July 2nd, 2010 at 1:39 am
(New, work)
Looks like I passed the background inspection, I know I should, but every now and then you read stories in the news about some 6 year old being put on the no fly list and not allowed on a plane, where as actual terrorists who are on the no fly list are allowed to board, so we all know there can be screw ups in any system, I am just glad there were none for me.
Now I just need to comply with the Immigration Reform and Control Act. It’s the “and Control” part that has me worried.
Also they asked that I show up in business casual dress, which is nice now I don’t have to get all dressed up the first day.
5 Comments
June 28th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
(Boss, New, work)
And I intend to accept.
My last boss was right.
When he let me go he said “you will probably get a raise out of this“.
They offered me close to the maximum pay range I was looking for (though honestly he had me at the word offer).
But wait there is more, It also comes with
Matching 401k
A shinny new laptop
A twenty minute commute, unless I opt to work from home, which most of them do.
3 weeks PTO (Sick & Vacation)
Profit sharing
But most of all.
I will be working again.
That alone will be great, super duper, fantastic! the rest is just icing on the cake.
Because quite honestly we were getting very near the end of our rope, like sell the house kind of end, like stay at home (cheap apartment, or living with Mom {Thanks Mom}) dad for the next two years kind of end.
My extended, extended, extended, unemployment just stopped, so this was a close one.
There were many time when I just wanted to end it all, but I knew my wife and kids didn’t care if I had a job or not (well the kids didn’t), they just wanted me to be there. So I just kept putting on the most positive attitude I could muster, and carried on. It worked. The other thing that kept me going was getting a letter of recommendation from my last boss, because it was a constant reminder that what happened wasn’t my fault.
On the plus side, I already know what I will be doing my first few weeks, and am already starting to learn up on what I can, so I can be as effective as possible, the moment I walk through the door.
Which is important to me, because one of the ways I measure myself is how helpful I am to others.
Later, I got to get to bed, it’s almost 1:30 am here.
PS:
Did I mention my job starts on July 6th, and that all the kids will be staying in Russia.
Good thing really do come in threes, especially when they are all in Russia and I am not (just kidding).
12 Comments
June 26th, 2010 at 9:24 am
(New, work)
Well right before I left, I had a second interview with Mike and Adam at Rockwell, and it turns out that Marc from Milliman called me yesterday.
Attempts to connect with him have been unsuccessful, but I did leave a voice mail, and email, but I don’t know if he was just calling me to let me down easy with the personal touch, or if I am moving to the next step.
I’ll let you know as soon as I find something out.
7 Comments
July 1st, 2009 at 10:10 pm
(New, work)
Well I had the second interview at UW Parkside. Eh, it could have gone better.
There were some questions that I answered well, and some that I don’t think I answered very well.
Just by looking at their facial expressions I could tell that they were looking for more, or something different.
There was one question that had multiple parts, and while answering the second or third part I caught myself rambling, my first clue was that I wasn’t sure if I was in the second or third part. So I decided to wrap up the question quickly, then I realized I had lost focus as to what the main topic of overall question was. So I am sure that didn’t go so well.
There was the question “Tell me about a time you lost you temper at another coworker, at work, and how you handled it?” Well I took some time to try and recall a time where I had lost my temper at another coworker, but couldn’t think of anything, I have lost my my cool with hardware, or software, and in those cases I really tell the the offending pice of junk just how I feel right before I put it to death by unplugging the unit. Since I thought that the real question was how I would handle a bad communication moment, I old him that I don’t usually have those but I have had a time where I told a joke, that was interpreted badly and how I worked through that. Again not the best way I could have answered that question, but that is what I did.
Probably the biggest mistake was that I was so focused on trying to get the the questions nailed down, and I didn’t go over the actual job description, and there were at two questions that referred back to it, so I had to “wing it” on those.
This was an interview of the final five candidates, out of probably 200 people who applied for the position. There where three interviewers again, but all different from the first time and each had 12 questions this time.
At least this time I set my alarm to go off 2 hours before the interview, good thing two because I lost my tie right before I was going to get in the car, and spent 15 minutes looking for my “luck tie” before just grabbing the most red tie that I had.
I might still get the offer, but it is a bad sign the the facilities manager, was trying hard not to fall asleep while I was answering other peoples questions. i am just saying…
I’ll keep looking for more jobs, and applying to the ones that make sense, even if it is a stretch.
One thing I learned for me, is to write down my achievement answers so that I have something to rehearse from, and to help limit my answer to only a few minutes, and keep the answer focused.
9 Comments
June 29th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
(New, work)
Well the first interview at UW park side went well.
There were three people I would interview with, and I was told that each would ask five questions, but that some questions would have multiple parts, so it might seem like more than just five questions.
At first I was worried because all three of the people would be in the room at the same time, but it went well and helped in that if my answer covered more than one persons question, they would check it off, and they wouldn’t have to ask that question later.
Many of the answer that I give are short vignettes (as short as I can make them) from longer stories that I have of my significant accomplishments. When I tell the vignette, I layout the situation in general, so they know what I am talking about. This is also helpful when I tell a different vignette from the same story line, in that I do not have to do as much setup, and it also shows how big the scope of some of these projects are. I also have more than one in case they want a “different” example, just to make sure I am not a one trick pony.
The hard part for me is in keeping it short, because I just talk to much, and just keep throwing information at you, and eventually end up sidetracked on a completely irrelevant topic. The interview is only 45 to 60 minuets long, so if I am not careful I could end up wasting five minuets on why I prefer custard to frozen yogurt, which while entertaining at the time, is not likely to get me a job.
There were a lot of people skills questions which I did not anticipate, as the job has no direct reports, but I think I did OK with them.
Example: “Talk about a time where two key people dislike a product or program but for different reasons, and how you reconciled that?”
