Paid Unemployment

I got my first unemployment check on Friday! It's a pretty decent amount, given the salary I had at my last job, so it'll keep me housed and fed for a while. I'm still looking at jobs, but I'm focusing my efforts on turning my internship into a real, paid gig.

In other news, I've started another blog: One Nerdy Thing. It's a bunch of musings on a range of nerdy topics (politics, literature, geography, etc.). Check it out, please!

Didn't want it, didn't get it; however…

Wednesday, interview day, was more than a little ridiculous. The interview was out of the city, quite a ways away for someone without a car, and it took me almost three hours just to get there using four different means of transportation (bus to underground metro to train to cab). The bus and metro are covered by my monthly pass, but the train was $6 each way and the cab (which the interviewer had told me to take from the train station) was $13 for a single ride. Therefore, I arrived at the interview out of sorts, short $25 (I had to pay upfront for both train tickets), and not really wanting the job. Therefore, my interview (two, actually), was pretty bad. I couldn't feign enough interest in the job nor could I explain why I was really there in the first place.

Determined not to pay another $13 cab fare, I decided to try to take the bus to the train station. Despite having printed directions from one of my interviewers, I couldn't figure out which side of the street to wait on. Then I realized that I only had a $20, which I couldn't use on the bus. After a number of phone calls with my dad (thanks again, Dad!), some directions from someone on the street, and well over an hour of walking, I finally made it back to the train station. The only good thing about this was that I ended up on the same train that I would have taken had I been able to catch the bus.

Late this afternoon I found out that I didn't get the job. No big surprise. I really didn't want it and it showed. However, hours after I wrote my previous post, my boss at my internship told me that she wants to make my position paid. She couldn't promise anything, nor could she promise a full-time job, but it seems promising. I plan on talking to her about it again next week and perhaps we can get the ball rolling on that.

Job Interview!

I had one yesterday. It was just an initial phone interview, but it was about 15 minutes long and it seemed to go well. That was confirmed when I got an invite for an in person interview tomorrow. This isn't necessarily my ideal job, plus it's a contract position, but at this point I need something. Plus, I'd be working for an awesome company, though, because it's a contract position, I'd actually be getting my pay and benefits from a different company.

This is exciting because I could get a job offer, but also because if that happened, I'd have some leverage at my internship, where I really want to work. I feel that my work at the internship should be a real job, one they pay me for; if I get a job offer elsewhere, I can go in and say, "Look, you keep telling me what a great job I'm doing and you don't want me to leave. I've got a job offer elsewhere, but if you can give me a an equal or better offer, I'll stay here." (I won't say that exactly, but that's the gist.)

In other news, I'm keeping grad school as an option, so I'm going to a grad school fair next week. I want to see what's out there so I can make an informed decision. We'll see how this all shakes out.

I have filed for unemployment benefits

What with my last paycheck having arrived two weeks ago and my immediate prospects looking slim, I decided to go ahead and apply for unemployment benefits today. It was a pretty simple process, all things considered, and with any luck, I should start receiving benefits in a couple of weeks. When one signs up for benefits, California requires one to register with CalJobs. So I did. There wasn't much, but I saw a position for a concierge post at one of the top hotels in the city and decided to apply. They have an extensive online application, which I began on right away; when I got about half of the way through, I decided to break for lunch and fill out the rest later.

Fast forward a couple of hours: I just got an e-mail from the hotel saying:

Thank you for your interest in [Name Hidden] Hotels and Resorts. We have received your application for the position of Concierge (Job ########) at The [Name of Hotel] and regret to inform you that we are not able to offer you a position at this time.

What the heck? I hadn't even completed the application. I thought that meant that it hadn't been submitted and that, therefore, no one would look at it. I don't understand. Do you?

What do you make of this?

I saw this job posting on Craigslist today and I'm really curious about the part I bolded. I have no idea what this company does, so it could mean a lot of different things.


Immediate opening for an Operations / Administrative Assistant.

Join a fast paced, online network of media related web properties, including a top 300 global image host. Your role will be to take ownership over a wide range of tasks, including but not limited to:

- Content Review (Please note: Must be comfortable with "not safe for work" content.)
- Time Sensitive Requests
- Website Support Emails


Requirements:

- Ability to follow instructions, be pro-active with a "can-do" attitude
- Strong common sense and the ability to work independently
- Detail-oriented (a must!)
- Must be able to multi-task and be a team player
- Positive and flexible attitude and the ability to shift gears quickly
- Excellent computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, Email, etc.
- Professional and strong communication skills

To be considered for this position, please send your resume and cover letter in Word format with "Operations / Administrative Assistant" in the subject line. Please no attachments.

No Mo' FSO

First off, I want to apologize to *Ily and Lanafactrix who have both left some great comments on my blog. You see, blogger is supposed to e-mail me when somebody comments on a post and it didn't. I just discovered your wonderful bits of advice and wish that I'd read them earlier.

Now, I have one potentially big piece of bad news: my current application to the Foreign Service will go no further. I got an e-mail today from the State Department saying that I will not be interviewing with them for a job. The reason I say potentially bad news is that I'm not sure I'm upset about it. Sure, I would have loved to have the honor of having a job with the State Department, but I don't want to do something for which I'm unprepared.

In other news, I applied for a completely different kind of job: a sales associate position at a national chain of cooking stores. It's part-time, so even if I did get it, it wouldn't be ideal; however, with the holiday season coming up, there's probably the potential for a significant number of hours.

Also, I saw my manager from my last retail job on Friday. After telling her my current situation, she told me that if I'm still looking for a job come October/November, she might hire me for extra help during the holiday season. She and I both hope that I have a "real" job before then, but if I need it, it's nice to know that's a possibility.

Off to apply for more jobs!

Didn't get that one either

Almost two months ago, I found a job posting for an assistant director of admissions opening at my high school. It was an ideal job, so I applied immediately and kept my fingers crossed. Aside from hearing that they'd received my application, I got nothing from them. The curious part was that the ad said they wanted to hire by August 15; however, for weeks after that date, the job was still on their website.

Until today. Oh well. Another one bites the dust.

I did get a bit of hope today, though: I overheard my boss at my internship and a co-worker talking about how they're going to need to hire someone else soon, as there's simply too much work for the current staff to do. Maybe I'll be able to get a job there…