I have a coworker that I'm not fond of. She's pedantic. She's unpleasant. She gets away with murder. She's kind of a bitch. In reality, very few are fond of her. Nobody wants to work with her. Even our boss gives me assignments that based on our 'areas of focus list' totally should be hers. Since I'm the one who says 'no problem' when asked to do something (and then actually does it) I get asked to do things that infringe on her territory.
I realized recently that I kind of feel badly for her. It has to be hard for her that more of my coworkers like me. I may sound conceited with that, but really they do. It isn't a hard formula to get people to like you - don't be a bitch, help out when needed, do nice things for people. She never does any of those three basic things. After a year in the department, I can now kind of see how she's threatened by me. It has nothing to do with my knowledge and everything to do with my personality and in some respects I'm not sure that personality is something that can be easily changed. She's probably 10 - 15 years my senior so her brittle personality probably isn't going anyplace.
So I feel badly for her. It has to suck knowing, on some level, that most of your coworkers don't want to work with you, or laugh with you or eat lunch with you. It has to suck when people stop asking your for your expertise in matters, and your new, younger coworker gets all the attention. And the thing is, I don't really think she gets why people like me better. She commented to me once about some stuff I did for the wellness fair, how did I know to do this kind of thing. And here's where the big difference between her and I shows - I just think of what I would like someone to do for me in a similar situation and do that thing (it does help that I can remember random factoids about my coworkers like she can't eat chocolate and likes carrot cake, vegetarian coworker loves things with fruit... blah blah blah). It doesn't have to be fancy, just think about what someone else would like. It would never dawn on her to do that. And that's a bit sad for her.
Showing posts with label Whistle while you work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Whistle while you work. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Sunday, February 03, 2013
Taking the "high road"
My current employer is looking at beginning talks with my former hell employer about a partnership for a project to benefit employees. I've been trying to stay out of these conversations because just because I hate my former employer doesn't mean I should make those that work for them suffer. The project would be good for the revenue of my former employer. But as I've thought more and more about it, I'm not taking the high road. I'm doing my current employer a disservice by not being honest about my former employer. To wit, I genuinely feel that the upper management team is not proactive in dealing with problems that arise. They let bad things slide for far too long because they are so focused on their expansion that they can't fix the issues currently in the organization. Their employees are not motivated by anything other than fear. Their expansion appears to be unfocused and they end up with offices they don't know what to do with. And a quick google search tells me that their CFO, the one person I thought was reasonable on the executive team, is gone. Big shocker. It won't be up to me whether we do this partnership. If I had that power, I'd totally go with another group who is larger. But I'm definitely going to bring my concerns to the table.
Friday, January 04, 2013
Vastly Different
For most of my working life I've worked for companies or a private university. Now I work for a governmental entity. What fascinates me is how public everything that we do has now become. There was a payroll issue today, which was a pretty big deal but I recognize that this is the first time this has happened in 30 years so that's pretty damn good. I have been at least one other (maybe 2 actually) places where this issue has happened before. The big difference - this was front page news in my hamlet. Apparently once a year my employer will publish the salaries of pretty much all of us. I'm not sure if they do it by job title or specify salary by person. Under the Freedom of Information Act, people can request all sorts of information (and in fact I had to sign off on a form so that they couldn't release my SSN).
The result of this is that everything we tell people (including employees) is fairly calculated. I went over to a notboss (if you will recall a notboss is what I refer to as someone higher on the food chain than me but not over my department) to ask what I needed to tell employees when they called and he couldn't believe employees would call my group on this. The man has no idea. We get called for everything - in fact I frequently hear "I don't think this is your area but..." JFC if you know I'm not the right persno why are you calling me?
The result of this is that everything we tell people (including employees) is fairly calculated. I went over to a notboss (if you will recall a notboss is what I refer to as someone higher on the food chain than me but not over my department) to ask what I needed to tell employees when they called and he couldn't believe employees would call my group on this. The man has no idea. We get called for everything - in fact I frequently hear "I don't think this is your area but..." JFC if you know I'm not the right persno why are you calling me?
Friday, July 27, 2012
Not on the same page
During the summer there are many many Jehovah's Witness conventions at the Convention Center in the city in which I work (and live). This peeves me because they rent out the parking garage I use. It doesn't really impact me totally since I have a monthly permit and the garage does not rent out the number of spaces that corresponds to their number of monthly permits. Although depending on what time I get there this does mean my preferred spot on the 3rd floor is gone. AND if I happen to leave like I did today and come back I have to wait until they open the gate because they close it once the lot is "full." But I've totally digressed.
