lifestyle), but lack of a steady gig and no benefits are making it tough to stay the course. I’m considering some desperate options like withdrawing funds from my 401K that are last resort measures, but what choice do I have? I’ve got bills to pay and not enough $ to pay them. You know things are bad when my daydreams and fantasies all involve currency. Seriously, I’ve been thinking about money a lot lately. Drooling over it when I see it. How novel the idea of a paycheck feels to me now! I could actually pay my bills, on time, and maybe even have a little bit left over. That’s such a foreign concept to me now. It sounds wonderful. Funny, the things we take for granted in life.

Don’t it always seem to go/That you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. 

Truer words were never spoken.

Twice upon a time, I completely blew any chance of landing a job before I’d even walked out the door. The first time, MapQuest led me astray. The company was located in a town I was unfamiliar with, and the directions I’d gotten online showed the building on the complete opposite side of the freeway from where it really was. I drove all over town looking for the place, and had to call and tell them I was lost. I finally found the place and got there fifteen minutes late for my scheduled interview. They then made me sit in the lobby another fifteen minutes before seeing me. That was a big group interview, and no amount of profuse apologizing on my part could soothe their bad tempers. There’s no worse feeling than knowing something is a lost cause but being forced to soldier on through it anyway.

The second time, I’d actually done pretty well in the interview. She and I clicked, and things seemed to be moving in a positive direction. She had told me that the company was growing, and they’d soon be transferring a bunch of jobs to their new Connecticut location. As she was walking me to the door, past the employees in her department, she asked if I had any additional questions. “Yes,” I replied. “When are you moving the accounting operation back east?” Her face darkened immediately, and she said in a fierce whisper, “My staff hasn’t been told about that yet!!” as heads swiveled in our direction from cubicleland.

Ooooooooooops……….

Which I think was very unfair. She never informed me that the information was confidential or that her employees hadn’t been notified yet. Why would she drop such a big secret on an unsuspecting stranger? I’m sorry if I unwittingly informed a bunch of people they were about to get canned! Sheesh. It was an honest mistake. I apologized like mad, but again, knew I’d dug a hole too deep to escape from. My last-minute, completely innocent question cost me another good job.

So, the fact that I walked out of Wednesday’s interview (which I had arrived a few minutes early for) without putting my foot in my mouth was definitely a positive step. I may not end up with the job, but if I don’t, it won’t be because of anything I said.

This time.

The Universe Has a #$%! Sense of Humor

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Eventually, it was bound to happen: I found myself on a job interview yesterday. First one since I joined the ranks of the unemployed a little over three months ago. I initially had mixed feelings over the whole thing. The opportunity sounded fantastic – a copywriting position with a local company close to home. There was one big drawback, however…my ex-wife works there.

Thank you, Universe.

I mean, seriously. Out of all the companies in the Portland metro area, the first one interested in me – and, I might add, one of only a handful of jobs I’ve applied for that actually appealed to me – happens to be the same one where my ex works? What are the odds? Is somebody upstairs toying with me for fun?

I would never have applied for the position had I known it was with her employer. But, it was a blind posting through Craigslist, one of those anonymous ten-digit e-mail addresses you encounter quite frequently when replying to an ad. It wasn’t until they called and left a voicemail message stating they wanted to interview me that their true identity was revealed. What followed was one of those dramatic moments where I stared at the sky, arms stretched out and head tilted back, and screamed, “Whhhhyyyyy???”

OK, not really. But I was bummed out, and faced a dilemma. Do I return the call and schedule an interview, or pretend it never happened?

According to the state of Washington, I would be in danger of forfeiting my unemployment benefits if I didn’t set up an interview that was offered unless I had compelling reasons. I don’t think “awkwardness” applies. Here’s the thing: I don’t hate my ex. On the contrary, I have been the one who has constantly attempted to keep the lines of communication open and flowing. After a falling out, I extended the olive branch. I try to be positive, friendly, and level-headed despite the fact that she is now married to a man who is not only responsible for our ultimate demise, but doesn’t seem to like the idea of my existence very much. After all, we had a lot of good years together, and ended up with two kids to show for our troubles. Things weren’t exactly rosy that last year or two, but until then, we got along pretty well. High school sweethearts and all. (As romantic as that sounds, I don’t really recommend it to anybody – you simply are not the same person at 37 that you were at 17. Change is inevitable, and a slow but steady drifting apart seems to be the end result. I would rather meet somebody who is 40 39 38 37 a few years younger than me but still mature enough to know who they are and what they want and not suddenly turn into a completely different person one day. That’s the basis for a lasting relationship).

Anyway, the point is, even though we kind-of sort-of get along because of the kids, working in the same building as my ex-wife is not something I would ever feel comfortable with. I can’t imagine running into her at the water cooler, or sitting across from her in a conference room, or bumping into one another on the way back from the mailroom. I would be on edge every minute of every day, waiting for the inevitable and regularly-occurring crossing of paths. That’s no way to live. Productivity would suffer, not to mention my mental state.

However.

One positive thing about this company is, they’ve got eight different buildings spread out over a couple of locations. There was a chance, at least, that we might not end up working in the same office – or even the same city.

Dressing up for a job interview.

I despise wearing ties. Can you tell?

Plus, I am locked in a battle with the state of Washington currently over my freelance work. Back in December, before I set forth on this venture, I contacted the unemployment office to make sure that I would still be able to collect unemployment benefits while doing some freelance writing on the side. I felt it was crucial to have all my ducks lined up in a row, just in case. They replied that not only was it allowed, but it was encouraged. My weekly checks would simply be reduced by whatever amount I earned for the week, allowing my benefits to actually last longer, since I am drawing from a specific amount that was approved when I filed my claim. Win-win for everybody. But when I checked YES next to the question about earning income through self-employment when my first paycheck came in, all sorts of flags were automatically raised. I had to call them, answer a bunch of questions, and then they sent me a ten-page form asking all sorts of additional questions about my self-employment. How many hours I’m devoting to it, how much income I’m anticipating, the number of employees I have working for me, what I’d do if offered a job, yadda yadda. I filled everything out with a copy of the e-mail they sent to me stating that freelancing was just fine and dandy with them, and now have to wait 6-10 weeks (!) for a “decision.” In the meantime, they’re still paying me, but it’s considered “conditional” and I might possibly have to give it all back to them. Plus, every week when I file my claim, I am prompted to call in and talk to somebody and go over the whole song and dance. To say it’s frustrating is an understatement. I would love to be earning enough from my freelance writing to be able to drop the unemployment thing entirely, but I’m not there yet.

So I decided to go ahead and call these guys back to set up an interview. It was scheduled for yesterday afternoon.

Even though this was my first job interview in almost seven years, I didn’t feel the slightest bit nervous. Maybe because I felt I had nothing to lose? I figured, in a worst-case scenario I’d just delete this contact from my job search log. Erase its very existence and move on. I felt very uncomfortable dressing up and wearing a tie, but otherwise, I walked in there brimming with confidence. And then I saw my ex’s car parked in the lot and the butterflies came calling. I quickly dispelled them, and spent about twenty minutes with a person from their HR department, going over my qualifications and learning about the job opportunity. Turns out they are actually interviewing for two different positions, and while I was initially interested in the Copywriter job, their Social Media Specialist is actually a better fit for me. I’m seeing similar jobs posted quite often these days.

“What does a Social Media Specialist do?” I asked.

“He maintains our corporate presence online by frequently updating our Facebook accounts and sending Tweets,” she replied.

Sounds too good to be true, huh? I know a thing or two about social media. I have a blog (duh), a Twitter account, two Facebook accounts (one personal, one for my freelancing business), and I’m LinkedIn. I’m perfectly qualified for the position. Plus, the salary is exactly what I am looking for (a fair amount higher than what I was earning before). And, best of all, the position is located at their other office, meaning no uncomfortable vending machine chitchat with the ex.

Suddenly, I was intrigued. And glad I didn’t skip out on the interview. She said they’ll be making decisions on who to call back for second interviews within a week, so my fingers are crossed.

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In Orbit Around Planet Freelance

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Sooner or later, it was bound to happen. You can only put out feelers for so long without…well, without getting felt.

