Category: Career Hunt

Cha Cha Cha Changes

Many changes are in the works right now.  Like many Americans, the economy has affected the bottom line of our wallets.  It has been over a year since I’ve had a full time position, and it seems to me like I’m starting to be pigeon-holed.

I’m going back to Ivy-Tech, for the 5th time, I believe.  I plan on starting the spring semester of ’09.  For a while it’s going to be general courses.  I think my best bet is to get a degree in a technology field, such as CIS, or computer networking – the same degree my father has.

I don’t really want to go back, but it seems like I need to just to obtain real employment around here.  The other plus, the FSSA will pay for all expenses through the Vocation Rehabilitation program.  So I won’t be out anything but my time.

I’m going to actually bring my business activities down to a lull while in school.  I will still provide my memory saving services to individuals who are seeking them.  I’m just not going to be working at it like I once did.  There is simply not enough time.

Life isn’t that fun anymore, and I don’t have much else to say except for this update.

 

Back at the Olde TS

Today I have begun working at the Kelley School of Business in the Technology Services department again.  Right now I am only working on Thursday’s and Friday’s.

Hopefully this will give my ankle enough of a break to actually heal.  I hope so, as the pain is constant and uncomfortable.

I’m unsure how long I will stay with Morgenstern Home Services, as the hours have became not steady.  The price of gas is also really cutting into things, as I’ve had to fill up my tank typically twice a week.

I have sent an email to the CSR, and am awaiting a response as to when they would like me back.

The one thing that bothers me about leaving Morgenstern is the flexibility and the pay, as it is much more than I have made in a long time.  But the savings in fuel would more than make up for that difference in pay.

It’s one of those tough decisions that everyone has to make sometime in their lives.

This, That and Everything in Between

It’s been an extremely long time since I’ve posted, and there’s a very good reason why.  I haven’t had much free time at all lately.

I took on a paper route, then after getting the kinks out and finally getting it down pat I started a new job as a Handyman for Morgenstern Home Services.

Between the two, I barely had time to sleep, let alone all the other responsibilities I have.

I’m currently in Chicago, IL.  Rachel has a conference tomorrow, and we used it as a reason to get away for a few days.

We’re staying at the Club Quarters Hotel located in the Mather Tower.  It’s the first time I’ve ever stayed in Chicago, and I must say I am enjoying it!

We’ve done much, I’ll list the highlights here:  Wicked the Musical, Chicago River and Lake Michigan Boat tour, Millennium Park, Buckingham Fountain, The Art Institute, Navy Pier, The John Hancock Center and “The Magnificent Mile.”

Pictures and more posts are sure to follow.

This break has given me an opportunity to find a replacement for the paper route.  She called me tonight asking about inserts for the Sunday paper.  I no longer have to worry about that 7 day a week commitment.

Now I have time to concentrate on various projects, such as our upcoming trip to Oklahoma to see my aunts.

Need A Paper?

Then I’m your man, at least on the far westside of Bloomington.

I officially became a carrier for the Herald-Times today.

Rachel and I went on the route, and we had a few hiccups but it went pretty smooth.

200 papers, 2 hours.

With high gas prices, you would think that it would be a losing situation, but it’s not.  The route is only 26 miles, and I can deduct that expense on my taxes next year.

I’m eventually going to buy a beater of a car and use it.  Until then, I think I’m going to use my truck.  This morning we learned that Rachel’s car is just a wee bit small.

Opportunity or Not?

While making dinner this evening, I received a phone call.  The phone was ringing like crazy today, but this one was way out of left field.

It was the Herald-Times, asking me if I was interested in becoming a paper carrier.  I had sent them my resume about a month ago when a carrier position opened up.  It just happens that the carrier for “my” area quit.

I’ve agreed to go on a “test” run tomorrow morning, bright and early at 4:15.

This is something that I would love to do, but a 7 day a week commitment is tough for a young individual like myself.  We occasionally spend the night at friends and family members homes.  I wouldn’t want to be grounded.

In other job seeking news, I had an interview at the VA clinic in town, and got another call for an interview with what seems to be a general contracting company in town.

The interview at the VA clinic went well.  It’s a position in their front office, I’m just worried that my lack of experience in a medical office setting puts me at a disadvantage.

It would definitely be exciting to work for a general contractor again, but my back isn’t what it used to be.

Due to these concerns, I’m giving this some serious consideration.

I don’t want to work for KFC again, anything but fast food.

Just Like New…I Think

I worked my last day of the semester at Kelley today, and after I left, I immediately went to pick up my mower.  It had been at John Deere since last Saturday being repaired.

I was in for a shocker at first, as I couldn’t get it started.  Once I got it started though, I was nothing but amazed.

One new but insignificant problem emerged, due to it running much better, there is much more vibration.  Because of this, the throttle will not stay at position while the engine is running.  As a quick, simple fix I jammed a wood shim underneath the throttle lever to keep it in place.  I will find a permanent fix later.

Since I bought it 2 years ago, it has been a good mower.  I have always worried about it’s lack of power, but I learned today that it was simply a carburetor problem.  It is much faster, and doesn’t bog down when going through think and tall grass.

It was definitely money well spent.

I spent the afternoon mowing our entire yard.  This task normally takes me 3 hours, I completed it in a mere 2 hours today.

The Heat is On

This is my last week at Technology Services until next semester, at the earliest.  The CSR is going to begin to slow down, but there might be a large study to do.  It’s just a waiting game until then.

I have been applying to positions at what seems like a crazy pace at times.  I’ve had several interviews, but nothing has panned out thus far.

Hopefully I can find something to do this summer, at least.