I was commenting to my coworker about my parking difficulties. She hadn't realized the JWs had such a large convention (and I'm fairly certain that this is just some Texas contingency, also oddly interesting it seems to be the Hispanic Texas contingency since their name badges are in Spanish - it has their name and the name of their group). Anyway, (I'm full of digression tonight) I was lamenting to my coworker about the difficulty in finding a spot (because honestly those JWs are filling the garage at the ass crack of dawn!). She said "that's so sad" and I said "Yes it is sad that it was hard for me to find a parking space but good for the city."* Apparently that's not what she thought was sad. She thought it sad that there was such a large group indicating that there are so many misguided people who have joined a cult. It's apparently sad to her that all these cultists are going to hell. So not what I expected her to say about the subject. Not even close. For the record, although she knows some nice Mormons, they are in a cult and well, obviously Scientologists are too. Seventh Day Adventists are not apparently. Wikipedia claims JWs are a form of Christianity. (You know since Wikipedia is so reliable).
*I joke a lot about how "my life is so hard" with her. I say it to her frequently with a heavily dramatic voice and motions. Usually it is for something like having to go ALL the way back to my office because I forgot my trash can on trash day or something equally inane. She plays along with me so when I was being overly dramatic about parking difficulties I really thought she was kidding.
I was commenting to my coworker about my parking difficulties. She hadn't realized the JWs had such a large convention (and I'm fairly certain that this is just some Texas contingency, also oddly interesting it seems to be the Hispanic Texas contingency since their name badges are in Spanish - it has their name and the name of their group). Anyway, (I'm full of digression tonight) I was lamenting to my coworker about the difficulty in finding a spot (because honestly those JWs are filling the garage at the ass crack of dawn!). She said "that's so sad" and I said "Yes it is sad that it was hard for me to find a parking space but good for the city."* Apparently that's not what she thought was sad. She thought it sad that there was such a large group indicating that there are so many misguided people who have joined a cult. It's apparently sad to her that all these cultists are going to hell. So not what I expected her to say about the subject. Not even close. For the record, although she knows some nice Mormons, they are in a cult and well, obviously Scientologists are too. Seventh Day Adventists are not apparently. Wikipedia claims JWs are a form of Christianity. (You know since Wikipedia is so reliable).
*I joke a lot about how "my life is so hard" with her. I say it to her frequently with a heavily dramatic voice and motions. Usually it is for something like having to go ALL the way back to my office because I forgot my trash can on trash day or something equally inane. She plays along with me so when I was being overly dramatic about parking difficulties I really thought she was kidding.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Cowardly
The worlds of my old hateful job and my new not exactly perfect but I like it a lot job are about to collide. In what can only be described as a cruel game, my current employer is considering contracting with my old employer to provide a near-site clinic and other medical management. Seriously. By itself I wouldn't really care. I don't have to go to the physicians from that group. We would just offer a better deal if people went to those doctors. However, apparently this collaboration will require meetings to set this deal up. The first one will be in August and I THINK it will be at my old employer's corporate office - the office I used to work in. I don't mind the person the meeting would be with and if she were coming to our offices I would go, but I don't want to go there again. I don't want to run the risk of seeing hated boss. I wasn't on the initial invite so hopefully that means I won't have to go, although the way things work my bigger boss I won't know about it until about 15 minutes until we have to leave for the meeting.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Bliss
It is amazing to think about just how desperately unhappy my job made me and how much that affected my life here in Texas. I don't know if this is the last place I will live, I sincerely doubt it is, but now that I'm working at a job I enjoy I'm finding myself refreshed and content with living here.
I've been 'nesting' like a fool for the last several weeks. I have planted about 8 container gardens on my balcony and this weekend I picked up 2 chairs and a little table for the balcony. I sat out there for over an hour today and just enjoyed it. I haven't felt that content in a long time. (Although I did buy 2 chairs because I've read that it is bad feng shui to only buy one, you're implying that you have no room in your life for someone else. Plus I figured the cat would take one over eventually, although he has his very own mat that he seems to love that lives on the balcony too. And he seems to enjoy sitting on my lap while I'm on the balcony.) (That's a lot of parentheticals FYI).
I am still taking my anti-depressants (although just like before I always seem to forget to take them on the weekend). I'm okay with that though.
So far I really like my job. It is mostly projects and I get to do things I like to do. I have only run into a couple things I don't like to do but since they are so few and far between it makes doing them that much easier. I like the people I work with including my boss and my boss's boss. I am the 2nd youngest one in my group (which seems to be the norm for me somehow). (And they're all significantly older than me) (Like 10 years). I even like my passive aggressive (PA) coworker. Most of them are SUPER religious. Like SUPER religious. (I don't think it is possible for me to stress enough how religious they are). Oh and the admin is a little bit... southern belleish. She doesn't believe women should be firefighters. I forget the other thing she said that made me go 'hmmm...' but it was along those same lines.
I graduate in 26 days! Cap and gown came in yesterday. My whole family is coming to see me graduate (well by whole family I mean parents and sister and her kid. The other 2 kiddos aren't so kiddo anymore and both are poor as churchmice since their dad is Satan). We'll do a little hanging out for the weekend too. I'm trying to figure out what would be a good thing for Mother's day since I presume my little sister will have to fly back sometime Sunday.
My 20 year high school reunion is coming up in June. If I think about it too hard that freaks me out a little bit. I'm facebook friends with a bunch of them. I feel like I've accomplished nothing compared to some of them. Also, a whole bunch of them became super religious. What the hell? I've messaged a few people I really hope to see to see if they're going. That will help me decide if I'm going since by then I still won't have any vacation to use (6 month waiting period for vacay - it's the reason I'm not going to BlogHer this year). I'll end up flying in either late Friday night or early Saturday morning and flying back out on Sunday which seems a little whirlwindy and expensive (unless I use flight benefits) for such a short period of time.
I've been 'nesting' like a fool for the last several weeks. I have planted about 8 container gardens on my balcony and this weekend I picked up 2 chairs and a little table for the balcony. I sat out there for over an hour today and just enjoyed it. I haven't felt that content in a long time. (Although I did buy 2 chairs because I've read that it is bad feng shui to only buy one, you're implying that you have no room in your life for someone else. Plus I figured the cat would take one over eventually, although he has his very own mat that he seems to love that lives on the balcony too. And he seems to enjoy sitting on my lap while I'm on the balcony.) (That's a lot of parentheticals FYI).
I am still taking my anti-depressants (although just like before I always seem to forget to take them on the weekend). I'm okay with that though.
So far I really like my job. It is mostly projects and I get to do things I like to do. I have only run into a couple things I don't like to do but since they are so few and far between it makes doing them that much easier. I like the people I work with including my boss and my boss's boss. I am the 2nd youngest one in my group (which seems to be the norm for me somehow). (And they're all significantly older than me) (Like 10 years). I even like my passive aggressive (PA) coworker. Most of them are SUPER religious. Like SUPER religious. (I don't think it is possible for me to stress enough how religious they are). Oh and the admin is a little bit... southern belleish. She doesn't believe women should be firefighters. I forget the other thing she said that made me go 'hmmm...' but it was along those same lines.
I graduate in 26 days! Cap and gown came in yesterday. My whole family is coming to see me graduate (well by whole family I mean parents and sister and her kid. The other 2 kiddos aren't so kiddo anymore and both are poor as churchmice since their dad is Satan). We'll do a little hanging out for the weekend too. I'm trying to figure out what would be a good thing for Mother's day since I presume my little sister will have to fly back sometime Sunday.
My 20 year high school reunion is coming up in June. If I think about it too hard that freaks me out a little bit. I'm facebook friends with a bunch of them. I feel like I've accomplished nothing compared to some of them. Also, a whole bunch of them became super religious. What the hell? I've messaged a few people I really hope to see to see if they're going. That will help me decide if I'm going since by then I still won't have any vacation to use (6 month waiting period for vacay - it's the reason I'm not going to BlogHer this year). I'll end up flying in either late Friday night or early Saturday morning and flying back out on Sunday which seems a little whirlwindy and expensive (unless I use flight benefits) for such a short period of time.
Thursday, March 01, 2012
New Job!
For those not following along at home, I quit my evil, horrible, made me sad, I can't work for this psycho bitch anymore job. Surprisingly while I worked out my notice, I actually got offered another job. I originally was only taking a week off between jobs, but evil boss decided she didn't want me there when she was gone, so I ended up leaving early from that job (and getting paid out). My baby sister and I went to DC which none of us have ever been to. We packed as much as we possibly could into our 4 days. It was AWESOME! And I have pictures I have to pull off the camera eventually.
I started the new job on Monday. So far it is good, but beginning a new job is exhausting. I was so tired yesterday, Wednesday, I fell asleep at 6:30. Woke up long enough to watch Revenge via the DVR (at 10) and then went back to bed. My new boss has really just started me right away on projects, which I appreciate. The downfall is that I have zero cell reception in my office.
I started the new job on Monday. So far it is good, but beginning a new job is exhausting. I was so tired yesterday, Wednesday, I fell asleep at 6:30. Woke up long enough to watch Revenge via the DVR (at 10) and then went back to bed. My new boss has really just started me right away on projects, which I appreciate. The downfall is that I have zero cell reception in my office.
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Bittersweet Relief
My period of unemployment theoretically is over before it even began. I was offered a job yesterday. I am excited about that. I am relieved about that. The thought of actually being unemployed scared me a lot. Now I say theoretically I was offered a job because technically I have not received an actual offer yet. I've received verbal confirmation that I'm their first choice, but right now they are calling my references and doing a background check. One of those two things could cause me to fail. Maybe. I hope not. I also don't know how much salary or what start date would be yet so although I may have a job, I'll believe it when I see it.
The Pros: in Fort Worth so I don't have to move from my current apartment. In an industry I've been hoping to break into. It is a job with income, hopefully comparable to what I earn now although I know the max is less than I currently earn. I can rehire the housekeeper. :) (although I won't until I actually get an offer and a salary).
The Cons: It isn't in a library. There's a fellowship I really want which would mean moving in July and quitting which would make me feel badly. (Realistically speaking the odds are low I'd get it but I'm still applying because it would be kickass). I'll be working full time while juggling 13 credit hours. I was kind of hoping for a little break so I could really focus on school.
Luckily, I won't start until after comp exam so I'll have a week off between the two jobs. I'm going to DC with my sister and her kid for a little long weekend which I've never been there. I'm feeling really positive about things, which is exciting because it has been a long time since I've really felt positive. (Positivity tweets notwithstanding.)
The Pros: in Fort Worth so I don't have to move from my current apartment. In an industry I've been hoping to break into. It is a job with income, hopefully comparable to what I earn now although I know the max is less than I currently earn. I can rehire the housekeeper. :) (although I won't until I actually get an offer and a salary).
The Cons: It isn't in a library. There's a fellowship I really want which would mean moving in July and quitting which would make me feel badly. (Realistically speaking the odds are low I'd get it but I'm still applying because it would be kickass). I'll be working full time while juggling 13 credit hours. I was kind of hoping for a little break so I could really focus on school.
Luckily, I won't start until after comp exam so I'll have a week off between the two jobs. I'm going to DC with my sister and her kid for a little long weekend which I've never been there. I'm feeling really positive about things, which is exciting because it has been a long time since I've really felt positive. (Positivity tweets notwithstanding.)
Monday, January 23, 2012
Journey into Unemployment
Today I gave notice at my job. I am super excited about leaving this job. As part of getting ready to be unemployed I contacted my housekeepers to tell them 2 things. 1. They haven't billed me for last housekeeper day. 2. I'm cancelling because I'm about to be unemployed. Well, they claim they haven't billed me for last housekeeper day because the housekeeper didn't come. Sadly that is incorrect since I had a newly made bed that I didn't make. Which I reported to them. She said she would investigate, but then said she may not look too hard since I'm about to be unemployed and all. That was super sweet!
My evil boss has agreed to not fight unemployment payments for me. This is kind of huge because it means I would at least have some money coming in. Sadly it would be a whopping $426 per week and I make more than that, but at least it would be some money. Interestingly I could survive on that and it would leave me almost $400/month for everything after bills. (Provided it is tax-free which I think it is).
I've actually got two job interviews lined up. One is with the same company I had a first interview last week. The other is a place I've been trying to phone screen with since last Monday. And here's where I now have a dilemma. What if I actually get one of these jobs? Do I take it? Even with the fuller than full time schooling? I feel like I would have to. I'm not sure if I can actually BE unemployed. I already don't talk to people on a regular basis (or ever really). If I am home all the time for unemployment... This could be bad for me. :) But what if I get that fellowship? Then I'd be quitting in July. I would feel badly if I left a job that I just started 3 months later. But what if I don't get the fellowship and can't find a library job. I suppose I'll just have to wait and see. That's about all I can do isn't it.
My evil boss has agreed to not fight unemployment payments for me. This is kind of huge because it means I would at least have some money coming in. Sadly it would be a whopping $426 per week and I make more than that, but at least it would be some money. Interestingly I could survive on that and it would leave me almost $400/month for everything after bills. (Provided it is tax-free which I think it is).
I've actually got two job interviews lined up. One is with the same company I had a first interview last week. The other is a place I've been trying to phone screen with since last Monday. And here's where I now have a dilemma. What if I actually get one of these jobs? Do I take it? Even with the fuller than full time schooling? I feel like I would have to. I'm not sure if I can actually BE unemployed. I already don't talk to people on a regular basis (or ever really). If I am home all the time for unemployment... This could be bad for me. :) But what if I get that fellowship? Then I'd be quitting in July. I would feel badly if I left a job that I just started 3 months later. But what if I don't get the fellowship and can't find a library job. I suppose I'll just have to wait and see. That's about all I can do isn't it.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Passion (less)
For the past several years I haven't felt excited about what I do. I'm not sure I've ever felt excited about what I do. I just happened to be good at it. Maybe I liked it for awhile. Hard to say at this point. I thought I liked it. But I do recall being uneasy about getting my CEBS certification because I feel like I would be pigeonholed by this job path. Luckily (or unluckily as the case may be), I hate what I do now so much I no longer want to do it ever again. Sadly I'm in kind of a weird place. I'm not done with my MLIS degree so getting a real library job isn't going to happen quite yet, but I have to get out of my current one. I tried to quit last week. Evil boss talked me out of it. Turns out evil boss has been looking for my replacement since January 4th (week before I "quit"). So really she just doesn't want me to quit until she has the new me in place and then she can fire my ass like she has wanted to for sometime. I have a phone and an inperson interview this week. Hopefully one of those will pan out so I can get the hell out of dodge.
I've started doing my practicum for my library school. So far I've only been there for 4 days. I'm not thrilled that it is Sat & Sun from 1 - 5 PM because that means I have no days off. BUT until classes start so far it isn't totally killing me (yet). Last weekend I mostly observed the desk but I did get to answer a few questions. I liked (for now maybe that'll change) helping kids find the books and materials they were looking for. This weekend I spent the weekend searching through the catalog to see if the books in these magazines that had positive reviews were purchased for the library. So far, not so much on the non-fiction.
