Happier Cows: Debbie Downer

I was going to summarize all my interviews thus far, but first let me give a quick rundown/response to some comments to yesterday's post:

Melaina & AM - I was a student too, but I was also in a paid graduate assistant position. It was only a 2 year position, so I didn't quit, but I wasn't laid off either. It's just kind of...over. But, I was/am used to having an income from it that was (sadly) my livelihood, and I don't have it anymore.

Nic - Thank you. I've been reading your entries about how you've been feeling and I know that every time I've thought about how much I can relate. I'm sorry I haven't commented on it sooner.

Anyway...

So I've had multiple interviews with 3 different places so far.

Prospect 1:
The first is for an admin job at the VA hospital. It's the federal government, so things move really slow. I had one interview at the end of May that was with 5 people and it went really well. About 2 weeks later I had another interview with them - they called and wanted to know if I could come in THAT DAY. That wasn't very convenient since Corey and I were about to head to a Brewers game about 2 hours later.

I told them that if they didn't mind me coming in there dressed for a ball game, then I didn't mind being there in an hour. So I went...with only an hour's notice. That one went really well too. That time there were only 2 people there, one I had met already and one I had not. That one went REALLY well.

They really only had one concern and they were very blatant about it. They feel that I am WAY overqualified for the job and that it doesn't pay me anything near what I'm worth. Well...athletic training doesn't really translate over to anything but athletic training so really, what else can I do about it? It would be a career change - I can't expect to start high in it. Anyway...still waiting for a call on that either way. Should know soon...we are creeping up on a month. Added bonus with this job: I'd be able to retire at age 50 since I already have some federal time in service.

Prospect 2:
This job is an industrial/occupational athletic training job through one company for a department store supply/logistics warehouse (both shall remain nameless for the sake of the blog - email me if you are dying to know for some reason). I REALLY wanted this job. It is close to where I live, pays well (for athletic training), has normal workday hours (which I dream about), benefits, PTO, holidays, nights, and weekends off. You know...Things I Forgot Exist.

I applied on a Wednesday morning - RIGHT after it was first posted. On Friday, 2 days later, I had an email from the main recruiter guy wanting me to call him right away to discuss the position further. Ok! I called right away. Left a voicemail. No response. Then comes Monday. Tuesday. I send an email back to him with my info again blah blah blah. Wednesday. WTH? Finally on Thursday (after I was stupidly starting to take in personally) I get a phone call back - apparently they had a wicked power outage in Texas and everything was messed up and behind schedule and then the poor guy had to deal with taking his mom to eye surgery.

He pretty much phone-interviewed me on the spot. Then told me the regional manager for the position would contact me in a few days. She did, and also basically phone-interviewed me right then and there. We also scheduled an in-person interview at the warehouse site with 3 of the people in charge there for last Friday (the 26th).

Unfortunately by that day I had very little voice left. It was hoarse, but it was there. Anyway. That interview didn't go very well. For starters, they have very little knowledge on what exactly an athletic trainer is and does and is capable of. They have had an RN working there for the last 20 years so I guess I shouldn't really expect them to...except for the fact that they are switching to the AT model now but whatever. Then, it was pretty clear throughout the interview and the questions that they were asking me that I definitely do not have the experience they are looking for. Either that or their expectations are way off. Honestly I'm not sure which it is or if it is a little of both.

They basically want someone with a ton of prevention program developing and implementation experience (it was more specific than that - this is just the vague version of the story), and a lot of workers comp experience, among other things. Also, I saw the guy they interviewed before me while he was on his way out. Then, while we were in there, I was spying across the table and saw his name on a paper.

So...OBVIOUSLY I googled him when I got home. Obviously.

Yeah. I am SO not getting this job. Unless, of course, he turns it down. 1) He already works for the company that is staffing the postion.... 2) doing WORK COMP CLAIMS AND SERVICES. And, based on what I saw, he is much more likely to have experience with the prevention program than I am.

I do have a couple things in my favor, but I don't think it's enough. I am capable of spelling the words "bachelor", "licensed", "undergrad", and "procedure" (as opposed to batchler, liscenes, undergrade, and prucedure). AND I have a masters degree...he doesn't. Unfortunately I don't think that is as important to them as experience.

Prospect 3:
This is for a high school. It would be a much better and more supported position than the one I am in now, but otherwise it would be a whole lot more of the same. I'm not very excited about this position, but it wouldn't be bad. I already met with a recruiter for the health care company that is staffing the position, and then today I met with the people who would be my supervisor(s). I really liked them, but I'm just not so keen on dealing with more of the same stuff that has been driving me nuts all along, but with a snobbier, more spoiled, and more in-the-spotlight high school. Blah.

So yeah, that's that.

I have a little bit of voice back. My doctor wanted me to switch to an expectorant after a few days of the codeine (and save the codeine for night time) and I think that will help a lot with clearing all this crap out of me and give my vocal cords an unobstructed chance to move around again. We shall see.

Is it weird that in the last 2 days I've developed an irrational fear that my vocal chords are going to forget how to function?

A few weeks ago I told myself I was going to be a better blogger. Aim for a post every other day at least, I thought.

*cough*

Hmm.

I know why I haven't done it, but my reasons for not posting are the EXACT. SAME. REASONS. that I should be writing. To get it all out.

You see, I'm slinking back into my Bad Place. I know I am. I'm pretty sure the only thing keeping me out of The Bad Place is the fact that my mom has been doing and sounding so well.

Otherwise...well...otherwise I manage to turn just about EVERY conversation I participate in into whatever Debbie Downer thing creeps into my head first, since every good thing seems to remind me of some other thing in my life that is really sucking. So, of course I've been avoiding people because I really can't stand the idea of dragging any and/or everyone down with me when I'm like this. I hate that I can take everyone's advice but my own.

Here is the short version of what is going on in my life right now:

I still have no job.
Today was my last paycheck.
I'm not sure I qualify for unemployment.
The weather was stupid hot for about a week, which of course made me extra cranky and miserable.
I've been sick since Wednesday, and haven't had a voice since Friday.
I had a fairly crappy interview on Friday for a job I really really wanted.
I have another interview tomorrow (July 1st) - but I still have no voice. Not sure how that is going to work, but I know I can't reschedule it again because I already did it once. It was originally supposed to have been on Monday.
I had no interest in this job...until my other interview sucked. I am running out of options.
I did finally go to the doctor yesterday (Monday). Bronchitis, laryngitis, and an infection in my throat. Fabulous.