The interview that deserves a blog post

While looking for jobs, a friend of mine (Hi, J!) told me about a neat opportunity so I reached out to them to learn more. I had a great phone discussion with their office manager who told me more about the position (Marketing, Public Relations, Special Events for a small beer distributor.) We talked a lot about my marketing & pr background and also my work for a cheese maker where I helped to coordinate special events across the state.

Sounds like it could be a good fit, right?

So, I was asked to come in for an interview. I knew this would be a more "casual" environment, so I purposely dressed a little more casual versus my normal interview attire.

I had a great meeting with the office manager and then I was set to meet with the owner.

To all the HR professionals out there, please be warned ... this person did all the cringe-worthy things in addition to a few that I think he could be sued over.

Statements/Questions that I heard while interviewing:

1. Where do you live? As in what neighborhood.
2. What does your husband do?
3. Insurance is a bunch of xxxx.
4. "I think you should be home with your children."
5. Oh and yes, he asked if I had children.
6. "I think I really need a man to do this job ... to talk to the other store managers because they are typically men, and this is a blue collar job."
7. Speaking of a past employer. "I don't advertise. It's just a waste of money."
8. Why don't you take this case of beer home to your husband?

It was by far the strangest and most infuriating interview that I have ever been on. I had my qualms about the job from the beginning - I knew it would be a lot of nights/weekends, but I also understand that it comes with the territory. Since I was interviewing several places, I didn't want to turn down any opportunities that could turn into something. So many people have asked if I told him off, but I decided that it wasn't worth it and the best thing to do would to be professional.

We happily drank the case of beer, and I may or may not have flipped off the building when I last drove past it, because I keep it professional like that.

Transition

After four years, I will be changing to the role of Working Mom. It's really hard for me to believe that four years ago, I had all intentions to stay at work full time, but when I was laid off after M&L were born, I somehow just sailed into the role of stay at home Mom/somewhat freelance marketing person/Junior League President and made it work.

I'm excited and a little nervous. I'm also a little sad, because it also means that my babies are growing up and don't NEED me as much. They have happily pranced into their new daycare this week and not looked back. We have been working on an ease-in schedule, but when I stopped by at 3PM yesterday, they asked to stay. So much for not throwing them into a new school, but I'm sure if we had done it that way, my plan would have backfired.

So, starting Monday, I will be commuting 30+ minutes, starting work at an amazing company in a big marketing department, and hopefully getting back in the groove of full-time, office politics, commuting, etc.

When I had made the decision to return to work, I had an idea of where I thought I would end up and this was probably the furthest from my mind, but I am excited for the challenge and the opportunity. I went on interviews with 6 companies, received two offers, three polite no's, and one that deserves a blog post.

Here's to my last few couple of days of sipping coffee and checking blogs!

Where to go, what to do

I had the opportunity to serve in a big role (President) of my local Junior League. As much as it has been a sacrifice and true learning opportunity, it has also afforded me skills, strengths, and dedication that I didn't know I had. It pushed my limits, humbled me on so many occasions, and gave me so much more than I ever bargained for.

As the last few days of my term are coming to a close and my part-time job is over, I am now faced with a looming WHAT'S NEXT?

I have worked part time, but made this volunteer position a priority. I have relied on my husband, family, preschool, and sitters to take care of my children.

There is part of me that literally wants to lie on the sofa, eat cheese and wheat thins, catch up on all my reading, Mad Men watching, etc, but then part of me is itching to figure out the next phase.

So, I am applying for jobs, or trying to find jobs to apply to. I am working my connections and trying to make this next step one that will be positive, life-changing, and done for the right reasons.

I am trying to sit down on the floor and play princess, or color, or just sit and read without worrying about the computer, or email, or phone calls.

I am trying to enjoy time with the Hubby that we can just talk, or not talk, and not worry about the computer, or email, or phone calls, or agendas.

I am trying to spend time with my friends that have probably suffered during this experience. I know I haven't been as available as I would have liked and without those women, I wouldn't have been able to do this. I didn't mean to put some of our friendships on hold, but in some ways I feel like I have.

I am going to run a marathon ... that in itself is still a little unbelievable and after a hard-as-hell 6 mile run yesterday, I have realized that I have to get my mind wrapped around this.

I am hoping to use this blog more, get back into writing, and using this community for the positive messages that it does bring.

So, stay tuned!

Social media

Question for you lovely readers out there.

