BREAKING NEWS: I GOT A JOB!!!

Drum Roll Please (I need the effect) - warning - this blog will be a bit longer than the others. :)

From the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire...from the mighty mountains of New York....from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania....from every hill and molehill of Mississippi I shout "I....HAVE....A....JOOOOOOBBBBB!!!" - Martin Luther King, Jr speech remixed! (As an ode to my last blog, #1 Question Most Unemployed people are asked!)

Late yesterday afternoon, I was notified by my headhunter that I received a JOB OFFER from an Advertising firm in NYC. Pause: I had interviewed with this company on 4 separate occasions (1 phone interview, 1 video conference and 2 in person interviews) along with meeting 6 different executives: HR Mgr, Director (future boss), Controller, CFO and 2 Vice Presidents! I should also mention that this was in a timeframe of about 2 weeks and I never wore a suit once. Shocking right?? Per recommendation from the HR Manager, she advised the following: "Whatever you do, do-not-wear-a-suit, its a Advertising firm, there is no creativity in a black/blue/grey suit or even pinstripe. Think Sex and the City! No one takes my advice and then they wonder why they don't go onto the 2nd Rounds!" Sure, I was a little hesitant (plus which character from Sex and the City should I be, lol) but as we can see it definitely paid off Big Time!!! Honestly, I'm super excited because I really wanted this job, its a fabulous company! I think sometimes when your unemployed, you interview because you do not want to pass up on ANY opportunity. I will be the first to admit (my hand is up), I definitely interviewed with some companies where I was not at all intereseted about their business but the job responsibilities/title either "definitely/mostly/kind of" aligned with my background. So, yes, I have a job but more important I'm continuing my career. I was blessed enough to continue on as a Senior Financial Analyst with 1 direct report while inheriting more job scope responsibilities. Another question, will I continue blogging (as the teeth chatter, mine too)??? The answer is YES, I most certainly will! During my 2 month and 8 Day Laid Off Interim, I absolutely went through ALOT and have soooooooooooo much to share. Even though, I will be "employed" while writing my blogs, the unemployed mind frame shall never cease while blogging. I still have so much to get off my chest; Future Blogs Sneak Peek: the craziest interview question I was asked, trials and tribulations of dealing with Unemployment Department/COBRA, First 24 Hour Shock of Being Laid Off, Tips/Suggestions for Interviewing/Job Hunting/Trying to Keep Positive and etc, etc. For everyone that supported me, thank you so much, especially my family and friends! I know sometimes I may of been a bit difficult, look, I was going through unemployment syndrome. Since, I'm back in The Game, I'm off to fill out and fax over 20 employment forms (aka: we want to double check that you aren't a convicted felon and your credit score isn't a 200, is it?).

Livin Laid Off Blog Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

#1 Question Most Unemployed People are Asked Is......

The #1 Question most unemployed people are asked is: Do you have a job? or Do you have a job yet?

For some reason, when asked this question it seems to irritate me (and I consider myself to be a pretty happy person by the way), I'm not alone, let me just add, other unemployed citizens feel the same way! Honestly, its hard enough trying to find a job (right?), your stressing yourself out as you watch CNN report the "Economic situation continues to foster high concerns among the American people, unemployment rate 9.7%, expect to see rate increase in Q3 and Q4", followed with a flip of the channel to "Today NASDAQ dropped 200 points, the market is unstable, we are in economic turmoil". Oooooh and let just add this, when your interviewing your asked "Why do you want this job", "Why are you interested in this job" and "How is the market out there?"......Come on, give us a break!! See, how this simple question of "Do you have a job?", can have so many layers to it from the unemployed perspective. It essentially feels like a slap in the face or causing more insult to injury. You know were working hard out there, trying to make it and keeping positive through the Struggle. Honestly, once we have job, kind of like Martin Luther King, Jr. said, yet "remixed" - "From the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire...from the mighty mountains of New York....from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania....from every hill and molehill of Mississippi we will shout "I....HAVE....A....JOOOOOOBBBBB!!!", accompanied by the Rocky song "Eye of the Tiger". Massive text messages and emails will be sent out, Facebook and Myspace pages will have status updates displaying "I have job, Hallelujah, lets meet for drinks at 6!". I know, I know, all your trying to do is support, I get it! But, within the first 15 seconds of conversation and I haven't said "Hey, guess what, I got a job!", there is no need to ask if I have one because you already know my answer. :)

Livin Laid Off Blog Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

Looking for a JOB, is like having a FULL TIME JOB!

From applying to jobs online via various job search engines and company websites to interviewing, its like having a "full-time" job! I don't care what anyone says, when my day is over, I...am...e-x-h-a-u-s-t-e-d! This past week, I must admit, I have only applied to a couple of jobs online. Not because I don't want a job (that's certainly not the case) but because looking for a job can be tiresome and boring. In the beginning, when I first got laid off (out the gates), I was all over it - submitting my resume online, I even created a Excel spreadsheet (over-achiever!) that showed the job title/company/date of posting. Since, 11pm on May 27, 2009 (the day that I was first laid off) until now, I have not had a break. Some people, like my girlfriend Michele who previously worked for one of the Big 4 audit firms, is straight chillin; shoot she hasn't even really started looking for a job because this is what she calls "a much needed break that I may never see again". My unemployment job responsibilities go beyond just submitting resumes online. I have strategically hired 5 headhunters to assist with my job hunt, blown the dust of my roller deck and recruited friends/family members for referrals! Thus, I have had over 20 interviews but unfortunately no job offers yet! It's highly competitive out there (armored up with warrior gear, I'm serious lol). I'm blessed to be getting interviews!! Since, I am going for mid-management jobs, interviewing for 2 hours is mandatory for the 1st Round. I can't begin to express how many 2nd and 3rd rounds interviews I have gone on with Directors, Controllers, VPs and even CFOs that have lasted 4 hours!! So in a nutshell, do not get it twisted for those that are employed (congratulations) and those that are newly unemployed (welcome to the club), still be ready to put in a 30 - 40 hour work week which some lunch breaks and a few naps at random times (reminds me of college). Also, applying to jobs online can do a number on your brain/eyes, if you start getting sleepy, walk - a - way - from - the - computer, you are about to go into unemployment search overload!!!

Livin Laid Off Blog Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved