As you all know, i've been employed for almost seven weeks now. Long story about how it all came about but the ending is still the same - I lost my job of seven years. I was angry. I was sad. I was hurt. Then, it was time to put on my big girl panties and move on.
I have been actively seeking new employment now for seven weeks. Jobs are becoming more readily available, however, the competition is fierce. I was competiting with anywhere between 800 and 1200 applicants. Insane, right? I would be a fool if I said I was not at least slightly worried. I was but I had faith and sometimes that is all you can have.
When job hunting, we all know the basics - get the resume nice and polished, create a excellent selling cover letter and make sure you have a few references under your belt ready and available. Then comes the search! I don't know how you were taught but I was always taught to apply for the jobs that are advertised but the key to landing a job faster is to apply to places that aren't advertising. That's always been the trick for me.
When I am searching for new employment I always do the same things. I first apply at a few temp agencies. This always has my bottom covered incase I cannot find employment or need money fast. They offer temp positions (days, weeks, months) and temp to perm positions (temp for 90 days then permanent). After I've done that I immediately set up my accounts on CareerBuilders, Monster and maybe one or two others if they are out there. I then immediately start to search the sites and submit my resumes to all that I feel would interest me or be considered for. I would follow up on those sites daily, as well as Craigslist. Be careful with Craigslist. A good majority of them are SCAMS! A good way to weed them out is to look very closely at the ads. Check the email address. Does it say end with an @gmail.com? Chances are it's a SCAM! How about the salary amount at the bottom. It's like the old saying goes "If it's too good to be true it probably is." Same applies here. If the ad's salary sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Next up, I open up the phone book. I look over all the local businesses first to see if any would interest me. I then look up online if they have an email address. If so, I will email them my resume for consideration. No email? 1972 it is and one will be mailed. Then, of course, you have the old fashioned way of just walking into an establishment and submitting your application and resume that way. This way takes A LOT of work but it can be worth it - as I'm about to show you.
Three weeks ago I was drafting up my Walk-In Applying game plan. I was planning what areas/business parks I wanted to hit on what days. I say "days" because in my area we have quite a few business parks around us. All of which have a substantial amount of businesses in them. What a perfect opportunity! One I was not about to miss. There was one business park in particular I wanted to visit. It is only about eight to 10 minutes from our home. It would be ideal and absolutely perfect! Along those lines, there were also quite a few companies I would love to work for in that park - one in particular.
It's a company that delivers produce to the entire area. It's family owned and although the business has taken off substantially over the last few years it is fairly small - around 100-200. Certainly a different atmosphere from my last employer. I'm a big health nut so wanting to work for a fruit and vegetable supplier should come as no surprise to all of you. What is even better about this company is that they try to buy from local farmers as much as they can. I especially love this fact. We have to help support the local farmers because without them, where would we be? A job at this company would be a dream come true for me.
The day I had planned to do my walk-in application submissions just so happened to be the day that this company had two positions open. They also already had posted them on an online job site. Great! If I applied a few days earlier I'd have no competion. Now, I'm competting with hundreds, maybe a thousand applicants. Alas, I am determined and will apply anyway.
Three weeks ago was when I applied for this particular company. A week later, I got a phone call for an interview with the HR Director and my potential boss. A week after that, I was being called for a second interview with the CEO. A week after that brings us to yesterday and I was called with a job offer!!!
It is like a dream come true. I also cannot help but to say that it also is probably fate. The way this entire situation with this company has panned out. It just seems like everything aligned. Here is where it gets even better.
I will be doing the same thing I have done for the last 15 years. Even better, the offer was for a slight increase than what I was making at my previous employer. Also, in three years time my new boss is hoping to retire. If/When this happens, they would like to promote me into that roll. The thought is since I will already be working so closely with this individual and know the jobs it would only make sense. This job description would be a significant change from my current one - one that would normally not be able to obtain unless you have a college degree (which I have not finished). This would also mean a significant salary increase. How awesome is that?! So, for the next three years I have a goal - learn everything I can, work to my absolute best and in the end, I will be rewarded. These are all things I would normally do even if I did not have a goal in place but this....this...just makes it so much more exciting. So much more worthy. So much more....well, you get the picture.
So, I get to enjoy two more weeks of Summer off spending time with the Little Bear. I cannot say I am 100% happy and excited about this. I mean, I am but I am also sad. Sad that I have to go back to work leaving Little Bear for at least 40 or so hours a week. It breaks my heart. I will miss her so very much. It will be a rough adjustment for she and I when the time does come. However, I do know that in the end we will adapt well - as we have done in the past. It is, of course, mixed emotions at this time but ones that I am sure will pass and will prove to be worth it in the end.
Time to start writing that next chapter in this book called life.........