I've never really felt like a person who believes you have to LOVE what you do or follow your bliss or whatever. Work is work. It would be nice if it isn't so awful you cry all the time and/or want to drink heavily, but I'm okay if I can find something to like about what I do and who I work with.
I've started doing my practicum for my library school. So far I've only been there for 4 days. I'm not thrilled that it is Sat & Sun from 1 - 5 PM because that means I have no days off. BUT until classes start so far it isn't totally killing me (yet). Last weekend I mostly observed the desk but I did get to answer a few questions. I liked (for now maybe that'll change) helping kids find the books and materials they were looking for. This weekend I spent the weekend searching through the catalog to see if the books in these magazines that had positive reviews were purchased for the library. So far, not so much on the non-fiction.
I've never really felt like a person who believes you have to LOVE what you do or follow your bliss or whatever. Work is work. It would be nice if it isn't so awful you cry all the time and/or want to drink heavily, but I'm okay if I can find something to like about what I do and who I work with.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Epiphany
Six years ago, my mother and I had a screaming match in the front yard of their house. The gist of it was that I was no longer going to tolerate her irrational anger. I grew up walking on eggshells not knowing if she was going to get pissed off at something or not, not knowing what kind of mood she was going to be in. While I spent most of today agonizing over the wrath of my boss come Tuesday over something I had payroll do I realized something... If I'm not willing to put up with it in my mother why in the hell am I putting up with it in my boss? That's one of my biggest issues with her. She gets irrationally angry about stupid stuff. I am not putting up with it anymore. I may end up quitting before I have a new job lined up, but I can't do it anymore. Worse comes to worst, I pull my 401K out. That's really bad, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I can be a 90 year old librarian. :)
My second epiphany of today was what my boss was irrationally angry about. I asked payroll to do a refund of benefits for someone today. She flipped out because of the tax implications since the refund will count as part of the first payroll of 2012 and the deduction was taken out in 2011. "As the benefits manager I should think of these things..." After I thought about it more I realized if the PAYROLL manager didn't care why the hell was she freaking out? Since the PAYROLL manager has no issue, she's got no place to be pissed off.
Before I quit in a fit of wrath, I may try to talk to the new CEO. The CFO couldn't rein her in maybe the new CEO can. My entire department hates her. The payroll manager is on the verge of quitting due to her. Before I started at least 3 other people quit due to her. And let's not forget the African American woman she fired. After only giving her less than 1 week to improve on her "improvement plan."
My second epiphany of today was what my boss was irrationally angry about. I asked payroll to do a refund of benefits for someone today. She flipped out because of the tax implications since the refund will count as part of the first payroll of 2012 and the deduction was taken out in 2011. "As the benefits manager I should think of these things..." After I thought about it more I realized if the PAYROLL manager didn't care why the hell was she freaking out? Since the PAYROLL manager has no issue, she's got no place to be pissed off.
Before I quit in a fit of wrath, I may try to talk to the new CEO. The CFO couldn't rein her in maybe the new CEO can. My entire department hates her. The payroll manager is on the verge of quitting due to her. Before I started at least 3 other people quit due to her. And let's not forget the African American woman she fired. After only giving her less than 1 week to improve on her "improvement plan."
Saturday, August 20, 2011
A Regular Employee
As I was driving home from picking up my latest textbooks from UNT I realized that with my next career I'm just going to be a regular employee. No more will I have the inside information I'm usually privvy to in my role in HR. It's an interesting concept. Of my 15 years working since I left college, 12 of them have been in Human Resources. My next job will likely be the last one before I give up HR altogether and become a librarian. When you work in HR, you know things. Always. I interact with all levels of the company and since I do benefits and leaves of absence I KNOW things. What I currently do impacts the company and the employees as a whole. When I'm a regular employee I won't have that anymore. And in all honesty, I'm looking forward to that.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Make it work
I interviewed for yet another job on Thursday. I don't have a good feeling from the manager that I'm going to get offered it. Just a feeling. So I'm going to stop looking for awhile. If you count from when I was in Seattle I've been job hunting for over 2 years now. Admittedly there've been a few breaks in time then, but I've been applying and interviewing for a long time. I'm just sick of it. I'm sick of the searching and the process. I'm sick of lying to take off time to interview. Now I just need to figure out how to tolerate my current situation. The tension lately is palpable. Boss was doing better and less of a bitch for a little while, but is back to full bore bitch. It is exhausting. I am documenting everything though. Anytime she is, what I consider, out of line I write it down. Maybe that'll help us in the future. I don't even know. The other thing that scares me is the thought of getting this library degree and then never being able to use it since the salary will be so much lower than I currently earn.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Introvert is not a 4 letter word
