Amazing Opening: Applied

Honestly not sure why I keep updating this. I really don't think it's being read or enjoyed by anyone, but I do enjoy writing so I'll continue. 

Anyway, as I restarted the search today, the first thing I saw was a reporter opening in Georgetown with the company I'd applied for last summer. Score! Took me an hour to apply because I wanted the wording in my resume and cover letter to be just right, and I had to select clips relevant to the type of reporting they want, but I'd really like to hear back on this position. Georgetown isn't too far, and definitely has more to offer than Killeen. The area, from the little bit I've seen passing through, is pretty nice. Maybe a bit upscale from where I am now, but probably manageable. 

Have yet to hear from any of my applications in Dallas or Austin yet. A little bummed about it, but I guess all I can do is keep putting myself out there and wait for a call back.

To date, I've sent my application out to eleven places. Kind of low for searching for two weeks, I suppose, but I was doing temp work for the last four days, and that kind of took up a bit of time (not going to have a huge check to show for it, but whatevs). Have to go to some kind of employment briefing in regards to my unemployment tomorrow. Three hours of "here's how to write a resume" is what I'm expecting. Ugh, so not looking forward to that, but it's just to keep them happy and providing me with a tiny bit of income I guess. 

Now I am hungry. Will search a short while longer, then I will need food.

Yup. Still searching.

This time, from the Hardback Cafe in my local Hastings. 

I went through my Texas Workforce materials last night. My possible unemployment benefits will even out to around half what I was making before. I still have no promising leads, thought I've been applying to well more than the minimum of three I'm required to do to receive unemployment.

Dallas Morning News emailed me Monday to say they got my application and if I hear from them, it will be later this week. Obviously I'm hoping for sooner rather than later. That position is much more attractive than the Houston Community Newspapers one, in all honesty.

Today, I interviewed at a local screen printing place through a lead from the temp agency. I'd be a perfect fit if I was interested in staying for 2-3 years, so I've scrapped any hopes of that position. 

A TV station and the housing authority in Austin both should have received my applications today, and I may be sending an application to a copywriting job (also in Austin) after this update. 

I'm noting that my frustration and anger at being jobless seems to manifest itself once the sun goes down. I can be productive in my search all day long, but when it gets dark I start feeling hopeless and helpless. The materials from TWC are difficult to understand, I can't continue searching from my apartment except via my phone (which is a pain in the ass), so all I can really do is stare at the mess and wish the job search motivation translated to cleaning up when I'm unable to continue for the day.

That and I am also hungry right now. Been staring at the cafe menu since I set myself up here, my mind has been on what possible Valentine's candy may be left on sale at Walmart right now, but my desire to save every bit of money I can keeps telling me to just go home and eat some Ramen. Because that's what WINNERS have for dinner right before they go to their aikido club!

Here I am in Houston

I interviewed at Houston Texas Consulting this afternoon. They told me if the manager likes my resume and the notes from the interview, I would get a call to schedule a second interview between 3:30 and 4 p.m.

So 4:00 came... and went. But my trip wasn't a complete bust. Besides getting to hang with my friends, a Facebook status about being in the area prompted a friend who works for a news company to message me that they're "hurting" for reporters right now. There are a couple positions open, and they're generally like what I did in Killeen/Copperas Cove. The pay seems to be lower, but it may have the potential to increase as the company does better. The options are between a somewhat-uppity, family-centered sounding community, and a more rural community, each pretty far north of the busy-ness of Houston itself. 

Austin is still a possibility, but I'm seeing fewer options there at the moment. I'm about to draft a cover letter, relook at my resume and pick out a few clips to send to this possibility. 

Honestly though, the traffic of Houston is the most offputting thing. I was nearly sideswiped trying to leave McDonald's this morning (the guy, whose car I honestly did not see, rolled down his window to say "Are you stupid?" When I, probably foolishly, answered "no," he called me a "f*cking asshole" and sped away to the red light... a couple hundred feet away), and am still sore from being rearended trying to leave Temple yesterday afternoon. The thing is, the two times I've been rearended, once in Killeen, once in Temple, both people were apologetic. I get almost hit in Houston, and then there's namecalling. What the hell?

It's been a while since I was in Conroe, which seems to be the more bearable of the two locations, but it would still put me in weekend visiting distance of my friends, as well as close enough to do shopping/eating in the city if I ever felt like doing so. It will also be a change of landscape and demographics. Then again, the job is the same thing I did for the last year and a half. I kind of wanted to do something new (and better paying). I guess I'd be closer to better options in Houston, should a better-paying, higher-advancing option opens up. 

For now, I'm just going to apply for everything I can. I really don't like not having an income.

The Search Begins

Hello from the free WiFi of Subway.

I've been here nearly four hours, I believe. After I ate and nabbed a table near an outlet, I applied for a local temp agency and three PR-type positions, two in Houston, one in Austin. 

I'd forgotten how annoying it is to enter the same information over and over on different sites, and I didn't expect a customer service/sales rep application to include a questionnaire that seemed very interested in my ability to do math. Some of the questions were:

[Sample questions deleted to discourage excessive post views from people answering the same questionnaire and just Googling the answers instead of actually figuring them out themselves.]

All were multiple choice, and I only guessed on the airplane one (there was a whole other page, as well, and included questions about percentages and volume). Thank goodness I didn't forget all my middle-school math skills!

I'll be back at the same thing - applying like a madwoman - tomorrow. But now, I really have to pee and I'm tired. So, because I've been so productive today (also visited the Workforce Center and applied for unemployment. Take that, old boss), I'm going to go home and either clean or lay down for a few hours before aikido tonight.  

I hope this taking charge stuff pays off well. I'd really like to start my life over in a happier place, with a more enjoyable job. But I guess we shall see. 

And Suddenly... Unemployment

I spoke with the general manager this morning. At around 9:30 a.m. on February 12, 2013, I learned my position had been cut. I am welcome to finish out the day, but budget just doesn't allow for my position anymore. 

I think I reacted well enough. I kept composure and was offered references if needed. But when I'm done today, I will be out of a job. 

This is the first time I've experienced being laid off. I am looking around for PR openings in Texas, because I'm trying to make this into something positive. My friend commented that she things good things will come of this and that I haven't been happy since I moved to Killeen. It's quite true. I am hoping to make an advancement in my professional life from this brief stumble. 

I found a few possible leads that I am noting and will follow up on tomorrow, after I look into unemployment and maybe drop off an application at Express Employment temp agency. I won't take this lying down. I am going to find something better in a better area and try to make a positive out of this.

I suppose I can join a certain "survivors" group on Facebook now. This won't only be a story of survival. I intend to thrive. I intend to advance and improve my life from this. 

But today, I will take my chances to rant, rave, and finish my last assignment for Friday. 

Thanks for all the bullshit, G-man. It only made me stronger and more aware. 

A Quick Hello from Work

Well I've dropped the ball again. It's been FAR too long since I wrote anything, but my work and personal lives have been oddly busy lately.

I am paranoid about posting via this computer, so I'll just leave some links to my favorite GIF blogs for anyone to pursue at their leisure. 

http://howdoiputthisgently.tumblr.com/

http://whatshouldbetchescallme.tumblr.com/

http://whatshouldwecallme.tumblr.com/

http://likeacollegejourno.tumblr.com/ (It makes me very sad this one hasn't updated in months)

http://whatdiabetesshouldcallme.tumblr.com/

Enjoy wasting some time. :-)