I know we all use social media on a daily basis. We Tweet, we blog, we Facebook, we Stumbleupon, etc.

Does anyone have any good books on B2B social media and marketing strategies?

Interested in what the big dogs are doing and who's doing it right.

Trying to get back on the horse

After a couple of friends who read my blog, and even Hubby started asking me why I haven't been blogging, I figured it was time to check in.


I'm still here ... just haven't been writing. I didn't really mean to take a break, but it just happened.


I'll blame it on travel-work stuff-holiday preparations-cold/sinus thing-writers block-reading a good book-telling Maddy and Libby "don't touch that" multiple times a day, etc.


So, what is on my mind?

It's December 9 and I still can't find the candles for our windows.

My tree is half-decorated. Partly to keep ornaments out of two year old hands, but partly because the boxes are still in the basement.

I'm making a soup with Velveeta for dinner and I had to ask where it was at the grocery. It's not refrigerated and that kind of grossed me out. What is Velveeta, because it sure as heck isn't cheese.

Fifth half marathon for the year isn't gonna happen. The above cold/sinus thing has kept me from running since Thanksgiving, so I'm giving myself an extension and trying to run 5 within 12 months. My goal, my rules.

My cousin sent Maddy and Libby a Jingle Bell Elmo and I have heard Jingle Bells via Elmo about 10,000,000 times a day.

It is freezing here in NC. It snowed on Saturday and the snow is still lingering. It's just unheard of for here.

I am loving all of the holiday crafts that M&L are making in preschool. Mitten shaped paper ornaments, popsicle stick stars with paint and glitter, red poinsettias. Cute.

Oh, and did I mention that I lost my job? Yeah, not I what I needed/wanted/expected to happen, but I'm wrapping up a final project and will be finished by Christmas. I try to keep things happy and full of rainbows and sunshine here, but I just feel like it's not being truthful if I don't mention it. My new mantras include "everything happens for a reason, put on your big girl panties and deal with it, and don't forget to take those happy pills."

But, life does go on ... Hubby and I celebrated 5 years of wedded bliss in November, we are healthy, our children are healthy, I enjoyed a much-needed girls trip to New Orleans the weekend after I found out about the layoff, and I do believe that everything will work out.

So, that's it in a nutshell.

And just so I'm keeping this full of rainbows and glitter ...

"Keep your face to the sunshine, and you cannot see the shadows." - Helen Keller

Predictable

Predictable is boring, right? Or does it mean stability?

How much unpredictability can a person endure before they crave the comfort of knowing what is going to happen tomorrow.

Does the person who works in a factory knitting socks enjoy the fact that they know their job will be the same day in, day out ... or do they loathe having to make the same stitch, in the same color, hour after hour, day after day.

2010 has definitely been a year of unpredictability and let's just say that the planner in me has had about enough. I'm definitely seeking stability, oh, but with flexibility and a little creativity thrown in for good measure.

Sigh.

Work it.

Well, I was beginning to think that it really couldn't happen, but I have somehow found a part-time job that:


a) is legit

b) doesn't involve selling Avon

c) offers the flexibility that I wanted


I will say that I had become a little more than frustrated about the variety of marketing positions that I was finding or hearing about. I kept turning up entry level positions, or those "work from home" jobs that involve you paying someone to work. Hmmm, that just doesn't add up.

Through a little networking, I was able to land with a great company that really seems to believe that family comes first. I'll handle the marketing for the company, and also do some project management work, too. It's the perfect combination and better yet, it's part-time. Some hours in the office (which is really cool) and some at home.

So, I have a little over a week until my days of being a 9 to fiver, or a 9 to three-thirtier and I'm looking forward to it.

What happens ...

When you take 3 cases of a 24 hourish stomach bug the week of your trip,
combine them with a trip to NYC,
a Hubby running his first full marathon,
and a wife/Mom/blogger/part-time employee who has to leave again for another adventure in the morning?

You get this lackluster, sorry excuse for a blog post, post.

I am literally washing clothes, catching up on a little work, printing itineraries, and heading out again tomorrow.

I will hopefully catch up next week with photos and descriptions of all the big events. Minus the stomach bug(s), I promise.

Mantra

I have something that I really don't want to do this week. It's nothing awful, but it just scares me a little. But, it's something I need to do. And aren't those the things in life that you're supposed to do? The ones that scare you a little.

So, I keep repeating my little mantra and I'll keep repeating it until Wednesday at 10:30.

Put on your big girl panties, and deal with it.

Put on your big girl panties, and deal with it

Put on your big girl panties, and deal with it.

You get the idea.

Ugh. But why does feigning an illness sound so much easier?

Something must be terribly wrong

I had to drive to Charlotte to set up for a trade show yesterday. On my return trip, I decided to stop at an outlet mall for "lunch." Oh, who am I kidding? I was going for the Sak's Off 5th store, but we can call it lunch.

I looked around Off 5th, Ann Taylor Loft, Gymboree, Polo Ralph Lauren, Banana Republic, TJ Maxx / Home Goods, and Brooks Brothers. Couldn't find Gap and Ann Taylor ... I'm wondering if they have closed.

Guess who got lucky? Hubby! I picked up 3 of Brooks Brothers dress shirts and two polo shirts for him.

Guess who didn't get lucky? Maddy, Libby, and me.

I couldn't find anything for me that I was just dying to have and just didn't have any luck at Gymboree for the girls even though it seemed to be full of cute clothes.

I have decided that I need to be nominated for What Not To Wear. Seriously. So many of the new blousier dresses and tops look so cute, but I'm not sure if they are cute on me. I think I just need someone to shop for me and make me look good. Sigh. Any takers? You nominate me & I'll nominate you. I could easily spend $5k on a new wardrobe so as not to look like a middle aged part time stay at home mom.

What to do, what to do.

Wasn't it just last year that I was pimping myself out to the Internet to find a job? Well, guess what? It's that time again

I am still currently employed, but found out that my job will be coming to a close at the end of the year. I appreciate the advance notice, but I just can't ignore this feeling like a huge rock in my stomach every day.

My current job is part-time and from home and is honestly, almost perfect. Unfortunately, my company is facing some serious competition near where we are headquartered, so they have realigned the entire marketing budget/efforts and will be cutting 4 positions, including mine. They employ several people who do what I do, but in different markets across the US.  The good thing and bad thing about my company ... they are small enough to make quick decisions.

And as many of you know, our state unemployment rates seem to do nothing but climb.

I also work in marketing and if any of you are searching in that particular category, you know what kind of jobs you typically find.

*SPORTS MARKETING!!! GREAT PAY!!! FLEXIBLE HOURS!!!*
Um, no. I'd rather not get dropped off in a neighborhood and hawk magazine subscriptions for a living.

*WORK FROM HOME. MAKE $$$$*
Um, no again. I don't want to pay you equal monthly installments of $129.99 to give me a "job." 

*AVON SALES REPRESENTATIVE*
Not that I have anything against Avon, but how did this end up in the marketing category?

So, here I am. Trying to be positive and continue to do a good job for my company for the rest of the year.

I'm faced with ... trying to decide if I'm really ready to go back to the days (if I can find a job) of 40+ hours a week, nice pointy-toed shoes, office coffee and office politics, and hopefully a rewarding job in marketing/pr. After all, my resume now looks more than spotty after 4 layoffs in the last 10 years.  Plus, it means that I have to leave two pint-sized "bosses" with someone else for 8+ hours a day.  I also have to factor in paying for care for those two pint-sized bosses. 

Or, could lightning really strike twice and I could find something that would be part-time, flexible, and give me time with the girls, but also time to turn on my brain in only a way that gainful employment does?  I just don't know if it's possible.  

Or, could I really be a full-time SAHM? Would I really be good at this? Do I have the sanity to do this? Can we afford this? Then if I wanted to go back to work when the girls are in school, and after 4 years of staying at home, would anyone really hire me?

I know that I have a while to think about this, but if I were to go back to work full-time, we would have to line up childcare.  Currently, I use a sitter service when I need it, but it would be way too cost prohibitive to use 40+ hours a week.  The childcare situation here, like so many other areas is highly competitive and we are still on waiting lists from when I was pregnant and still haven't received calls that our spots are open.   I really don't think I want to be back in the full-time arena yet and I also think that I'm not 100% suited for a full-time SAHM position either.

Clearly why my current job is perfect for me and I don't want it to change.  Can I just cross my arms and pout and someone will make it stay the same?

