Update XVI: Sidejackin' it in the Train Room.

[Smash255]

Bushie,

First off, sorry about the breakup, I know it can be rough. With that being said, you need to be honest.  If off the bat you said, hey Allison and I broke up its a little tough right now and I don't wish to discuss it, I think most of us would have respected that.  However, when you go down to this mutual breakup thing and immediately try to shut it down, it makes people think.

Secondly, the 2,300 calorie thing isn't going to do crap for you unless you get some exercise. 

[Smash255]

The honest truth:  I have not been fired.  However, I will go into work in the morning and turn in my 3-days notice, under the full readiness that they may walk me out.  The thing with giving my notice is to be courteous.  I will go in and be prepared to stay all day, if that's what they want.  I am prepared for whatever happens.

The fact is I can't look for a job effectively when I'm working 8-5 with a 30-minute lunch, have no access to my cell phone while I'm on the floor itself.  Yes, I can call them back during lunch, but it's likely their lunch hour, as well.  The policies for phone use is different on the floor side-jacking or taking calls than it is in the classroom.  I look for most jobs online, but the employers generally call me to set up an interview.  I also go out and look for jobs, which is not obsolete.  Ever heard of temp agencies?   I basically don't want my hands tied while trying to play ball, if you will.

Yes, Inks, I know exactly what I'm doing.  You are free to question that, but you will not change my mind.

Bushie, apply online, keep yourjob.  You get a call from a potential employer call back when you have time, and set up an interview. Take a half day like you did when you were sick last week, go to interview and go to work late orning early afternoon.  This shouldn't be a hard concept. 

[Smash255]

You know what guys, I don't have to listen to this crap anymore.  I'm going back to politics for a while.

Bushie, with all due respect you need to learn to face your issues and not go run and hide, as well as how to take criticism.  We are making an attempt to help get you out of a situation that has often been self inflicted.  However, instead of learning from your mistakes, listening to others, and taking heed of others advice and yes criticism, you don't.  You get all defensive, ignore otherr peoples advice, refuse to make any changes, refuse to learn from your mistakes job wise and healthwise  or any of that.

 You have a bunch of people here giving you advice, giving you pointers, and instead of taking that advice, you do the opposite and expect everyone to simply accept it and not question you or say it was wrong.  It is quite frustrating when we have tried to help you, some going way above and beyond (J-Mann in particular) and it simply gets ignored

  On top of that, look at your recent posts about this job and your situation.  Does it make any sense for things to change that quickly multiple times over a short period of time??  At first I thought you may have been not telling the whole truth to us or simply lying because you didn't want to hear it.  Now, I think it is bigger than that.  You simply aren't being honest with yourself, so instead you decide to come up and latch on to every excuse possible.

Yoy are dead broke, DEAD BROKE, and yes you are in a job that is a bad fit and likely won't last.  That means you hunt for another job, send resumes in the evening, try to find another one.  It doesn't mean you quit.  Work and get the $$ while you can.  You have no $$$$.

[Smash255]

Basically, folks, I am listening to all of your concerns and I am mulling over all of my options right now.  You guys are bringing up valid arguments and I've spent the past little while trying to talk myself into hanging onto the job and at least trying to look in the evenings and do what has been discussed here.  I'm also mulling over my options if I take my parents' advice to quit, figuring out what my first moves would be.  I have already found one job fair I can go to anytime this week Tuesday-Friday.  Then again, if I held onto this job, at least I would have a paycheck coming in.  It is money in the bank for now and I can get on the phones and do the best I can.  There are pros and cons to both decisions.  The cons of hanging onto this job is I might potentially miss out on some opportunities just by not being available to interview at a moment's notice.  The cons of quitting is that I run the risk of being out of a job for quite some time.  The pros of hanging onto this job is the aforementioned paycheck, but also that some employers prefer someone who already is working as opposed to someone who is sitting at home during the day looking.  The pros of quitting now is I can go all-in on the job search immediately once I get home.  I have a big decision to make.

No one interviews on "a moment's notice" for jobs. You could "go all-in on the job search" already if you didn't spend all your evenings and weekends watching baseball and visiting your parents all the time.

Hell, he could apply for jobs as he has the baseball game.  Also, exactly right on  the moments notice thing.  That simply isn't done.  If someone is calling you for an inerview it isn't like they are going to have the position filled by the next day.  You call back, set up a time within a few days, take a half day and go to the interview.  That is how it works Bushie, that is what employers do.

[Smash255]

What on earth is a "3 days notice"? You're supposed give at least two week's notice.

Expect to be escorted out of the building again, Jeff.

A 3 days notice is what they request.  They don't require a full 2 weeks.  This was explained to us the first day.

I have made my decision after sleeping on it and I'm going to make the unpopular decision of pulling the plug and then get started on the job search as soon as I get back home.

WTF

[Smash255]

Just like that, I've scored my first interview tomorrow at 13:30.

I would suggest sending a few people in pm the name of the company and link to the ad, so we can do the research you will refuse to do.

