Really having a hard time focusing on what it is I want to do. Been making myself busy doing other things around the house, etc. Not sure if I am procrastinating or just getting things done cause I was so busy before and now I have some time.
Trying not to let the fact I will soon be on unemployment freak me out too much and rush me into "grabbing". Also, I miscalculated how much money I thought I would be getting so that has me a little let down. My bad.
Have a second interview on Monday and really looking forward to learning what it is this position is all about. I will be in front of four people in the interview which has me a little nervous (a lot nervous actually).
My friend Janna recently gave me a book all about indentifying your strengths. I am getting ready to take an assessment online as part of the reading. Curious to see if what I am looking for matches my best strengths and talents.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Day Nine
Yesterday and today have been pretty relaxed. Not feeling as "gung-ho". Sent some resumes off, did some work on Chris logs for his taxes, etc.
Tonight I am getting together with some friends from my former place of work. I am excited to see them.
Maybe next week will be a little more productive. I meet with Women on the Move again and have a YWCA Tribute Steering Committee meeting so I am hoping those meetings will energize and motivate me again. The gloomy weather isn't helping much.
Tonight I am getting together with some friends from my former place of work. I am excited to see them.
Maybe next week will be a little more productive. I meet with Women on the Move again and have a YWCA Tribute Steering Committee meeting so I am hoping those meetings will energize and motivate me again. The gloomy weather isn't helping much.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Day Seven
Well, good news is the phone interview must have went well because they would like to meet me in person in the next couple of weeks.
Other than that, today has been pretty stressful so far. I am not familiar at all with the Michigan Unemployment system and am getting easily frustrated. When you call you have to wait on hold FOREVER, then once you get through, you have to wait for answers. They say "you'll receive a letter". I received a letter today with questions regarding eligibility. The letter said I can answer the questions online. Tried to go online and it says that my SS# doesn't exist. Great. So, had to mail the response. Ugh. Again, more waiting on answers. Meanwhile, my dog Angus will not stop barking and my cat Chloe will not stop meowing! Okay, so there is my vent.
On a better note, enjoyed seeing Ozzy last night with my Dad and his friend Dave. Later today I am heading over to my friend Julie's to meet her 5 dogs and learn the ropes as I will be stopping in and out this weekend to care for them. Also, today is the first day Chris is working locally so at least he will be home every night now.
Other than that, today has been pretty stressful so far. I am not familiar at all with the Michigan Unemployment system and am getting easily frustrated. When you call you have to wait on hold FOREVER, then once you get through, you have to wait for answers. They say "you'll receive a letter". I received a letter today with questions regarding eligibility. The letter said I can answer the questions online. Tried to go online and it says that my SS# doesn't exist. Great. So, had to mail the response. Ugh. Again, more waiting on answers. Meanwhile, my dog Angus will not stop barking and my cat Chloe will not stop meowing! Okay, so there is my vent.
On a better note, enjoyed seeing Ozzy last night with my Dad and his friend Dave. Later today I am heading over to my friend Julie's to meet her 5 dogs and learn the ropes as I will be stopping in and out this weekend to care for them. Also, today is the first day Chris is working locally so at least he will be home every night now.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Day Six
Just had a phone interview. Never had a phone interview before. Decided in order to be prepared, I would get up and get ready just like any other interview (short of the pant suit!).
The position would be for something I am not experienced in-Inside Sales. Even though I do not have the experience, many of my skills would be transferable.
The gentleman I spoke with was very upbeat and spoke very highly of the company and told me what he liked about working there. The culture of the company sounds nice.
Immediately after the interview I was sent a link for a candidate survey to see if my personality traits would fit.
Who knows where things will go from here. If I get called back, fantastic! I'd like to explore this further. If not, it was a good experience.
A word of advice on phone interviews: think about how you would answer certain interview questions and put some notes in front of you. I did this and was glad I did!
The position would be for something I am not experienced in-Inside Sales. Even though I do not have the experience, many of my skills would be transferable.
The gentleman I spoke with was very upbeat and spoke very highly of the company and told me what he liked about working there. The culture of the company sounds nice.
Immediately after the interview I was sent a link for a candidate survey to see if my personality traits would fit.
Who knows where things will go from here. If I get called back, fantastic! I'd like to explore this further. If not, it was a good experience.
A word of advice on phone interviews: think about how you would answer certain interview questions and put some notes in front of you. I did this and was glad I did!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Day One (or Five)
Well, I guess that is (sort of) accurate. I found out I would be losing my job at the end of the year right before Thanksgiving. Right after Thanksgiving I learned it would be sooner than that. My last day was Wednesday, December 1st so I have had some fair warning.
My first approach was to start sending resumes to every single employer that might work out. Then, I started thinking...what is it that I really want to do? What would make me happy? I haven't had that freedom to really think about that, well, since before college and what you want when you are 17 vs. what you want at 28 can be very different things.
That put things in perspective for me. People keep telling me how sorry they are that I lost my job, but really, I am letting myself think of it as a gift.
Now don't get me wrong, I am not wearing rose colored glasses. My husband and I are not independently wealthy and this period of less income is going to be tough. We are going to definately have to make adjustments in the way we live but I am looking at that as an investment for our future. Hopefully my future career will be rewarding both financially and mentally.
So, instead of firing off resumes for anywhere and anything, I am taking a more relaxed and educated approach.
Last Wednesday, I joined a group called Women on the Move. "We are a group of talented individuals who, due to the current economic conditions, find ourselves in career transition. We engage in networking and development opportunities to help us in our search for employment." Thanks to Kelli Langan, a friend of mine from the YWCA of West Central Michigan for referring me to them. What an upbeat group of ladies! Just one meeting gave me a ton of insight.
Right before I left Townsquare I made a commitment to volunteer on a committee for the Salvation Army here in Grand Rapids. I decided even though I was no longer at Townsquare I could still honor that commitment and am glad I did so. Our first Salvation Army Action Group meeting was this past Friday, December 3rd at the Kroc Center. What a beautiful facility by the way! I am excited to get started on some group projects. Most people think of bell ringers at Christmas when they think of the SA, but wow do they do so much more!
Keeping busy and learning as much as I can have been key. The free time is nice too though! I have spent lots of time cuddling my dogs and even painted my bedroom! It also helps that I have amazing friends and family!
My first approach was to start sending resumes to every single employer that might work out. Then, I started thinking...what is it that I really want to do? What would make me happy? I haven't had that freedom to really think about that, well, since before college and what you want when you are 17 vs. what you want at 28 can be very different things.
That put things in perspective for me. People keep telling me how sorry they are that I lost my job, but really, I am letting myself think of it as a gift.
Now don't get me wrong, I am not wearing rose colored glasses. My husband and I are not independently wealthy and this period of less income is going to be tough. We are going to definately have to make adjustments in the way we live but I am looking at that as an investment for our future. Hopefully my future career will be rewarding both financially and mentally.
So, instead of firing off resumes for anywhere and anything, I am taking a more relaxed and educated approach.
Last Wednesday, I joined a group called Women on the Move. "We are a group of talented individuals who, due to the current economic conditions, find ourselves in career transition. We engage in networking and development opportunities to help us in our search for employment." Thanks to Kelli Langan, a friend of mine from the YWCA of West Central Michigan for referring me to them. What an upbeat group of ladies! Just one meeting gave me a ton of insight.
Right before I left Townsquare I made a commitment to volunteer on a committee for the Salvation Army here in Grand Rapids. I decided even though I was no longer at Townsquare I could still honor that commitment and am glad I did so. Our first Salvation Army Action Group meeting was this past Friday, December 3rd at the Kroc Center. What a beautiful facility by the way! I am excited to get started on some group projects. Most people think of bell ringers at Christmas when they think of the SA, but wow do they do so much more!
Keeping busy and learning as much as I can have been key. The free time is nice too though! I have spent lots of time cuddling my dogs and even painted my bedroom! It also helps that I have amazing friends and family!
This Is A First, Unemployment
So for those of you that know me, you know that I have worked for Townsquare Media (formerly Regent Broadcasting) for the past 7.5 years. Due to restructuring of my department (Promotions), my position was eliminated.
Since the age of 15 I have been a very busy girl. I worked through high school and college. After college I worked while completing a 40+ hour a week internship. Even when I was hired full time, I took on various part time positions in retail, serving, and more to supplement my income (and maybe a little because I am a workoholic). So this having no work thing is very new to me.
I decided to write about my day to day experiences of being unemployed. Partially for myself so that I can look back and feel as though I have been accomplishing things while I have been off. Partially because maybe some of you can relate. Or, maybe some of you are scared of losing your own jobs and this could provide a little insight.
Since the age of 15 I have been a very busy girl. I worked through high school and college. After college I worked while completing a 40+ hour a week internship. Even when I was hired full time, I took on various part time positions in retail, serving, and more to supplement my income (and maybe a little because I am a workoholic). So this having no work thing is very new to me.
I decided to write about my day to day experiences of being unemployed. Partially for myself so that I can look back and feel as though I have been accomplishing things while I have been off. Partially because maybe some of you can relate. Or, maybe some of you are scared of losing your own jobs and this could provide a little insight.
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