I got turned down for a job today. One that I think I actually wanted. It had a lot of potential to be interesting and different than what I do since it had generalist roles incorporated into the benefits roles. The few people I met seemed super nice. The company is in the process of "turning HR around" from being unapproachable and mean to open and fun. They said all the right things and I thought, well I didn't necessarily think I said all the right things but one of my interview failings is that I don't try to hide who I really am. I answer the questions asked essentially the same way I would answer them if Michelle were asking me the question. Well according to the recruiter I was working with I knocked it out of the park. I reassured her on the 401(k) stuff. I answered everything right... until. When asked the question "how do you unwind or destress" I said something to the effect of "I go home and veg out mostly. Working in HR you have to be "on" all the time and since I'm essentially an introvert I like to spend my after work time relaxing and being quiet." Something like that. Apparently they don't want an "introvert." Keep in mind, I've charmed 4 people in the interview until this point so clearly I have social skills and the ability to talk to people. I even mentioned that working in HR for the past 11 years, I know what it takes but during my down time I like it to be just me. I'd feel sad about the loss of this job since I think I did want it, but I find myself so annoyed by this "no introverts" attitude that I'm fine with it. I am seriously sick of job hunting though. I may have to take a little break.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Only in Texas
I went on a job interview on Friday and I desperately wanted to take a picture of the bookshelf of one of the men I interviewed with. On his bookshelf were The Holy Bible, History of God and a book about (or by) George Bush (but I can't recall if it was sr or junior). It totally made me laugh inside. The job is different than what I do now. It would be what I do but also generalist role including employee relations which I'm not that excited about but this would open up my skills and career. (which I know I'm totally changing careers but until a library job opens up that I can find I can still work in HR.) It is a very small company which would be interesting. However several people used the phrase "work hard/play hard" which I find cliched and annoying.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Yesterday evening
I was having one of those days yesterday, you know the ones... what if every decision I've made since [insert xyz time frame here, but in my case it was leaving California in 2002] was the wrong one? I'm over it now. It's amazing what sunshine and cool but gorgeous weather will do for a person. I also have to keep telling myself that had I not left CA I wouldn't be embarking on a whole new career change. I would just keep working in HR and letting this new potential career die altogether. I wouldn't hate my job so much that it has convinced me to not do it anymore. I know that seems drastic - just because I hate my current job doesn't mean I have to give up the whole career - but I think the job just forced into focus what I couldn't or didn't see. I don't like where HR is going. It is becoming more and more about the bottom line than about the people I serve. I'm sure it is necessary but I don't want to be part of it.
I'm going hiking today. I'm very excited about that. I think that since I've been going to school, I've not been on a Sunday adventure in a long time. Although this is a Saturday Adventure. They are having a hike to see the blue bonnets at the Fort Worth Nature Center where I typically go hiking. I should probably pull my water pack out of storage.
I'm going hiking today. I'm very excited about that. I think that since I've been going to school, I've not been on a Sunday adventure in a long time. Although this is a Saturday Adventure. They are having a hike to see the blue bonnets at the Fort Worth Nature Center where I typically go hiking. I should probably pull my water pack out of storage.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Things to say
This morning while I was hanging out waiting to get dressed to go on my interview, my neighbor came by to let me know that she thought Sam had escaped. She had seen him on her fence. It wasn't Sam. It was Sam's twin. He is a stray that the apartment people have tried ot have animal control catch but haven't been able to. They seem fascinated with each other. Sam, who already loves to sit on the balcony, will stare at the other cat for hours. Apparently the other cat is also interested in being Sam's friend if he was on the balcony trying to come up to visit. Weird.
I need a pair of some heeled boots/shoes that are black. My suit pants are too long and usually I wear a pair of peep-toe pumps with them but it is 17 degrees and slushy outside and that just wasn't going to work. So I wore my suit with my black Doc Martens which means my pants dragged on the slushy ground like I'm some sort of teenager. Time to go to the Dry Cleaners.
I went on a job interview and had a talk with a recruiter at an agency today. The recruiter has 2 positions open. One I'm not interested in at all since it is for another health care group and I'm not having it again. The other, she says, is for a place that she has heard good things about from the other people who have been placed there. The downer for that one... salary lower than what I earn now. Now, to be fair I pay a lot for benefits so if their benefits are better/more covered that might be okay. The problem is, I can't really find a lot of time to interview for a lot of jobs. Don't even get me started on my boss and time issues. The other place was a manufacturer of heating & cooling units. I interviewed with the recruiter, the person who would be my boss and I was supposed to interview with the person who has the position now and one other person, but they had left early. That reassured me since I think I don't believe in not meeting the rest of the team for a job. We'll see. I think I might like it there. Their hand outs are certainly impressive. :) If this one doesn't work out I may take a little break. Stock up some more time so that I have time to interview. :)
I need a pair of some heeled boots/shoes that are black. My suit pants are too long and usually I wear a pair of peep-toe pumps with them but it is 17 degrees and slushy outside and that just wasn't going to work. So I wore my suit with my black Doc Martens which means my pants dragged on the slushy ground like I'm some sort of teenager. Time to go to the Dry Cleaners.