Much better

I promise that I didn't shove everything out of sight. I really did clean, throw, or put things away. I do still need to organize my basket that I use for my work stuff, but that will have to be a project for tonight or tomorrow morning. It really helps me to have a basket ... I can work in our family room, or when a sitter is here, I just grab my laptop and basket and head to our office. So now you can see:

• My laptop
• Envelopes that need to be addressed
• Gerber daisies from this weekend replaced the candle.
• Hubby's laptop was deposited on the table.
• Hubby's laptop password gadget
• My work notebook
• Kate Spade calendar
• One pen
• Entry forms that need to be mailed back to my home office.
• The two outfits that need to be returned ... now hanging on a chair, but I need to keep them out or I'll forget to do it!
• Hubby's suit jacket hanging on the other chair.
• Nearly empty bottle of water.

Now if the rest of my house would magically clean itself, I'd be all set.

What's stressing me

I am really sick of my messy desk today. This desk is also our kitchen'ish table ... it's located in our family room, just off our kitchen.

In this picture, you will notice the following:

• one laptop that is almost buried under my pile of shiot.
• My notebook that I use for all of my work notes, and at least two or three pens.
• Kate Spade calendar underneath the work notebook.
• Manila envelopes
• Calculator
• Half-full coffee cup from this morning.
• Empty Lance peanut butter crackers package. What salmonella scare?
• Paper clips
• Anti bacterial wipes
• Business cards
• Entry forms from an event this weekend, and empty zip lock bags that the entry forms were in.
• Two outfits for M&L that need to be returned.
• My work basket that I use to stash paperwork that is overflowing. I think it may be time to file.
• Two pairs of cute shoes for M&L from Mad About Plaid Girl. We heart hand-me-downs from her daughter.
• A bunch of USPS priority mail boxes for shipping eBay stuff.
• My wedding notebook that I was using to look up old addresses.
• My tendonitis hand/wrist brace that I should be wearing.
• My address book
• Envelopes
• Remote ... rocking out to 80's on cable TV.
• My candle holder thingy in the center of the table.
• A Junior League cookbook, tee shirt, and coffee mug that I got at our Annual Meeting last night.
• My 1st and probably still favorite Kate Spade purse.
• 5K race application
• Pay check
• New Blackberry cover.
• Ewwww ... my retainer sitting on top of the paycheck, because I was on the phone and realized that I was lisping, so I took it out and obviously forgot to put it back in the case. Gross.
• Lint roller. 2 labs, enough said.
• My address embosser.

I am going to clean. Will hopefully report back with an updated picture and you will no longer feel like you are playing "Where's Waldo?"

We survived!

Hubby and I took our first trip by ourselves this weekend. Gasp! Gone for three nights and two airplane rides away from home! I thought it was a success since we didn't drink entirely too much and make jackasses out of ourselves and we also didn't sleep away the entire weekend. There were definitely periods of imbibing and rainy, Saturday afternoon naps, but all in moderation!

It was a trip to Vermont for my work, but we were able to take families along to enjoy the weekend after our meetings were over on Friday. Since the girls are a tad too young for skiing, we decided to leave them entrusted in the care of their grandparents. All in all, it was a win-win. The girls were spoiled rotten, and the grandparents, albeit tired were able to spend uninterrupted time with their newest grand babies.

Today, I had to pick up Zeus and Zoe from their kennel and poor Zeuser broke his dew claw nail getting into my car. Ouch. Poor guy ... he wouldn't let anyone touch his paw and there doesn't seem to be much we can do about it. The kennel owner tried to wrap up his paw, but Zeus was having none of that. It's no longer bleeding, so that is good. I think he is totally milking us for extra attention.

So it really is back to reality - - emails, phone calls, dogs, laundry, meetings, peas in the hair, and sweet potatoes on my shoulder. Never a dull day.

Meet Murphy

Why is it that on the night that I try to go to bed early knowing that I have to wake up by 4:30 so I can get showered, dressed, breakfasted, car loaded, and out the door before 6AM that my normally two sweet, sleeping through the night babies decide that they want to be up every 3 hours?

I'm guessing it's either teething pain or Murphy's Law.

I'm really feeling like a mom of newborn twins this morning. Thank goodness for Hubby. Have a great weekend ... I'm off to work an event. Let's just hope there's a Starbucks in the building!

Easily distracted

Working from home has definitely been a new adventure for me. There are always plenty of distractions, but most don't seem to bother me.