Yesterday dawned like any other, as routine as I’ve become accustomed to these past six weeks. I got up around 8:00 – my body’s internal alarm clock usually goes off around this time, give or take twenty minutes, regardless of whether it’s a weekday or weekend. Sometimes I lounge beneath the down comforter for a little while; after all, I don’t need to go anywhere, and these cold December mornings practically cry out for an extra few minutes in bed. But I’m pretty disciplined, and usually force myself out of bed at a decent time; anything past 8:30 feels decadent, and considering that it starts to get dark around 3:30 in the afternoon this time of year, if I slept in any later I’d feel like I wasted the day. So it’s up and at ‘em, teeth brushed, downstairs to brew a pot of coffee and feed the cat. I log on to check e-mail, and then begin my job search. I’ll take time out for a bowl of cereal and a phone call to my girlfriend, and then, it’s back to business.

All these things took place right on cue yesterday. I found a job to apply for on indeed.com, and went through the process of filling out an online application and recording it in my Job Search Log. The state of Washington requires you to apply for at least three jobs every week in order to keep the unemployment checks rolling in, and this was # 3, so I breathed a sigh of relief once that was finished. I’m always afraid I won’t be able to find three jobs that I’m interested in, and will be forced to apply for something menial (like a chicken plucker) but so far – knock on wood – I haven’t had any problems.

Then, I found a posting on Craigslist for a freelance “Web Content Writer.” Back when I was still employed but my final days were ticking away, a coworker sat down with me and we had a long talk about job search strategies. He’d been unemployed for a year before landing a job at KNA, and he had lots of good advice for me. My biggest takeaway? He praised Craigslist for their job postings, and told me to check there every day.

Now, I have more than a passing familiarity with Craigslist. I’ve bought items there (lava lamps, record albums), sold things there (concert tickets I couldn’t use), and even met people to date there. Over the years, it’s gained a bit of an unsavory reputation, so I was surprised that there would be legitimate job postings, but my coworker was right. Indeed.com is my usual source for finding listings, but Craigslist is a close second.

Anyway. The Craigslist ad looked like it was right up my alley. They were looking for a freelance contract content writer for their company, one who was experienced in and knowledgeable with SEO-production style writing. Fortunately, through my marketing position, I learned quite a bit about Search Engine Optimization strategies, and produced some content for a couple of our corporate websites utilizing this skill. I’m lucky; knowing what SEO is and how to use it is one of those in-demand skills nowadays that can take you far. It’s all about using keywords to achieve top rankings on search engines. The key is using them, not overusing them. It’s an art form, really. If you go overboard, you’re liable to spam your own site. It’s actually a fun thing to play around with, even if you’re blogging. I’ll admit, I’ve done it a time or two here on Word Press. The trick is to do it without people realizing you’re doing it. In other words, let it all flow naturally.

The trick is to get that arrow to point UP! (Image courtesy of ehow.com).

There were a list of ten questions to answer in response to the ad, and they wanted links to three of your published works that have utilized SEO writing strategies. This is where my online portfolio I just mentioned came in handy. Question # 4 was the most interesting; it asked, “What is the optimal keyword density for web content?” Hmm. Tricky question, because that depends on who you talk to. I responded that the answer was subjective and likely to vary, but “I feel, ideally, it should average around 3%; anything more and you are at risk for spamming your own article.” I was pleased with my answers, confident that my links would showcase my talents, and sent the e-mail off.

A short while later, I got a response. The moment I read the opening paragraph, I practically started doing backflips in the living room. We would like to move forward to the next step in the contracting process. Yes! Yesyesyesyesyes!!!

So, here’s the deal. They’ve got long-term assignments with a small group of writers – about a dozen – who get articles to write every week. They manage a network of websites in the finance/insurance/home improvement sectors that they are constantly adding content to, and this is where the writers come in. If you’re under contract, it’s up to you how many articles you choose to write every week. They pay based on word count, and while they admit that “this isn’t the highest payout in the industry,” they assign the same sites each week, so after a few weeks research should be minimal.

And, they gave me an official assignment. They want an 800-word sample article on assisted living facilities, with an exact number of specified keywords, by 12:00 PM on Monday. They will pay me for the article, regardless of whether or not I get a contract.

