One Year and Counting

Still unemployed after a year. But it is not for lack of trying. I have sent out at least 2 applications/resumes each week. Most weeks it was three or four. I have approached my job search in a very organized manner and sensible manner. I never blindly send out resumes. I always targeted them to either specific ads or specific companies which I research.
Now, I am asking you - the one or two people that still check this blog. Do you know of any jobs either in IT or retail sales. I would prefer the job to be somewhere in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia or in Central West Virginia (telecommuting would be great as well)

Please let me know if you know of anything.



Thank You!

Another Interview

I recently had another job interview.  This job seemed to me perfect - an IT job in an area I wanted to live.  My skill set matched the ad almost perfectly.  I thought the interview went well.  Then I was notified by email that there was another candidate who matched more closely what they were looking for than me.

Nothing like a kick in the gut to wake you up.  From now on, I will redouble my efforts to find a job, refine my interview skills, review old skills and learn new skills.  I really need a job.

Still looking for work.

I am still grinding out my job search.

I am looking for something either in the IT, Database, or Web industries.  I would like the job to be somewhere in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.

I am hardworking, loyal, and am very good at analyzing business processes.

If you are hiring, or know of someone how is hiring, please let me know.

The search continues...

Shoveling!

Well for the last 7 days I have been shoveling snow and shoveling snow and then shoveling more snow.  We officially got a total of 52 inches of snow from 2 different storms.  Who needs to go to the gym when you have snow. 

On the job front, I have put two applications out this week. It was really hard with all the shoveling.  (Did I mention I shoveled snow this week?)

The kids will be missing a total of at least 7 days of school as they have already called off school for Monday.  They have really enjoyed the snow until today.  I think they got burned out on it.  I guess it's a case of too much of a good thing.

I Have a New Laptop

I bought a new laptop last week and I now have it up and running almost to my satisfaction.  Now all I need to do is find a job I can use it for.  If  you know of any IT or database jobs either in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia or a telecommute job, I would greatly appreciate hearing about it.  Hopefully I will find something soon.  I am too good at what I do to be out of work for long. 

Still No Job

I am looking. I am submitting applications. It is only a matter of time until some company realizes they need me.

In the meantime, I am keeping my computer skills sharp. Working with spreadsheets and databases at home.

I am also starting to cook and bake again. A few years ago, I was pretty good. I am a little rusty, but it is a lot of fun .

Unemployment Sucks!

Yes, my friends, unemployment sucks. I feel so useless right now. I am not able to use the skills I went to school to learn and spent years honing. Now I am filling out applications and sending out emails in the hopes that, for whatever reason, my application or resume catches someones eye.

With so many out of work these days it is hard.

Well, back to the job search.

Looking for Work Again

Yep. I am looking for work again. If there is any business in the Eastern Panhandle of WV looking for an extremely hard worker, look no further. I have experience in Retail and IT.

More later...

The Latest

Hello again! I has been a while. So much stuff happening around here.

My children are doing great in school. They love learning! My youngest got an award for the most improvement for the 2nd 9 weeks of school. His first nine weeks were a little rough. But once he figured out that if he behaves school is fun, he settled right in.

My daughter's reading skills have jumped exponentially. At the beginning of the year, she could barely read, and this past week she read a book on a fourth grade level and only needed help with one word!

My job is just that right now - a job. I just found out they shorted me on my latest paycheck. Grrr! I should have had a promotion and a raise by now, but my manager keeps putting off the training I need to get to the next level. I keep asking when I can get the training, and I get the big brush off each time. "When I can get it scheduled." "I can't right now, we are short-handed."

Well if you can't get my paycheck right and you can't get me the training I need to be even more effective, then maybe you will be even more short-handed in the future.

I think I will start a new jobsearch shortly. I think I have given this one enough time.


On another front, I have taken off another 20 pounds since last May. I now am at my lowest weight in about 15 years! I feel better (although I think more sleep is helping that too) than I have in ages.

Well enough about me, how about you? Your comments and questions are always welcome here.