[Smash255]

To answer Walter, I did give them a 3-days notice, but I was relieved of my duties right then and there.  I expected that.

I wish not to disclose the name of the company I am interviewing with on account of Mondale.  I will not disclose the name via PM, either.  All I will say it is in Midtown Tulsa.  And, it is directly with the company, not a staffing agency.  It is customer service, but that's all I will say.

I also called and re-activated two staffing agencies that are looking for me help desk and CAD jobs.  I've been working with these agencies since March when I first thought of moving to Tulsa.

Bushie,

Obviously due to Mondale, it makes no sense to disclose it on the forum, however I think it is in your best interests to let a few of us do some reesarch on it considering some of the situations you have gotten yourself into.  It would be better if you do it prior to the interview so we can help give you a better idea, questions to ask, etc, however if not prior to the interview at least prior to accepting any potential offer (and this goes for this or any other place as well, not just this interview)

[Smash255]

Bushie, have you looked at what J-Mann and myself sent you regarding this job?

[Smash255]

Let me pop in here again and say that I'm not mad at anybody here.  Smash did a good job in calming me down via PM.  I'm naturally not going to discuss what he said to me, but he did a good job of calming me down.

The fact is everybody here has made mistakes, both on my end and on the advice-giving.  You all expect me to fess up which is hard to do, and I expect you to fess up from time to time which is hard to do.  We're pretty much a bunch of hard-headed and somewhat egotistical men that make mistakes.

Let's drop the mental issue for now, if we may.  I'm simply not going to do it.  You can imagine the stigma when you tell your family and friends you are seeking help because an internet forum told you to.  They would tell you you've lost your mind, completely.

On the employment issue.  The object right now is to get a paycheck, even if that is customer service.  I have pretty much decided against the interview I had scheduled for tomorrow.  J-Mann and Smash did a good job of that, as well, because of the majority sales aspect.  However, there is another call center that I am going to look at tomorrow.  This is with a big-name company.  It's likely a job where I will be hired on the spot, but I think it will have more structure, which was my biggest reason for leaving the job I was at.  I firmly believe that I can do well in call centers if I just put my mind to it.  The calls no longer frighten me as they once did.  I can fix my attendance issues with a little hard work and dedication.  Again, my goal is to make this unemployment a very short one.  I do not want to drag this out any longer than it has to.  I know I have just given you the definition of insanity, but I've got to do what I think is best for me, even if that is an unconventional approach.  The possibility exists that I may fail yet again.  I realize that.  I still think, though, there is merit to the strategy that my parents and I are deploying.

Bushie, I'm glad I was able to get you to calm down.  However, you really need to actually start to listen, you are still refusing to do that.  -Mann's last post summed it up perfectly.

[Smash255]

I think I'm going to hold off on the call center I am thinking about.  I just found an article on our CBS affiliate's website for all sorts of roles with the Tulsa Public Schools.  Not just teaching.  Naturally, I'm not licensed to teach, but I could probably be a custodian or something.  What do you all think? The job fair is next Monday, August 4 at 13:00.

Look at www.newson6.com for the article.

I would basically look for anything that isn't sales/ call centter or something that requires physical labor or fitness.  A school Custodian would also fix things, stand on latters, etc, wouldn't they?

[Smash255]

Custodian may be tough, given the physical concerns you've discussed, although there are usually administrative positions at schools ... few, though, where you wouldn't have to interact with horrible children and their even-worse parents.

I was thinking something like this may be more appropriate: https://careers-postacutemedical.icims.com/jobs/2063/charge-entry-clerk/job?mode=job&iis=Job+Board+-+Indeed.com&iisn=Indeed.com&mobile=false&width=543&height=500&bga=true&needsRedirect=false

Granted, that's based on two minutes of research, so listen to the rest of the community if they say it's bunk.

As long as Bushie can type decently I think that would be a good fit.

[Smash255]

has anyone mentioned it would be much more efficient to apply online?  oh yeah, almost everyone has suggested that...

I do that, too, but there are some cases where face-to-face interactions have not gone out of style.  How do you possibly get immediate interviews when you apply at home?  That kind of thing does happen.

No job that is going to be worth taking will be likely to give an immediate interview.

[Smash255]

has anyone mentioned it would be much more efficient to apply online?  oh yeah, almost everyone has suggested that...

I do that, too, but there are some cases where face-to-face interactions have not gone out of style.  How do you possibly get immediate interviews when you apply at home?  That kind of thing does happen.

No job that is going to be worth taking will be likely to give an immediate interview.

That's the only job I applied for in person today.  I've applied for about 5-6 more online.  Have face-to-face interactions really gone obsolete?

That type of stuff might exist in the fly by night companies, the call centers, or if your looking for a retail or restaraunt type of job.  However, if you are looking for some office job, it really doesn't exist.

Granted it is a completely different company and area then what you would be doing, but I use to work in Manhattan for a major bank/financial firm.  You wouldn't get past security in the lobby if you didn't have someone from the company okay it.  This is the same in many companies in NYC.  You aren't going to be buzzed up by going to security and say hey I have a resume to drop off.  F

Any back office type of job you would potentially work in likely wouldn't have that type of stuff (though perhaps in the heart of downtown OKC or Tulsa, that type of security is possible).  However, even if you go into an office you would be extremely unlikely to get anywhere beyond handing your resume to a Receptionist which may or may not make it to a HR dept or hiring manager.

[Smash255]

Bushie actually being critical of an interview and not saying it's the best job ever? Wow.

To borrow from his namesake, could Bushie be turning a corner??

[Smash255]

I'm home from the two interviews.  First one was a bust.  They were selling life insurance and union benefits to gullible union members.  I sat and listened to the 45 minute presentation (time I will never get back), but when it was time to give our thoughts on the feedback form and if we wanted to pursue this, I got up and walked out.  I've done life insurance before.  Been there.  Done that.   Almost got the t-shirt.  The second interview took a whopping 3 minutes - 2 minutes 30 seconds of that waiting.  Since I had previously applied to that staffing agency for other positions, all he did was take my name and number and submit my name to the actual client.  I've never heard back from this particular staffing agency on any of the jobs I applied for, so I'm still not sure they don't have phantom job openings.  All in all, I think today was a bust.  Not to mention it was pouring down rain the entire time.  I got soaked to the bone for nothing...  Oh well, at least I didn't fall for that life insurance.   To be quite honest, it sounded like a slightly better version of Ameriplan.

Here's something that is confusing to me: how do you not know what you're ping to be interviewing for until you're there? I can see keeping the name of a company confidential until you're deeper in the hiring process if you're working through a recruiter, but to not even know what the job is? How is that possible? You are at a point, Jeff, where you shouldn't be getting surprised in interviews. It's probably best that you don't respond to the vague postings that promise the potential of high wars and don't say what you'll be doing. It's best to work directly through a company's HR department, find roles on their websites and not on job boards, and work through recruiters, not staffing agencies.

I have worked with Recruiters and staffing agencies in the past (though didn't land a job through them).  When I used them, there were times I knew the potential employer, there were times I didn't, but I always had some type of knowledge of what the position was about, what in entailed, etc through the conversation I had over the phone prior to the inrerview, as well as the job posting itself.

[Smash255]

I'm home from my errands this afternoon.  I accomplished what I set out to do today which was to put my application in at two staffing agencies in Midtown.  I wasn't expecting to accomplish any more than that.  Now, I'm home and will continue the job search until 17:00 when I'll call it quits.  Since I took that Excedrin about 10:30, my headache has dropped from a Grade 8 down to a Grade 5.  It still hurts, but it certainly feels better than it did just a few short hours ago.

When I hear Midtown, Tulsa certainly doesn't come to mind....

[Smash255]

has anyone mentioned it would be much more efficient to apply online?  oh yeah, almost everyone has suggested that...

I do that, too, but there are some cases where face-to-face interactions have not gone out of style.  How do you possibly get immediate interviews when you apply at home?  That kind of thing does happen.

No job that is going to be worth taking will be likely to give an immediate interview.

I agree with this. Great companies are busy, and busy people making those great companies run can't drop everything to take an interview at a moment's notice. If you're looking for a career, expect the organization to have a hiring process that is lengthier than a handshake.

^^^^^^^


Bushie, please take the above into consideration.  While I would love to be wrong, how quickly this happened is a huge red flag.  Please pm me and j-mann some info (or any others you trust)

If I'm wrong, Congrats, but please be careful

[Smash255]

...and on the job front, a muted congratulations.

Is this normal to find the job on Craigslist (aren't there actual employment websites?), interview and be offered a job in the period of 90 mins?

I mean, were references checked? No consideration of his technical knowledge/skill set?

Even if it is legit... it's a terribly unprofessional set up and alarm bells would be ringing.

Hopefully this is not what it means


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14PgWitIbSk&list=RD14PgWitIbSk

[Smash255]

Bushie, it does seem like the place is legit eve without seeing much info on it good or bad.  With that being said you should have a clear idea of what will be expected out of you, the details the job entails, etc

[Smash255]

Good Wednesday Morning!  I had a good night's sleep and now I'm ready to begin Day 13.  This promises to be a good day.  My headache is quite low right now and I feel good.  Tonight is Week 3 of Discipleship Training at church from 1830-2000.

Dare I even ask what this is?

Was thinking the same thing

[Smash255]

Hey, guys, I'll pop in here for a second.  My job is going fine.  I just received a less-than-appealing 30 day eval.   I just have to go in there and change my boss's perception.  I'm just carrying on like normal.  I leave at 1630 everyday because that's when my shift ends.  Anyway, I've got to go, but don't worry about things at this point.  I'll share more tonight.

Do you read what you post??  The two sentences there just don't..  Forget it...  You really need to start being honest with yourself first and foremost.