This is huge. It’s the breakthrough I’ve been looking for, and my chance to shine. If I can pull it off to their satisfaction, I could end up with a steady freelance gig, my very first (minus the book reviews, which are usually non-paid, though I do get to keep the books; this was a calculated move on my part two years ago to gain some publishing experience). This company says their few contracted writers earn between $400 and $4500 a month. I did the math, and to earn the minimum amount, I’d have to churn out about eight articles a week. That is certainly do-able. $4500 a month is a huge stretch, however; you’d need to write nonstop every minute of every day to make that much money, so I’m under no delusions that I’d become rich off this gig. BUT…the books I have read on making a career out of freelance writing all say that the key is to land at least one client who will provide you with a steady stream of work. Suddenly, I have a golden opportunity to land that client. And I’m excited as hell.

I’ve talked about making a living as a freelance writer ever since I lost my job (and dreamed about it for much longer). Everything I’ve done – the online portfolio, the custom business cards I had printed, the book reviews I’ve written – has been to further my chances at success as a freelancer. But, I’m a realist, and tend to keep my feet planted firmly on the ground. I’m the most optimistic person in the world, and that is great, but I didn’t really think I had much of a shot at making this dream come true.

But you know what? Maybe I do…

Suddenly, I can envision the life of a freelance writer. Never having to work for a corporation again. Setting my own hours, working from the comfort of my home. Yes, there are deadlines, and they are often tight; I can foresee late nights and weekends. The cash flow isn’t always steady. Projects ebb and flow, clients come and go. There is no health insurance or 401K plan, no water cooler to gather around with your coworkers and talk about last night’s awesome episode of Community. No coworkers, for that matter.

But, there is freedom. No coworkers means no bosses. No HR managers to pull you into their office and tell you that your position has been eliminated. Best of all, there’s the exhilaration of doing work that you truly love. Of following your passion. And, the sky is the limit. It truly is.

This weekend I will immerse myself in the world of assisted living facilities. I will write this article. And then rewrite it. And then rewrite it again. Finally, when it’s polished and I feel it’s the absolute best that it can be, I’ll send it off. This is monumentally important to me. The biggest writing challenge I have ever faced. Conceivably, my entire future could hinge on the words I come up with over the next couple of days. I realize that all sounds a bit dramatic, but I’m looking at this as a launching pad. One that could send me orbiting around Planet Freelance.

Time to strap myself in and enjoy the ride.

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Take This Job And Love It

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I had a long chat yesterday with a coworker who gave me lots of good advice on surviving unemployment.  Before he joined the company, he was out of work for twelve months.  Yikes!  I know a lot of people who have been in similar situations.  I was out of work myself for more than ten months when I lost a job in 2002, so I understand better than most the long, difficult road that lies ahead.  All I can do is meet it with optimism and hope for the best, and learn from my past experience.

By the way, I hate the phrase “lost your job.”  I didn’t lose it – I know exactly where to find it.  It’s right here!  Then again, after Friday, it won’t be here anymore.  “Lost it” just sounds wrong, but who am I to quibble over semantics?

This time will be different, though.  I won’t have a two-year old daughter to take care of during the day, for starters.  If there was one bright spot about being out of work in 2002-03, it was spending time with Danielle during a crucial period of her young life.  I still have fond memories of pushing her stroller through the neighborhood during our daily afternoon walks.  Sometimes, she was even in it!  So much has changed since then.  The kids are older and self-sufficient (and only around half the time); the house has been replaced with a townhome; there’s no mother-in-law living under the same roof; the wife is history, but now there’s a cat.  On the surface, at least, it seems like there will be far fewer distractions this time.  Fewer excuses, too. 

"I'm #1! Statistically speaking, that is." (Image courtesy of monlife.com)

Now that the end is drawing near, I’m starting to think about what my next job will be.  I googled “best and worst jobs” yesterday to give me an idea of some of the hot (and not) career fields.  Job search portal careercast.com used five key measurement criteria to determine their rankings – stress, working environment, physical demands, income, and hiring outlook.  The results were somewhat surprising.  First of all, “marketing coordinator for a pressure washer manufacturer” made neither list.  Go figure! 

Here is a list of the Top 5 Jobs for 2010, according to careercast.com.

