Better Late Than Never

I know it seems like forever since my last posting, so it’s always better to follow me on Twitter because I don’t always have the time to update my blog, and it’s not going to get any easier for me to post anytime soon.   Since my last post, Christmas, my 27th birthday, and, now, Easter has come and gone.   Also, I got TWO jobs since Christmas, and am almost done with training in my most recent job, which I’m oh so excited about!

The first job was working for a kitchenware company that tries to get people to attend, or host in their home, an event where they can sell their cookware and stuff.  My job was calling (a lot of times cold calling) people and “pitching” the event to them.  The problem was the pitch seemed all too good to be true.  And this is how they and all their competitors did things too (which I never would’ve thought there’d be that many companies doing the same type of thing).  And, of course, we are giving them a 3 day/2 night all inclusive accommodation package, of which we tell them there are no strings really, but, if I were called, I’d hang up on me too!  Nothing is for free anymore, and, really, we wanted you to spend the big bucks on their UBER expensive stuff.  For instance, I happened to see a 2007 price chart, and a cookie sheet was $85!!!!!  Who knows what it is now, but that better be gold-plated…and self-cleaning!  The hardest part of the job, for me, was trying to pitch to people, and getting shot down constantly.  I’ve never been much of a sales person, so I’m not good and overcoming objections.  I needed to make the appointments, AND for the people to show up to receive a bonus (which wasn’t all that much to begin with, on top of my minimum wage base pay), so I was quite often discouraged, which I’m sure didn’t help the situation.  I had to drive 30 miles each way to Smyrna, so the drive was just another reason I hated the job.  I originally took the job because I was told most agents make 4 appointments an hour, and about half of them show up, so it could be quite profitable.  I was also told the people we’d be calling had already shown interest in the company, but I quickly learned that’s not the case, either!  A lot of people we called just attended a bridal show, and had signed up for something at the door, and we bought the list.  I made some appointments this way, but I wonder, on average, how many of the people off the lists we buy actually show up to the events…not many, I’m guessing.  I met some cool girls that I worked with, but other than that, it just wasn’t the job for me.

Then, I went and interviewed for a company as a Reservationist, and I was offered the job on the spot!  I was ecstatic!  The only cons of the job are that it’s all the way in Hendersonville, and it’s not the pay range I’d like, but they do offer overtime quite a bit, so I definitely plan on taking advantage of it when I can.  This job is definitely more up my alley, I love hotels and resorts, and people, so I’m excited for training to finish up and hit the floor taking calls.  this company appears to have low turnover, which is a great sign of a good company culture.  The break room is really nice as well, and it’s the nicest call center I’ve been in.  They give incentives for punctuality, which means I’ll be on time EVERY day!

My birthday was a lot of fun, we went to a Thai restaurant, the food was WONDERFUL!  Love me some Thai food!  Some of my bunco babes came, as well as some chicas from small group, and another friend.  Everyone, I think, had a great time.  We were going to go see “Dear John”, but we would’ve been too rushed.  Instead, we just went and hung out at Starbucks for a little while, and had great conversation.  It was a great birthday, but man, 27 sure seems a whole heck of a lot closer to 30 than 26!

In other great news, my dad has moved back to this side of the Atlantic, which means I will hopefully get to see him more often.  He’s living in Canada, not far from Niagara, and I’m happy he’s closer to home.

My mind has gone blank being so late at night, but I’ll try to write again soon!

Bringing You Up To Speed

Since the last time I blogged (seems like forever, really), I have moved out from living with “Joan Crawford“, and now reside with a gay couple (and their cat, let’s not forget the damn cat)!  They are 23 year-old guys, and not all that bad in relation to previous roommates.

Jeremy – The outgoing roommate, former marine, country boy, owns a ghost hunting company

Chris – AKA Sunshine, very quiet, acts like a child, walks around holding his game boy ALL the time

Winslett – The damn cat.  They couldn’t have picked a gayer name if they tried!

Mike – (36) Army dude who moved in with us temporarily, but has now turned into indefinitely. Unemployed, and vehicle doesn’t run. He dated Chris years ago, but only went out a couple of times because Chris played his game boy all through dinner!

Nick – (19) Mike’s boyfriend, who lives in Columbia.  Only had a part-time job. No vehicle

I GOT A JOB!

You read correctly. I had been so excited, I guess I forgot to blog.  Just as almost all hope was lost, I snagged a job! It’s a temp job (6-8 wk assignment), but it’s something, and even though they couldn’t promise anything long term, I’m confident that as long as I show up ON TIME and do what I’m supposed to, and be my wonderful self, that it very well could get me a permanent job, and if nothing else, maybe the temp agency will be able to set me up on another position.  I’ll supposedly be taking orders for prescriptions.  I wasn’t interviewed by the company itself, just the temp agency, so I’m not too sure what I’ll really be doing, but it can’t be rocket science!