I went on a job interview and had a talk with a recruiter at an agency today. The recruiter has 2 positions open. One I'm not interested in at all since it is for another health care group and I'm not having it again. The other, she says, is for a place that she has heard good things about from the other people who have been placed there. The downer for that one... salary lower than what I earn now. Now, to be fair I pay a lot for benefits so if their benefits are better/more covered that might be okay. The problem is, I can't really find a lot of time to interview for a lot of jobs. Don't even get me started on my boss and time issues. The other place was a manufacturer of heating & cooling units. I interviewed with the recruiter, the person who would be my boss and I was supposed to interview with the person who has the position now and one other person, but they had left early. That reassured me since I think I don't believe in not meeting the rest of the team for a job. We'll see. I think I might like it there. Their hand outs are certainly impressive. :) If this one doesn't work out I may take a little break. Stock up some more time so that I have time to interview. :)
Saturday, December 04, 2010
I invited my parents?
My sister is coming to Dallas the weekend of the 18thish to go on our zipline tour (1.2 lbs to go!) and we'll go to holiday in the park at 6 flags and to ICE a ice sculpture show at a fancypants hotel here in Dallas. Because I'm a sap and easily influenced by my sister, I invited my parents to come and join us. They might actually do it! Now since my palatial apartment isn't THAT big they'll stay at a nearby hotel. (There is a hotel literally next door to my apartment complex. We share a fence).
I went to a party tonight. That's a big deal. I don't usually do social things but I have to. I'm sick of being by myself all the time. There weren't really any possible contenders to be my local friends, but it is good for me to practice talking to people. I'm not so good with that. Tomorrow I'm going to a gf event what a mexican place and then next week I'm going to a bowling party with my apartment people. Just call me buttterfly. :)
I have an interview on Wednesday. It is for one I phone screened for before Thanksgiving. Since I hadn't heard anything I presumed it wasn't happening so I was pleasantly surprised to get the call. Although it was funny because there was an email accidentally sent to me from someone about whether or not the people they wanted to interview had been called in yet. Oops. :) It is a phone interview and then I suppose if I move on it'll be an in person one. If I get called for that and it happens to be on the 20th (the day I'm taking off to spend time with the fam) I'll take that as a sign the job is MINE. I don't want to have to take time off to go interview. My boss is a freak about that shit. The recruiter and I are salaried employees. Typically even if a salaried person doesn't work 8 hours you get paid for the full day and don't use PTO to pay if you leave early or whatnot. She charged my coworker like 3 hours of PTO when she left early. In WA that wouldn't be legal. Unfortunately here it is. She also won't let the 2 hourly employees do things like work through lunch or take only 1/2 hour lunches for the week to make up leaving early for an appointment or whatever. Have I mentioned that the 2 hourly employees are not allowed to work later than either me or bboss? One of us have to stick around if the employee works late. So bizarre. (Usually it is less than 10 minutes so not really a big deal but so stupid!) Anyway I've got high hopes. The job would be within my area of expertise but doing something really different than what I do. I wouldn't have to administer leaves of absences anymore! (I LOATHE administering leaves of absence.)
I went to a party tonight. That's a big deal. I don't usually do social things but I have to. I'm sick of being by myself all the time. There weren't really any possible contenders to be my local friends, but it is good for me to practice talking to people. I'm not so good with that. Tomorrow I'm going to a gf event what a mexican place and then next week I'm going to a bowling party with my apartment people. Just call me buttterfly. :)
I have an interview on Wednesday. It is for one I phone screened for before Thanksgiving. Since I hadn't heard anything I presumed it wasn't happening so I was pleasantly surprised to get the call. Although it was funny because there was an email accidentally sent to me from someone about whether or not the people they wanted to interview had been called in yet. Oops. :) It is a phone interview and then I suppose if I move on it'll be an in person one. If I get called for that and it happens to be on the 20th (the day I'm taking off to spend time with the fam) I'll take that as a sign the job is MINE. I don't want to have to take time off to go interview. My boss is a freak about that shit. The recruiter and I are salaried employees. Typically even if a salaried person doesn't work 8 hours you get paid for the full day and don't use PTO to pay if you leave early or whatnot. She charged my coworker like 3 hours of PTO when she left early. In WA that wouldn't be legal. Unfortunately here it is. She also won't let the 2 hourly employees do things like work through lunch or take only 1/2 hour lunches for the week to make up leaving early for an appointment or whatever. Have I mentioned that the 2 hourly employees are not allowed to work later than either me or bboss? One of us have to stick around if the employee works late. So bizarre. (Usually it is less than 10 minutes so not really a big deal but so stupid!) Anyway I've got high hopes. The job would be within my area of expertise but doing something really different than what I do. I wouldn't have to administer leaves of absences anymore! (I LOATHE administering leaves of absence.)
