mittenmusings

“So I read your blog today about the email you got from [ex husband #2].”

I nodded, eating dinner.

“Yah, and I could just see you typing, describing him as ‘friendly and smart,’ but then hitting backspace backspace backspace and then going with ‘friendly and smart-ish.‘” He grinned at me, like he’d cracked the Enigma Machine.

I’m laughing around my pasta.

He laughs too. ‘Cuz we both know he’s right.

And I love the fact that he knows me so well.

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I’ve been reading over the past few posts on this blog, and I’ve noticed that I’m coming across as kinda crabby.

Well, maybe it’s because I am. Crabby, that is.

I’d love to be able to maintain a placid demeanor and not let my frustrations bother me. I’d love to examine them, like a piece of litter in the street, and toss them away without a care. I do, indeed, try to do that. I do accept a lot of crap at face value, and can let it go.

But, you know…sometimes you toss that piece of litter, and the wind pushes it out of the receptacle and down the sidewalk. And then you gotta chase it down the street, because, littering is bad, m’kay?

That is all.

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I yearn for a boss who says “I want someone on the team who thinks outside the box.”

…and really means it.

Case in point: one of my interviews last week was with a company with whom I have danced the Recruiting Rhumba before. I’d previously met the main characters: the toothy male VP, the female HR minions that play mice to his Pied Piper. It didn’t go especially well…toothy VP took umbrage at odd things: my treehuggery-ness and my close to 4.0 GPA. But, he said:

Yah, we really value people who have a different way of thinking. Y’know, cliche’ed as it sounds, those people who think outside the box.

Hmmm.

I’m guessing THAT’S why all of the HR staff were in their early 30’s, white, female, and rockin’ GIGANTIC diamond wedding band sets. And VERY white teeth (O to have dental coverage again, but I digress…) Not really a whole lot of room in that crew for a late 30’s, twice-divorced, non-conformist mouthy broad.

But, I am white and female. Got that going for me.

I know Bosses think it’s cool and hip to say they want new ideas and innovation. However, I’m realizing a little late in the game that they really want you to do things the way it’s always been done. Change is scary and threatening.

For example, this company congratulated themselves on implementing dual-sided printing at their corporate print stations, you know, printing on both sides of the paper. As a greening/ cost savings measure.

Viva la revolution.

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Somehow, I received an email this morning from my most recent ex-husband. I say “somehow,” because the salutation was “Friends and family.”

I can assure you I am neither to him.

Anyway, the email wasn’t much of anything. It was a “hey! I’m switching jobs, here’s my contact info yadda yadda.” But the tone was all him, friendly and smart-ish.

I don’t miss him, not after what transpired.

It is amazing, though, how I experienced Lisa’s Three Types of Feelings, the ones I like to call “good, bad, or wierd” all in a rush. Just from a dinky little email that essentially meant nothing.

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This week I had two interviews with prospective employers. They are both places with whom I have interviewed before, about 8-9 months ago. Things just didn’t pan out with either organization oh-so-many moons ago, but they hung onto my information and contacted me recently.

I was joking with my sweetie that I’ve now interviewed with all employers in the county and am starting to make the rounds a second time, but I digress.

One of the employers was really hung up on the fact that I had worked for a Green Nonprofit. The Vice President was all, “You know…the business we have here…it’s decidedly un-Green.” He went on to talk about that for a little bit, expressing his concern about someone with my background.

My reaction? I folded my arms, looked said VP square in the eye and said:

Look, I’m not going to handcuff myself to a tree and make a scene in front of one of your developments, for goodness’ sakes. I’m fine with what this company does and how it does it.

Sure, I went on to elaborate how I didn’t think what they did was especially egregious, and how they were trying to clean up their act with certain environmental controls (which I think every business should do). I told them that I wouldn’t be here, interviewing, if I wasn’t A-OK with things.

But my foot? Oh-so-tasty. Thanks for asking.

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Through my networking, I’ve landed an interview this coming Monday for an HR position. The red flags were up, however, when there wasn’t a title or job description offered about this mysterious opportunity. After a little prodding, I got this oh-so-helpful clarification:

As far as the position, we are restructuring our department, so we don’t have the position defined quite yet.  We want to interview candidates and see what they can bring to our department and determine the specifics after that.

I’m going to go and interview, of course, but it’s my experience that this method doesn’t pan out for anyone. There’s this little managerial tool called a needs assessment. You know, where you figure out what you think you need before you look for it. Where you analyze those gaps between where you are and where you want to be. It’s called planning. Strategizing. It’s HR Management 101.