  1. Actuary.  Interprets statistics to determine probabilities of accidents, sickness, and death, and loss of property from theft and natural disasters. This is the #1-ranked job?  Staring at pie charts and bar graphs all day?  Put me out of my misery already.
  2. Software engineer.  Researches, designs, develops and maintains software systems along with hardware development for medical, scientific, and industrial purposes.  Presumably also spends gads of time playing videogames.  Hell, invents videogames.  Sign me up! 
  3. Computer systems analyst.  Plans and develops computer systems for businesses and scientific institutions.  I picture a guy walking around with a clipboard going, “We’ll put a Mac in this corner, a Dell over here, a wireless router by the lunchroom…”
  4. Biologist.  Studies the relationship of plants and animals to their environment.  I’d be a natural.  I already know that whenever I shampoo the carpet my cat will cough up a hairball within twenty-four hours. 
  5. Historian.  Analyzes and records historical information from a specific era or according to a particular area of expertise.  Seriously? I had to rub my eyes to make sure I wasn’t imagining this one.  The article goes on to say, while it may seem surprising that a seemingly obscure job like Historian would rank so well, in fact the career has many applications beyond just the classroom. Apart from academic settings, there is a great demand for Historians in the defense industry and State Department. Considering that the federal government is expected to be a top source of employment in 2010, this demand helps give Historian projected job growth of 24% through 2016.  Not only can I tell you that in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue, but I actually minored in History in college.  Hmm…this may be my calling. 

So, those are some of the jobs I should consider.  How about the ones that are to be avoided at all costs?  Here are the 5 worst jobs.

  1. Roustabout.  Performs routine physical labor and maintenance on oil rigs and pipelines, both on and off shore.  Thank you for the description.  I thought that was a Yes song.  I think the gulf oil spill following the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon sufficiently scared most of us off. 
  2. Lumberjack.  Fells, cuts, and transports timber to be processed into lumber, paper, and other wood products.  I could never do this anyway, ’cause I’m a northern spotted owl-loving ultra-liberal tree hugger.  Though it would be cool to have a blue ox…
  3. Ironworker.  Raises the steel framework of buildings, bridges, and other structures.  Right – hundreds of feet up in the air.  I can’t even climb a stepladder without experiencing vertigo.  Pass.
  4. Dairy farmer.  Directs and takes part in activities involved in the raising of cattle for milk production.  Surely there are worse jobs than shoveling mounds of manure all day and, hey, possibly getting kicked in the head.  Moo-ving right along…
  5. Welder.  Joins or repairs metal surfaces through the application of heat.  Sweating off half your weight every day while dodging sparks and risking blindness?  What’s not to love?

Lists are both helpful and fun!  (Maybe I should become an actuary).  I’ve been inspired to come up with my own.  Here are 5 jobs that, while maybe not dream careers, are still things I can see myself doing.  And enjoying.

"Take this job and shove it!" (Image courtesy of nowpublic.com)

  1. Chilean miner.  Not only did these guys emerge with really bitchin’ Oakley Polarized Radar Range sunglasses (that retail for $260), but they’ve also been given food, clothing, wine, toys, and even sexy lingerie for the wives (and girlfriends, presumably).  Plus book deals, movie offers, meetings with the president.  Lucky bastards!
  2. Jet Blue flight attendant.  Nobody expects you to put up with rude customers – you can simply curse them out over the intercom.  And at the end of a long and trying day, you can get yourself drunk, deploy the emergency evacuation chute, and slide to the ground.  Wheee!!!  And, you become a folk hero with your own Facebook fan page.  Yes, please.
  3. The next Simon Cowell.  Where else can you get paid a gazillion dollars for hurling insults and crushing dreams?  You get to hang out with famous (if somewhat over-the-hill) music icons like Rod Stewart, the dress code is lax (stock up on tight black t-shirts), and there’s a never-ending supply of  Coke whenever you’re thirsty. 
  4. Wino.  Don’t be scared off by the low no pay - rent is cheap (it’s easy to find a cardboard box); you aren’t chained to a desk all day; you get plenty of fresh air and exercise; sometimes if you’re just standing around people hand you money; and you spend all your time in a blissful, ignorant stupor. 
  5. Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska.  Because, seriously, No Experience Required.  Also, you don’t have to know diddly about geography or current events or, umm, anything.  The scenery is beautiful.  And you spend all your time in a blissful, ignorant stupor.

So, there you have it.  Lists, lists, and more lists!  At this point, I can’t wait until I’m officially unemployed so I can get started on finding my dream job.

I wonder how much a one-way ticket to Wasilla costs?