Prayer Requests

Instead of the oh woe is me, I need a job post, I figured I was past due on prayer request for other people, forgetting that A LOT of people have it worse than me.  Here are my requests for now:

Amanda’s little girl, Maddie, has been having some SEVERE allergic reactions to something, but they’re not exactly sure what it is, and can’t get in to the doctor to find out for sure until next Friday. In the meantime, poor Maddie can’t go outside for extended periods of time.  Pray for Mom too, she’ll need the help keeping a 6 year-old entertained!  Also, pray for her small group, it’s just not quite going as she’d hoped.

My mom, she is on the job hunt as well, only up in Michigan, which has had an even worse market than Nashville.

Of course, there’s my jobless self, which needs SOMETHING to happen!  I would seriously take ANYTHING right now, I just can’t be on my feet all day long (due to hairline fractures I’ve had, in my feet, and they never really go away).

I know there’s a ton of other requests, but I really can’t think of anymore at the moment, so feel free to let me know, and I’ll add to the list!  Have a great weekend all!

Do You Have A Perky Job?

Here’s an intersting article on the jobs with the best perks for employees.  I knew I wanted to go into hotel/resort management for a reason LOL, but not neccessarily for the reasons posted, although they are still VERY nice  perks!

Do you have a job with great perks?  Is that what attracted you initially to your job, or do you just love what you do?  If they were taken away, would you leave your job?

And So The Search Continues…

We are now 5 months into the job search, and I’ve been in panic mode for the last 3 of them!  Now, I’m in the freak out stage, where my dad is telling me he can’t keep supporting me, and I still haven’t had any nibbles!  My bank account overdrew, he was supposed to put money in, yet it never made its way in.  Last week, I was dealing with the whole moving fiasco, and as soon as I was back online, I must have sent out 20 resumes and cover letters, and not one phone call!  I’m just so irritated and ready to throw in the towel, with nowhere to turn.  The ony thing is I don’t have anywhere to go.  Michigan isn’t an option, they’ve got higher unemployment rates than Tennesee, and as for living with my mother, NO THANKS!  With the whole country having issues, I feel stuck.  And what kills me is my little brother, 20, who is going to school and working full time, is making more money than I’ve ever made!  He had to drop out of college because of his “depression” and has screwed up way more than me, yet things are going well for him!  I just don’t get it, why am I still going around this mountain??????  I haven’t had an interview in over a week, and I’m assumming I didn’t get that one since I never heard back.  The one the week before that, they said they’d certainly let me know EITHER WAY, and NOTHING!!!!!!  If anyone hears of anybody hiring, where it wouldn’t require me to be on my feet all day, let me know, I have a Bachelor’s Degree and can do anything administrative, and have fantastic customer service skills!

Interviews Gone TERRIBLY Wrong!!!

This is a list I found from Inbox Humor about things NOT to say at an interview.  I can’t say I’ve done any of these, but these take the cake on craziness!  They asked executives from over 100 top American companies, and ended up with this list (I bolded my favorites):

• Said he was so well qualified [that] if he didn’t get the job, it would prove that the company’s management was incompetent.
• Stretched out on the floor to fill out the job application.
• Brought her large dog to the interview.
• Chewed bubble gum and constantly blew bubbles.
• Candidate kept giggling through serious interview.
• She wore a Walkman and said she could listen to the music and me at the same time.
• Balding candidate abruptly excused himself. Returned to office a few minutes later wearing a hairpiece.
• Applicant challenged interviewer to arm wrestle.
• Asked to see interviewer’s resume to see if the personnel executive was qualified to judge the candidate.
• Announced she hadn’t had lunch and proceeded to eat a hamburger and French fries in the interviewer’s office.
• Without saying a word, candidate stood up and walked out during the middle of the interview.
• Man wore jogging suit to interview for position as financial vice president.
• Said if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm.
• Interrupted to phone his therapist for advice on answering specific interview questions.
• Wouldn’t get out of the chair until I would hire him. I had to call the police.
• When I asked him about his hobbies, he stood up and started tap dancing around my office.
• Had a little pinball game and challenged me to play with him.
• Bounced up and down on my carpet and told me I must be highly thought of by the company because I was given such a thick carpet.
• Took a brush out of my purse, brushed his hair and left.
• Pulled out a Polaroid camera and snapped a flash picture of me. Said he collected photos of everyone who interviewed him.
• Candidate asked me if I would put on a suit jacket to insure that the offer was formal.
• Said he wasn’t interested because the position paid too much.
• While I was on a long-distance phone call, the applicant took out a copy of Penthouse, and looked through the photos only, stopping longest at the centerfold.
• During the interview, an alarm clock went off from the candidate’s briefcase. He took it out, shut it off, apologized and said he had to leave for another interview.
• A telephone call came in for the job applicant. It was from his wife. His side of the conversation went like this: “Which company? When do I start? What’s the salary?” I said, “I assume you’re not interested in conducting the interview any further.” He promptly responded, “I am as long as you’ll pay me more.” I didn’t hire him, but later found out there was no other job offer. It was a scam to get a higher offer.
• An applicant came in wearing only one shoe. She explained that the other shoe was stolen off her foot in the bus.
• His attache [case] opened when he picked it up and the contents spilled, revealing ladies’ undergarments and assorted makeup and perfume.
• He came to the interview with a moped and left it in the reception area. He didn’t want it to get stolen, and stated that he would require indoor parking for the moped.
• He took off his right shoe and sock, opened a medicated foot powder and dusted it on the foot and in the shoe. While he was putting back the shoe and sock, he mentioned that he had to use the powder four times a day, and this was the time.
• Candidate said he really didn’t want to get a job, but the unemployment office needed proof that he was looking for one.
• He whistled when the interviewer was talking.
• Asked who the lovely babe was, pointing to the picture on my desk. When I said it was my wife, he asked if she was home now and wanted my phone number. I called security.
• She threw up on my desk, and immediately started asking questions about the job, like nothing had happened.
• Pointing to a black case he carried into my office, he said that if he was not hired, the bomb would go off. Disbelieving, I began to state why he would never be hired and that I was going to call the police. He then reached down to the case, flipped a switch and ran. No one was injured, but I did need to get a new desk.
• Asked if I wanted some cocaine before starting the interview.