Sure, I do try to tune in to Martha Stewart at 11AM, but I usually end up only halfway listening/watching. A new magazine may come in the mail that I really want to read, but I can usually get by with flipping through a few pages, and of course there is always something to clean. It is much harder to not straighten and clean all day when you are in your own home spotting dust bunnies or marveling at your clutter. Facebook is my big time killer ... I have use restraint not to log on while I'm working.

But my true distraction ... this great weather that we've been having. I'm not complaining. There is no need to stay holed up inside if you can be outdoors, especially since I'm sure this weather will turn cold again. On these days in the 70's (Hello, February!) I don't miss working in an office one bit. No free candy from the office candy jar beats taking a walk at 3PM to enjoy the sunshine.

Day One

I feel like it's Day One of my "new" job. This is the first day that I've worked without parents or Hubby around since I started, so it's up to me to work, take care of the girlies, and play on Facebook, I mean work really hard today. Here's to hoping that I can get some work accomplished today, and all of the girls (myself included) out of their PJ's and into real clothes!

All I can say is Thank God for email. I've been emailing and working since around 7AM. I could never do that if I had to be on the phone.

So far, so good. Libby is awake and downstairs with me. She's currently entertaining herself with a toy in each hand and trying her hardest to insert the largest toy, in it's entirety in her mouth. Maddy is sleeping and I'm tuning in via baby monitor.

So, here's hoping to a good first day and for all of you who are back in the office after a two-week break, I'm going to get myself a second cup of coffee ... how about you?

pros and cons

Working from home has several pros and cons. One pro that I have noticed the most is you can literally work in your pajamas. Today, I wore my favorite Pine Cone Hill PJ's while talking on the phone, working on my computer, attending a webinar, but is it a con that at 5:15 PM, I'm still wearing them?

I guess you could say that I was just prepared early for bedtime, but you also might say that my neighbors may look at me funny when I stepped outside around 2PM to check the mail.

Hmmm, this could be really dangerous. PJ's 24/7?

Gainfully employed (almost)

I had my interview yesterday. It went well and really didn't feel like an interview at all. First, we talked about my children and oohed and aahed over pictures. They came bearing gifts from the company, which was a very thoughtful and appreciated gesture. We met at a restaurant and enjoyed a nice meal and dessert, while they described more of what the job entails and more about the company.

So, they never asked for a resume and basically left it with "We'd love for you to join our team." Really, that's it? It's that easy? What's the catch? I heard about this job from a friend who has partnered with them in the past, so I'm assuming her recommendation may have sealed the deal. So, I asked a few questions via email last night, but I'm ready to say yes. The job will be part-time and I can work from home. It will involve a little travel, but all in North Carolina, and no more than what I had done before. So, after it's all official, we need to figure out some sort of childcare. I may try to do some work while the girls are napping, but I'd like to find someone who can come in and help with them for a few hours each week, so I can knock out uninterrupted work.

I'm excited to have found something that is so flexible and that I can do from home and still get to spend the majority of my time with M&L. So, cross your fingers and let's hope that it all works out ... the pessimist in me is still waiting for them to say, "oh, yeah we forgot to mention that this job entails you weaving tiny baskets in our damp warehouse and selling them on the corner." Let's hope not.

Preparation

I have a job interview on Tuesday. I've known about it for a couple of weeks and now I can't believe that's it's almost here. So that means I have a little preparing to do this weekend - print my resume, brush up on my interview skills, read a little more about the company, oh and pray that I can find a suitable outfit to wear. I'm hoping that I can find an Ann Taylor top that I wore early in my pregnancy that let's just say, is forgiving where I need it. Oh, and heels - I don't think I've had on heels since Spring of last year!? It's kind of exciting ... my feet won't know what to think!

If my clothes don't work, I'll be doing a whirlwind shopping trip on Saturday. Not my favorite kind of shopping and that's when I usually can't find anything that works.

So, not to jinx myself about this job, but I still think it sounds too good to be true. It would be part-time, I can work from home, and they are very family friendly. I've talked to two other women who do what I would be doing and all have had nothing but good things to say about the company and their jobs. We're talking the company paying for nannies for them at the annual company retreat. So, we'll see ... my stay at home gig may be coming to an end.

I've really enjoyed my time home with the girls. They are amazing and I hope that if everything works out, then I can have someone come in to help with them a few days a week, then I won't have to feel like I'm missing out on their day to day activities. I mean, I can handle life without poop and spit-up, but those smiles. I would have to get my daily allotment of smiles.