Example 2: “Talk about a time when you had to put forth a policy change that was unpopular?”
Example 3: “Talk about a time where someone was unhappy with you, and how you resolved it?”
Lucky for me I have been in these situations, many times before, and I could pick from ones that went well, but this time I am preparing answers, so I can deliver them more effectively.
By far my favorite question was: “If we asked your previous supervisor about you, what would they say?” The reason it was my favorite is because I could answer is like this, “He would say that am awesome, and that he was sorry to see me leave.” Then I asked if they wanted a letter of recommendation.
When we were done, they asked if I had any questions, and I told them that I had the same question for each of them, “With what you know about me, what trait or ability do you see me using here.” This is a good questions because it lets me know where they see me fitting into there organization, also it helps them mentally place me in the job, and finally if there is a second interview, I know what strengths to play up.
One of them liked my sense of humor, an other could not decide where to start because I had too many useful skills, and the third didn’t answer my question, but rather took the time to sell me on the job. Then they all started talking up the job.
In most interviews, they always try to leave you smiling, even if they are not going to give you the job, most say “you did really well, it was nice talking to you”. But I have learned the hard way that that is just smoke and mirrors. The interviewer will usually not take the time or effort to sell the job to you, unless they actually want you. So I took that as a good sign.
And they did ask me back for a second interview.
I have go back Wednesday, so I will try to post as soon as I get back on how I think it went, wish me luck.
I’ll spend tomorrow and Wednesday morning prepping for the questions.
5 Comments
June 17th, 2009 at 8:28 am
(New, Uncategorized, work)
Had a killer head aches last night, when I got home.
The only thing that worked was a really hot shower, which was great until the hot water ran out.
So I went to bed.
The majority of my day was spent helping a fried set up a store, with most of my time spend labeling small boxes of dice. I think I spent hour just sorting and labeling, them.
Today I am getting the mini van ready to loan to a different friend for a family vacation.
Then on Friday I am helping yet another fried with her computer, she doesn’t like Vista (canpt blame her on that) so she wants me to down grade it to XP, I’ll have to check with Dell to see if I can with that model (I assume yes but the paranoid in me want to check anyway).
4 Comments
May 14th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
(New, work)
Well I have not gotten a job yet, but I am still looking.
For a moment I thought that IBM was opening up a datacenter in Milwaukee, because of all the IBM jobs that came up from a job search. After looking into each of them, all of them required relocation to Indiana. So I guess the new Milwaukee data center will be in Indiana.
Oh well I have widened my scope to as far West as Madison.
5 Comments
February 24th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
(New, Uncategorized, work)
Well I had another interview with the same company.
This would be the forth interview, but the first one that was in person.
So I figured that I only have one first impression, so I put on slacks, and then a white shirt (sans the colorful under shirts I like), and then a tie, and then suit coat, and then nice shoes. The shoes were skuffed, and I thought “only one time to make a first impression”, so I got out the polish kit. I didn’t want to redo my wardrobe, so I didn’t take it off, just polished extra careful. To top it off I wore my great coat, good thing I shaved and showered.
I arrived early, had all the info on me to fill in the paperwork, and some time to go over my resume.
Then the interviews started, I was supposed to have one with HR, one with the CEO, and a Tech interview.
Change of plans, it was to be one interview with me sitting opposite four people, HR, CFO, CEO, CIO, and the COD (chief operating dog).
Well I wasn’t about to say no, to the firing squad, or the dog, but since they all had copies of my resume, I pulled out mine, and my dote book, and wrote their names down as they introduced themselves. I got mentally ready as best I could and kept myself as colm and positive as possible.
The first question was a multi part question from the CIO which covered Networks, Exchange Email, and User Accounts. I was interupted 5 times during that questoin, and it took me over 5 minuets to finish, answering evern part and filling in all the details for each interruption. After that I was parched and got a Mt. Dew, and it was all smooth sailing from there. and one point I asked the CFO if she had a question becuase, I hadn’t heard from her in a bit. It lasted two hours, but we would have all spent more time, if none of us had other things to do.
At the end it was me and the HR guy and I asked him how he thought it went. He said I look like a good fit for the company personality wise, but they were not sure where to put me.
Still waiting on a call back, but hope to hear from them soon.
When I went to pick up the boys, it actauly took a few seconds for them to recognize me, because they are used to seeing me in my winter coat, and Russian hat.
8 Comments
January 28th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
(New, Uncategorized, work)
well I had another phone interview with an HR manager, and it went well, so hopefully I will have anohter one soon with the President of the company. I can’t say who it is with because hireing me may mean that they will let someone else go, and he does not know about it.
I’ll keep you posted on how it goes.
I was able to get through to Unemployment, and made claims all the way back to the Christmass week, and I was able to get my name and address all sorted out.
4 Comments
January 19th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
(Damien, New, Sergey, Swimming, work)
Well In-Laws are safely back in Russia, and Kids are back to daycare, and I have a level 80 in World of Warcraft. Now all I have to do is find a job.
There are two interviews that I have for this week, so hopefully they will go well.
On the down side, Olya’s work will be laying people off in March, so here is hoping that Olya makes the cut {I’m footing for you honey}; also her Dad is also unemployed, essentially, as the only customer they have has decided not to pick up their contract.
On the plus side I am dabbling with baking, and have a nice recipe for Russian Pie, and have a freash loaf of home made bread in the cupboard.
Damien had a good time swimming, he actaully propelled himself very well, while on his back clutching a foam kick baord for dear life {maybe it was the sense of immanent doom that provided motivation}.
Boys both went down by 9:15, when they asked for “Mommy” who is a sucker too kind hearted, I just told them it was “Just Daddy”, Sergey didn’t take it well but he went down anyway.
3 Comments