I’m beginning to wonder if my situation would be applicable for unemployment benefits.  I haven’t quit any jobs, there is just a “lack of work” situation.

Situations such as these always work themselves out in the end, so I am sure everything will be okay.

Feast or Famine

I have been steadily applying for new positions, even though I currently have 2 jobs.

I would generally get an interview here, or a callback there, but nothing really panned out.

For the past couple of nights, when we’ve gotten home there has been at least 1 message on our answering machine asking me for an interview.

Great news, right?  There’s two sides to that coin.

My current positons are academic year only, meaning they generally end once the academic year is over.  Although, I get a feeling that I may be asked to work significantly more hours next semester or even this summer at my job at the Kelley School of Business.

I have had a few interviews lately, but it seems like I’m un-something.  I guess I’m not wanted, or my skills lie in between what they are seeking and what person I’m interviewing with have.

I’m a likable guy, I don’t know what the problem is.

So I have a job interview today, tomorrow and perhaps another one within a week or so.  Two of those interviews are for “real” full time jobs.

People always say it’s easier to get a new job when you have a job, but I don’t really see it that way.  It’s a PITA for me, especially since when I’m at one job, I can barely send an email, let alone talk on the phone, and while I’m at the other I cannot speak on the phone.

This frustrates me to a point where sometimes I wish I could just crawl into a hole and not come out…

The Doors Are Opening

It was hard to schedule at first, but I interviewed for a computer support position at the Kelley School of Business.  It sounded interesting, but I felt like I didn’t have the skills necessary.  I was offered the job within hours of my interview.

As a touch of deja vu, it is in the “Technical Services” department, the same department I worked in at Baxter.

The customer base is very small, as they only support faculty, staff and graduate students.  It is also filtered more because they only deal with certain issues, larger problems are delegated to UITS.

I started yesterday, and didn’t do a whole lot but read.  I see this opening the doors to something greater in the future though.

Although it’s only 8 hours a week, hopefully I can add this to my resume and wow people some more.

One of my new co-workers actually said that when they saw my resume, people said that they called it the “uber-resume.”

I can’t take credit for that as my wife mainly designed it.

Spread Thin

Progress on projects I have undertaken has come very slow.

Here is a list of things I am currently working or trying to work on:
1. Redesign my website.
2. Redesign all electronic menus for DVDs and packaging for my products.
3. Look for permanent position with ANY company.
4. House fixes and updates.
5. Work with Kelley School of Business on plan to strategically market my business services to other local businesses.
6. Always workin’ on ROX

I do have to say that I have made some progress on the house.  A couple of weeks ago I had a day off and started a surprise for my wife.  She doesn’t like it when I do things that she has no knowledge of.  I painted our hallway.

The color doesn’t come out well in these pictures, but it’s called “Grand Stand Tan.”  It dried a lot darker than we expected, but we still like it.  I was very surprised when I went to purchase the paint, it was on sale!  So after Rachel was surprised, we bought a few more gallons to have enough to finish our living room and entry.

I also must say that all the hard work I put into the hallway definitely paid off.  Our “red” wall has a lot of character due to the texture in the wall.  That texture is there because I didn’t work on it like I did the hallway.  Besides a paint streak here and there, it’s smooth as a baby’s butt.

I have slowed way down on the redesign of my website. All the content is there, I just haven’t found a good way to add PayPal buttons on a Joomla site yet.

The redesign of my menus and packaging are going good, too good to be exact!  I have been working with my logo and have a “translucent design” working right now.  My only problem right now is that it doesn’t look good at smaller sizes.

My work situation is a weird one.  Yes I have a job, and I’m thankful for that.  But I am not a full time employee with IU, I’m an hourly employee.  I do not get paid for holidays, or time off.  Also my position is mostly an “academic-year” position.  Meaning when schools out, I’m out.  I have been applying for positions that seem to suit me, only when they come around.  I’ve had a couple of interviews, but nothing has panned out thus far.  I was really excited about a position I interviewed for last week, but as each day passes I wonder.  I don’t think this economy helps either.  I know it’s sick, but it’s times like these that I really miss my job at Baxter.

I am trying to focus on direct business sales this year.  I think if I start a working relationship with other businesses in this area, it will help my business become more successful and profitable.  I’m no marketing major, so my wife has used some of her contacts in the Kelley School of Business (where she used to work).  I have been in contact with the deans’ wife.  She teaches marketing, and is trying to help.  The only problem is communication right now.  I work when she’s in her office, and I can’t really talk on the phone.  Right now I’m not even near a computer either.  I hope this pans out, with the right plan I could make LML Video Services something bigger this year.

I’m still transferring what I have of ROX onto DVDs for storage.  Some episodes will have to be, dare I say it, repaired.  They just have too much heat damage.  I’m waiting to finish a job for a aunt to get some money.  Once that is done, B will have about 50 odd DVD’s for homework.

Plus we discovered a clog in our sewer line.  Everytime our washer drans, water comes out from under our toilet in a hurry.  My ex-contractor neighbor Bill is going to help me try to fix this problem Saturday.  I got his Wi-Fi going, he’s returning the favor.  He has some specialty tools to help.  I hope we can get this clog gone.

I have finally got my hands on a basketball goal as well.  We have a “post” that appears to be designed to have a basketball goal on it.  I have wanted one for a long time.  The prices for a bracket to attach to the post and a goal add up to a cool $100.  I have been offered one on freecycle for free.  There’s only one kicker, I have to dig this one out.  That’s my plan for Sunday – pray for me.  The strange thing?  I have never been good or even really liked basketball.  I just want the goal!

That’s all I’ve got for right now.  I’d like to write more often, but it’s hard when you have things such as this on your hands day in and day out.