Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Vague progress report

Hey all,

Remember that job search? Yeah, I figured. Sometimes so do I...

Two minor updates:

1) Received an exciting packet of stuff from the VA Employment Commission (don't think I don't realize how many hundreds of thousands of tax dollars likely went into the committee decision to name it the "employment" as opposed to "unemployment" agency... got to keep a proactive, blah, blah, blah...) I was thrilled (and also underwhelmed) to learn that I qualified for the maximum weekly benefit amount, for up to apparently 6 months. Though if it comes to that... yikes! They also included a job placement form -- well, more like set of forms -- that needs to be filled out. This packet of course, seemingly sent independent of the letter I received last Friday which said I needed to come into the office to answer some questions about my initial status. So that's likely how I'll be spending next Monday...

2) As I mentioned in an earlier post, I had a strange situation last week in that I had to return a call from... someone. As I explained earlier, I left a whole bunch of messages. That was last Thursday. Not having heard anything on Friday, I made a point to try again yesterday morning before I left on my various appointments/errands. I am happy to report that due to successful decoding of the message (listening to it another dozen times or so) on the part of MLW and MDFA (who, for the record, only deleted the message because I told her to press the wrong button...) we determined a very likely alternate guess as to the caller's name. So I called Monday morning and said, quite bluntly, to the receptionist, "Do you have a _____ working there?" To which she replied, "Hang on I'll transfer you." I had several rings to wonder if I'd accidentally give a code command for something or another, but instead, I was connected with the very pleasant-voiced lady who had called the previous week. After explaining the sitch, she was very apologetic, and we moved on from there. The upshot being that I have two in-person interview type meetings scheduled in early December (which is not as far off as you might think).

So, I think that's about it for now. Though I have decided that I really need to clean up this home office, if I'm to make any sort of progress here. More to come.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, thank the Stars! Interviewing in early December means that you (hopefully) will be gainfully employed before Christmas and not be eating government cheese for the holidays ... well, except for Thanksgiving. Perhaps its time to brush up on your interviweing skills. Here are a few unsolicited tips:

1. If asked about your hobbies or interests, lie. Tell them you golf, anything but the tri-headed Cerebus of roleplaying/Motown/art deco that seems to encompass many of your waking hours.

2. Wear a white shirt and tie, or a navy conservative suit with a red tie. Especially if its a position with Homeland Security. Oddness scares them. If you show up in a high collared black Nehru shirt looking like "Dr. No" you won't get the job; you may even get detained indefinitely under the Patriot Act. Also, leave the Members Only jacket at home.

3. Be bland. Discuss your experience at CPI and credentials. Don't discuss innovations you may have implemented. They don't want to know you hosted a radio show in college. They just want someone who will follow orders. Give them what they want.

-Anonymous

JAM said...

For the record, the Member's Only jackets were retired over three years ago...

JAM said...

Now that I think about it, the fact that you counted "Motown" as one of the "tri-headed Cerebus" -- not to mention the fact that you used the phrase "tri-headed Cerebus" is a clue as to your identity. But I must ask why, Anonymous, if you are the person I think you are, that you're even reading my blog. I thought I was dead to you.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm. You may have me confused with someone else. I have never used the phrase "dead to me", although I know someone else had.