Work: January 2007 Archives

Interesting developments workwise in the last couple of days. After wallowing in a pit of despair, I sent my CV off to zura's company in order to see if I could get a crappy job. This job is thankless, exactly what I swore I couldn't do anymore (although it does sound a bit easier than any job I have had) and less lucrative than my first real job in 1999, EIGHT YEARS AGO. They do say that my experience and charisma (they didn't asy charisma, but you could tell that was what they meant) could net me more money, and working the night shift would give me an extra 15%. I wouldn't mind working the night shift so much since Rose is already on nights, and it's more money. So I lied through my teeth, saying that I don't mind rigid schedules for breaks and lunches (you actually have to work your way up to having a full hour!). This is by far the greatest challenge for me. Even in 1999, I had some level of freedom. Not so, here.

The interview was yesterday, and they said that I should give them a week before hearing from them. However, they really did want me to start. They simply had their due diligence to do. I sense no added layers here, either. The hiring process would be quick and straightforward. However, I did not expect it to be as quick as I thought. I received the offer in my voice mail that afternoon, although I didn't get the message until much later. They want me to start Monday. For someone in my position, that's great news, especially considering that Hydro sent an enforcer over to my house two days ago. Luckily, and this is all part of my master plan, they can't cut me off until April.

I didn't get the job. I just got the call about 30 seconds ago. I did make sure to express my disappointment and frustration with the mixed messages I received. They'll keep me on file, blah, blah, blah.

Things are...not good. Not good at all.

I just had my toughest interview ever. And I don't think I got this job. He is concerned about my lack of direct experience. I might get a tryout period contract type of thing, but that seems like a remote chance now. I NEED the opportunity to prove myself. I'll never get it if someone doesn't take a chance. And if it will be like this everywhere, and I suspect that it will be, then I won't find work in what I want. This may be as good a chance as I will ever get.

There may still be something for me elsewhere in the company but really, I can't see that happening, either. Could be despair setting in, could be reality. I guess I'll find out.

This is where having a math degree helps you out in the expression of one's self. If I could describe this hiring process in one word, it would be asymptotic in the sense that I could get as close to the job as I want, given enough time, but that I will never actually get there. (Think of the graph of y = 1/x, if you can.)

I have another interview tomorrow with the team executive, who I was supposed to meet last Tuesday. Hopefully there won't be any delays this time.

I didn't find out if I got the job. But thankfully I left a message with HR and they called me back. They say that things are looking pretty positive, like QUITE positive. They just have to check out the references and all should be fine. Now I can have a weekend free of freaking out.

UPDATE: I missed a message by one of my interviewers. She wants me to call back. Now I am all stressed again. She probably just had a question about my publications...

I wish booze ACTUALLY made stress disappear, if only temporarily. I suppose I should see if I could smoke a little shumthin later on.

They should have called back by now...Goddamnit, I don't think I got this job.
I can't take this waiting.

This was the day of the interview. The most important interview I have ever had. Why?

This morning, I called EI to find out how much time I had left for benefits. I have exactly one week, this week. After that, it's all over. Further, because of an overpayment from a long time ago, half my money was deducted at source for the last month and a half. On top of that, my landlady is all up my ass about rent which I have not completely paid, and I owe her an extra $200 because of a very stupid mathematical error on my part. It's pathetic. Not to mention all the others on my case. Christ, what a bad year. That's what happens when you work a grand total of 11 weeks in 52.

But this interview could change all of that. They are looking for a person right away. It would be directly in my domain of choice, project management. This is VERY important; it would be a job that I trained for and chose to do rather than sort of fall into, like so many salespeople and teachers. Oh, and this opportunity is in the realm of video games; something that I should have been involved with fifteen years ago but instead, I listened to those with the attitude that video games are for children.

The interview went very well, despite me sounding like an intelligent toad due to a mild throat infection, cold or something. I met with the VP of Human Resources instead of the other HR woman, because it seems that HR is still not well organized. They lost another person and it's been chaos. It's been almost a year like this as far as I can see. Her role was to size me up to see if I might fit the role offered, and to see what else I might be good for. She said that this role was quite good for me, and that my CV had some very strong points in it.

Next up was a game director and an executive game director. The EGD came out with the hard questions right away: "Project management is completely different from sales. Why the switch?" and "Give me examples where you were a leader and a coach." I think that I answered those questions well enough. Everything after that was more or less smooth sailing. All I have to do now is provide references and hopefully that will seal the deal. I REALLY need this.

Wish me luck.

The Cheeseorgy Network is back up with a brand new front page. I will see what I can do about changing other designs but for now, I will keep the ones I have.

Things are, in many ways, worse than ever. Ei is about to run out and I still have no job, however I do have a hell of an opportunity coming up next week. I NEED to make this happen; it's a matter of sanity, wellbeing and all kinds of positive states. I really can't overstate the importance of this opportunity. However, this isn't the only lead I have. My old company farmed out the product manager position to Toronto, as it turned out to be a part time thing anyway. However, it seems that they need a junior PCO, and the president pointed me in the right direction to get an interview.

Rose is blooming quite nicely in her new role. It appears as though she will never be a receptionist ever again. Her coworkers think that she is the best and they hope that she stays. At least this is working out well.

In any case, it is good to be back here.