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
A Leap of Something
I was having an existential crisis this morning. I have been really struggling with my job and in general what I do for a living. I like it. I think I like it but I just don't know anymore actually. I'm finding I am sick of the BS associated with what I do. There's far more governmental influence currently and coming down the pike (pipe?) than when I first started. More (and just like everywhere I'm sure) I'm getting asked to do more on less. And I feel bad because it really impacts employees and at my employer MANY of our employees earn 12 - 18 bucks an hour. We then annually take away 1400 of that in medical benefits alone. And my bigger boss is now talking more deep benefit cuts. It kills me because I have at least 5 people right now who I know for certain have no ins because they can't afford it. To me that's wrong. (And I can also admit I don't like paying so much for my benefits and would hate to see my benefits get slashed). I was feeling like this, though, even before I came to my new job. So much more Bullshit. So much less good stuff.
So I've been considering going back to school. I don't know if I'll do it. I know I've talked about it before. UNT has a library sciences program which only runs about 12k for the tuition. I think I could do it. I think it might be what I'm looking for. According to UNT's site, youth librarians are in demand. God that would combine my 2 favorite things. My biggest concern, though: money. I'll earn less than I earn now. That kind of stresses me out since it is just me. It also stresses me out to think about being subject to the whims of the government. In Seattle, there were regularly furlough days where the libraries were closed. They don't get paid for those days off. (Maybe they use vacay I suppose). I think we've had them here too. So I think I'll take a baby step and make an appt to go see a graduate admissions counselor and go from there. Well that and find out about GRE/GMAT testing.
So I've been considering going back to school. I don't know if I'll do it. I know I've talked about it before. UNT has a library sciences program which only runs about 12k for the tuition. I think I could do it. I think it might be what I'm looking for. According to UNT's site, youth librarians are in demand. God that would combine my 2 favorite things. My biggest concern, though: money. I'll earn less than I earn now. That kind of stresses me out since it is just me. It also stresses me out to think about being subject to the whims of the government. In Seattle, there were regularly furlough days where the libraries were closed. They don't get paid for those days off. (Maybe they use vacay I suppose). I think we've had them here too. So I think I'll take a baby step and make an appt to go see a graduate admissions counselor and go from there. Well that and find out about GRE/GMAT testing.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Maternity Leave is almost over
On Saturday I will have been here 12 weeks. Because I work in benefits 12 weeks to me means FMLA time. :) (I know it is illogical, but go with it)
So I have been here 12 weeks and maybe it is due to the comfort of my AC and my absolutely fabulous sofa I'm sitting on, but I feel like I have no opinion on living here yet. I don't hate it, which in itself is surprising given how I hate to be hot. There are definitely things I do like about living here (palatial apartment notwithstanding). Of course part of that is just amenities I have now that I didn't have in Seattle. It is nice owning a car again. I hadn't realized how much I missed driving. Maybe not driving so much but the freedom owning a car brings.
My job... I don't know yet how I feel about it. There are aspects I like. There are aspects I want to like. I was lamenting to PeevedMichelle a couple days ago that I wonder where I would be careerwise if I had never moved to Seattle. I usually get this way when I am stressed about money. Where I am now is more than I was at the u. It took me over 5 years to get back to my LA salary in Seattle. Michelle very astutely pointed out multiple things... 1 - for almost everyone working, the grass is greener somewhere else. 2 - the extended unemployment and then working at the casino really did a number on my confidence. 3 - the university ultimately didn't help because it was so much better than the casino (but in the grand scheme of things not great either on several levels) that I just stuck around out of gratefulness. I also stuck around because certain benefits were just hard to give up. Having as much time off as I had was awesome. Ultimately this all leads me to the fact that this is not my end of the line job. I'm not sure how long I'll stay at my current place. I like it well enough, but they don't pay for most benefits, I'm iffy on how they treat employees as a whole, and there's no growth possible. Also I'll need more money if I'm adopting in a couple years.
So I have been here 12 weeks and maybe it is due to the comfort of my AC and my absolutely fabulous sofa I'm sitting on, but I feel like I have no opinion on living here yet. I don't hate it, which in itself is surprising given how I hate to be hot. There are definitely things I do like about living here (palatial apartment notwithstanding). Of course part of that is just amenities I have now that I didn't have in Seattle. It is nice owning a car again. I hadn't realized how much I missed driving. Maybe not driving so much but the freedom owning a car brings.
My job... I don't know yet how I feel about it. There are aspects I like. There are aspects I want to like. I was lamenting to PeevedMichelle a couple days ago that I wonder where I would be careerwise if I had never moved to Seattle. I usually get this way when I am stressed about money. Where I am now is more than I was at the u. It took me over 5 years to get back to my LA salary in Seattle. Michelle very astutely pointed out multiple things... 1 - for almost everyone working, the grass is greener somewhere else. 2 - the extended unemployment and then working at the casino really did a number on my confidence. 3 - the university ultimately didn't help because it was so much better than the casino (but in the grand scheme of things not great either on several levels) that I just stuck around out of gratefulness. I also stuck around because certain benefits were just hard to give up. Having as much time off as I had was awesome. Ultimately this all leads me to the fact that this is not my end of the line job. I'm not sure how long I'll stay at my current place. I like it well enough, but they don't pay for most benefits, I'm iffy on how they treat employees as a whole, and there's no growth possible. Also I'll need more money if I'm adopting in a couple years.
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