I’ve been on these kinds of interviews before and they kinda suck. So why am I going on Monday? Because I can’t look any gift horse in the mouth, no matter if it’s a ratty one-eyed nag.

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The sentence “Lisa’s job search hasn’t been going too well” may very well be the understatement of the year.

I’m annoyed at recruiters who don’t bother to actually read my resume. I’ve grown weary of dragging my suit and pumps to my temp gig so I can change in the middle of the day and go on interviews. I’m not amused with being “one of the final two” and not being the one getting the job. Repeatedly.

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking recently, and have decided to broaden my job search dramatically. I’ve been honing in on Human Resources positions, because that’s my area of expertise. Apparently, the southeastern Michigan market is glutted with folks with more experience than myself. So, I’m jumping ship.

I’ve been really enjoying the financial management and accounting aspects of the temp gig I currently have. And, I’m good at it. It’s like I can see where the numbers are supposed to go, and how they fit into the Big Picture. I’m good with technology, no matter what it is.  I’m going to capitalize and market these skills in place of some of the others I have.

There’s just no sense continually beating my head against the wall. If you don’t want me- a smart, well educated, financially savvy, strategic thinker? M’kay. I’ll just find a profession that does.

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Really Great Job with Really Great Company didn’t work out. Yes, it was down to just me and another candidate. Yes, again I lost out because of “the other candidate having more experience in X.”

I usually remain stoic and hopeful about these things. But this one… the people I met were great. The philosophies of the org. aligned with mine. They had a commitment to employee development and education.  It was a place I could see myself growing and learning and thriving. It short, the job and the company met most, if not all the criteria of what I have been looking for.

I know the economy stinks and competition is fierce. I’d just like the Universe to give me a little break, y’know?

(sniff)

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Yesterday I had a first interview with a fairly large organization. I thought I was going for a temp-to-perm gig, but it turned out to be merely temp. No perm. It’s a three month fill-in for someone while they go off and have a baby.

I was disappointed, but I figured, what the hell…I’ll interview anyhoo and see how it goes. Three months of making twice what I’m making now? Well, that wouldn’t be so bad.

The interview commences and it’s the usual stuff: HR manager, then prospective teammates, then the HR manager again. We talked about the job, and it was obvious from the get-go:

I was WAY overqualified.

You know it’s a bad sign when the HR Manager says things like: “Gosh, I’m not sure if this job will keep you interested enough for three months, given your background.” And, “Oh…benefits and compensation (my areas of expertise)? Oh no, we don’t do that here…it’s outsourced, thank goodness.”  And then she asked:

“Do you know PowerPoint?”

It took all my willpower to not whack my head on the conference room table.

I doubt I’ll get a call back from this one. And that is OK.

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Senator Obama was in Michigan yesterday talkin’ energy. Senator McCain is here today doing the same thing. I think both Presidential candidates are getting the idea that dependence on fossil fuels has to lessen or cease in the not so distant future. The Greenie Treehugger in me wants to turn cartwheels over this.

The candidates are talking in broad theoreticals about “energy industry.” I’m not even really sure what that is. How about talking about things that us regular folks can appreciate and do?

I have been complaining since 1999, when I moved to Michigan from Massachusetts, about the lack of public transportation in this state. Yes, I know, we are the cradle of the auto industry and all that. It would be contradictory to build light rail, etc. in the heart of Big Three Land.

You know what? I don’t care.

All I know is that there are opportunities for jobs in Detroit that I cannot consider because I cannot get there safely and efficiently. I live about 40 minutes due west of downtown Detroit on a day that there’s no bad weather, construction, or traffic. I’d LOVE to be able to get downtown to work in some of them there fancy glass buildings. However, my 11 year old VW and 36 year old body just can’t handle the traffic and crappy roads. Plus, the cost of commuting (newer car, fuel, parking) would completely consume the increase in salary I could acheive. It’d be a wash.

Now, a train or bus service that I could rely on? I’d be all over that. It’d allow me to expand my job search. It would postpone my having to purchase a newer vehicle. I’d use less gas on a personal basis. I’d have quiet time in the morning and evening to rest, read, or work- not battle traffic.

My options now are limited. I have researched, and there is ONE bus that services a route between here and Detroit on weekdays. One trip in the morning and one trip in the evening is all they run. Miss that and you are driving….or screwed. I think this is shameful and sad.

I love my adopted state, but the powers that be really need to get their heads out of their asses on this issue….and so many more.

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