Life... Happens

Since the last day I posted, I have been working my butt off at my new job. So far it is not bad and I think I am pretty damn good at it too. I am not sure I like the shifting shifts though. Some weeks I have worked all three shifts. My body clock is still ticking so I think I can handle this.

The school year just ended. My wife, the teacher, is now less stressed. My daughter who just finished kindergarten is ready to go back so she can be a 1st grader. And my son can't wait to start kindergarten. He wants to go to big kid's school so badly.

More later.

A Working Man Once Again

After what seems like an eternity (11 months), I finally convinced someone to hire me. I was beginning to worry that no one would ever hire me. Oh well, now that I am getting a paycheck once more, I can look a bit more carefully and closely to find opportunities to find things which will increase substantially the money coming into this household.

It actually feels like a giant weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I can breathe a little easier.

Well, I found out last week that one of my good friends will be going back to Iraq at the end of June. This will be his second tour of the area. He went over before the fighting started there and was part of a unit that took Baghdad Airport. His mission will be different this time. I think I will be more worried about him this time.

I should update this weekend sometime.

Wednesday

I hate being out of work. It makes me feel like a slimy leech. I have a wife and 2 kids to take care of and without a paycheck coming in, I feel very uncomfortable to say the least. I have retail management experience, I have IT experience, database experience, reporting software experience, and Development Management experience. None of that seems to matter here in the Eastern Panhandle of WV. If, on the off chance that anyone is reading this, and you know of any jobs in the Eastern Panhandle area, please let me know. I have been and would be an extremely hard worker. In the past 18 years I have worked for exactly 2 companies - one for 7 years and one for 10 years. I have never been fired. I work well in groups or alone. I am a self starter at work and need minimal direction. Hire me!

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

In the past two months, I have filled out more applications and sent out more resumes than I can count. I have interviewed 4 times so far at 3 different companies and still no job offers. I am either over qualified or under qualified. I just want to work and make enough money to pay the mortgage and feed my family. Is that too much to ask?

I thought all the interviews went well. I showcased my abilities, acknowledged my weaknesses in ways that show I know my limits and am working to improve. I made good eye contact and showed confidence. Hire me damn it! I am good. In the last 19 years I have held exactly 2 jobs. I think the interviewers are looking at that and saying, "Jeez, if we hire him we are stuck with him."
And I am thinking that it means I am good at what I do, and I am a loyal employee. One of the jobs I will hear about in about 3 weeks. One of the jobs I will hear back next Wednesday.

I did turn down a job offer last month. I was offered a job as a Front Desk Clerk at a local Mom & Pop owned Motel. They were only paying $7 an hour. After taxes, it wouldn't even cover the mortgage. At least someone wants to hire me.

I guess trying to find a tech job or any job even in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia is too much to ask for. If anyone stumbles across this and is hiring, please contact me!

The week so far

Hello again. Glad you could stop by.

This week is a bit weird. I spent Monday filling out job applications in person and on-line. Haven't gotten a nibble from this batch. It is interesting to see what different companies ask for on a job application though. I won't go into it here, let's just say some companies are very nosy for something that a manager generally glances at for 10 seconds.

Tuesday, my wife had an early meeting as school and then took the rest of the day off to take care of personal business. While she was here that morning, I got a call from one of the companies I applied to a week and a half ago. I have an interview tomorrow (3/16/07) at 10:00am. It is an opening for "Help Desk Coordinator". I worked Help Desks for 2 different companies for a total of about 6 years. And I have management experience! I will excel at this job. All I have to do is convince them. I have been and am damn good at any job.

Wednesday I had both children at home as they both got sick last night. Multiple times if you know what I mean. The laundry was lovely. The good old stomach flu. And while I was home taking care of them, my wife gets sick at school. Now they are all looking at me and wondering when I will get sick. With my current luck, it will be tomorrow during the job interview.

"So your resume says you worked on the Help Desk at ABC Corp., what did you find most challenging about that?"

"Well, the most challenging part of the job was actually..." [Throwing up all over desk and interviewer.]

Hopefully that scene will not play out.