Crazy Job Posting

“Fine Dining restaurant owner looking for a personal assistant. Applicant needs to have great personal presentation, practice socially acceptable hygiene standards, a personal vehicle, positive mental attitude, be able to handle pressure situations, have multitasking abilities and an open mind. An interest in restaurants and small business operations is required. if interested submit a resume(if available) and a photo of yourself.

Compensation: plenty for the right candidate”

I came across this ad on Craigslist, while perusing job ads today…notice the “practices socially acceptable hygiene standards”??? How bad of an experience do you think he’s had??? I’m tempted to email him and ask why he felt he needed to include that, are people bathing in herbs, or brushing their teeth with garlic???? The fact that he asks for a picture already tells me he’s gonna be superficial in making his decisions, which, again, the job goes to one of the pretty people!  And the fact that he’s willing to hire someone WITHOUT a resume is strange.  I bet he’s looking for a REALLY personal assistant!  Just an odd ad, thought I’d share!  Would you apply to this ad????

Careful Who Your “Friends” Are

I saw something this afternoon that kind of irked me, especially because I’m currently in the job market.  Apparently employers are now using Facebook as a way of checking up on their applicants.  Companies have contacted applicant’s friends as references, and will judge people based on what their “friends” say.  I, for one, am not defined by who I am friends with, I mean, to a point I guess that I am, but if they may have a risque picture, that is them, not me!  I have a bunch of “friends” on facebook, but I don’t even know many of them because we became friends over a silly game on there, or there are friends that I may have known in college, but we weren’t really friends outside of classes.  It just seems like a sneaky way to screen people.  Yes, I am aware that when you put something online, it is out there for the world to see, but judge my work ethic and skills on me, my resume, and information I give you, NOTHING ELSE!  I’m not saying I have said or done anything online that could be bad, but should I stop blogging because of the chance that they might find it and make assumptions about me???   The only way they can find me is if they google “Christina Schmidt Nashville”, and my facebook and blog pop right up at the top, but if they leave the Nashville out, they’ll come across an actress, which dominates the majority of results.  I know, on Craigslist, I’ve seen people looking to hire people who specifically have a facebook account, and go to Vanderbilt, presumably to screen Vandy students, but I just never thought they’d actually contact your friends as references!

I’m ‘Bout to Lose It!!!

My sanity and patience are in jeopardy! Today marks 4, count them, 1, 2, 3, 4 months since I was let go from my last job (the one that counted). I have been on numerous interviews, been snubbed, been told I was showing too much cleavage, and now, I’ve been told, more than once, that whether I get the job or not, I would receive a response from the prospective employer, and NOPE, don’t hear a lick! One job I interviewed for 2 weeks ago, and haven’t heard back, he said I’d hear back by last week, and then I had an interview last Friday, and they said they’d have a decision by Wednesday, so I gave it until Thursday to hear something, and still NOTHING!!! It just irritates me when people say they will do something, and not, plus I hate being left hanging! I did talk to a psychic (don’t worry, I didn’t waste any money on it, but I still think she is somewhat legit by what she knew about me), and she told me I’d have a job by the end of the month, but it’s getting a little iffy. I’m just hoping and praying something comes up soon!

I never thought I’d go off like this guy, but I think I’m about there!!!!