So I realized something yesterday.
I think I'd rather be a blue collar worker. Not necessarily the stereotypes of construction or things like that, but I really don't mind wearing a uniform.
Right now I work in an office type environment, tethered to a desk for 8 hours and it drives me crazy. Only reading blogs online can keep me occupied in my down times for so long. My limbs long for walking and standing.
It's ironic because I always saw myself as a sort of up and coming business woman wearing epic heels and pencil skirts, giving presentations and holding meetings. I walk by the meeting rooms at work now and cringe. No one looks glamorous, or like they're even enjoying a minute of their work. They all sit, staring at their laptops while watching Power Points full of graphs and data.
*Excuse me while I vomit*
Now I know that I don't just want to be a "worker" my whole life. I want to move up, get promoted, manage. Just maybe not in an white collar type office.
The more and more I think about it, the more I realize the only thing I've truly been passionate about my entire life is people. Now I do wish it was something a little more sell-able, like photography or being an expert harp player or something, but it's just not. I love people. I also love helping them by being as knowledgeable as I can be on my subject of work. Just ask Husband or Twixter Two. I know far too much random crap than any person ever should.
So yeah. Now I just have to wait 5 months to see if Disney is going to be it for me. Maybe I could handle working in an office if I love what I'm working for. Or who I'm working for.
What do you think? Are you more Blue Collar or White Collar? Or something in between like me?
Showing posts with label job. Show all posts
Showing posts with label job. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
April Fools!
April Fools was always a fun holiday in our house and my Dad has endured year after year of the sugar-to-salt switcher-roo in his morning coffee. Some of the pranks have been funny, others predictable, and one or two outright mean. But it being April Fool’s Day always managed to soften the blow.
Yesterday was March 31, and around 3:00p and my coworker and I were hit with the normal mid-afternoon boredom. Our minds don’t sit idle for long and we decided that it was prime time to play an April Fools day joke on The Boss.
We had already coordinated for everyone in our small office to call in sick (which the boss picked up after the first text) but then I stumbled upon this great little gem on Instructables.
My boss LIVES off of his computer and while you would think that would make him a computer-expert, I get an exasperated call into my office 4 or 5 times a day to come and fix this computer bug or to show him where the short cut is for that. Of course the perfect April Fool’s Day joke would be to help the computer along in it’s little “mix ups.” So while The Boss was away I slipped onto his computer to install “The Total Confusion Combo Pack” - sure to spark his computer into dozens of little mix ups the moment the clock struck midnight on April 1st.
My co-worker and I were barely holding our laughter when we started to hear the “HMPHs” and “HAWs” around 9 am this morning. I don’t know how I kept a straight face when he called me into his office moments later with a “Why is my firefox switching around all the letters?” and “What is this Rick Roll’d thing?” I had him opening and shutting windows, restarting and clearing his cache numerous times before we could hold it in no longer.
“How long has it been doing this?” I asked from across the wall, sitting in my office where I could hide my grin.
“Since I woke up at 3 am this morning - I’ve restarted the thing over 100 times! Could I have a virus?”
At the 6-hour mark, I don’t think the joke could have been anymore perfect.
I bargained with The Boss that if I could fix his computer he would have to take the entire company out to lunch. After he agreed it took two clicks on the tool bar and his computer was back to it’s pristine condition.
My chicken-wrap at lunch never tasted more sweet.
Did you play an April Fools Day joke today? Or maybe one was played on you? Let us know in the comments below.
Either way, I hope everyone had a good laugh this April Fools!
Yesterday was March 31, and around 3:00p and my coworker and I were hit with the normal mid-afternoon boredom. Our minds don’t sit idle for long and we decided that it was prime time to play an April Fools day joke on The Boss.
We had already coordinated for everyone in our small office to call in sick (which the boss picked up after the first text) but then I stumbled upon this great little gem on Instructables.
My boss LIVES off of his computer and while you would think that would make him a computer-expert, I get an exasperated call into my office 4 or 5 times a day to come and fix this computer bug or to show him where the short cut is for that. Of course the perfect April Fool’s Day joke would be to help the computer along in it’s little “mix ups.” So while The Boss was away I slipped onto his computer to install “The Total Confusion Combo Pack” - sure to spark his computer into dozens of little mix ups the moment the clock struck midnight on April 1st.
My co-worker and I were barely holding our laughter when we started to hear the “HMPHs” and “HAWs” around 9 am this morning. I don’t know how I kept a straight face when he called me into his office moments later with a “Why is my firefox switching around all the letters?” and “What is this Rick Roll’d thing?” I had him opening and shutting windows, restarting and clearing his cache numerous times before we could hold it in no longer.
“How long has it been doing this?” I asked from across the wall, sitting in my office where I could hide my grin.
“Since I woke up at 3 am this morning - I’ve restarted the thing over 100 times! Could I have a virus?”
At the 6-hour mark, I don’t think the joke could have been anymore perfect.
I bargained with The Boss that if I could fix his computer he would have to take the entire company out to lunch. After he agreed it took two clicks on the tool bar and his computer was back to it’s pristine condition.
My chicken-wrap at lunch never tasted more sweet.
Did you play an April Fools Day joke today? Or maybe one was played on you? Let us know in the comments below.
Either way, I hope everyone had a good laugh this April Fools!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Thanks, But No Thanks.
So, I had an interesting week at my job here at the call center.
First, I was offered to produce (with zero budget mind you) a training video encompassing all the different departments of the company. It’s going to be cheesy, very corporate and I’m in love with the project. There’s a new kid in the training class (who is a d-bag who thinks he's God's gift to broadcasting,but working in a call center) who has all the equipment I’d need. He’s a broadcast major who’s very excited to help/take over the entire project. Ehem.
THEN after that, my trainer, whom we shall call Trainer (I’m creative, I know), approached me and asked me if I was good at Excel. Let me give a little back story on young Twixter Two. I was the child, where at age 9, created an Excel document of my Christmas wish list. I included graphs breaking up my gifts by cost brackets, what stores they were from and level of desire.
I’m completely serious.
But after that, all I’ve know is above the average person about excel. I can fix basic problems and create general formulas.
So I told Trainer that I was good at Excel. I am, above the average Joe. So I had a meeting with the big boss on campus, whom we shall call Bundles. Well, Bundles offered me Friday, “a loan”. What this loan means is while my pay and title remain the same, I am on loan to Bundles to help with the corporate Excel documents. Highly classified information about the company, including performance reports, etc. Well, Bundles wanted me to repackage the information into different graphs and formulas. And learn a technique called VLOOKUP.
Now I accepted the position. I was dazzled. I’m brand new to this company, only starting out on February 1st. To be offered something like this is unreal. It was implied that if I stayed and showed the stuff I was doing had some value, it would become an actual management position.
Then I went home. Husband helped un-dazzle me of the excitement of getting offer a kind-of-promotion. And I spent 2 hours trying to learn VLOOKUP. I had no idea what it was talking about. I’m a fast learner, but I researched VLOOKUP on 5 different Excel sites and still could not figure it out. This was a problem, since that was going to be my main formula. Then I had some questions. I’m not getting a raise, but I have more responsibility: would my title change? What can I write down on my résumé? If I change my hours, will that affect this?
After all the questions rolled around in my head, and the lack of Excel knowledge, on top of the fact that Husband and I are moving in less than 6 months, why would I take this position? For 1, it’s way over my head. For 2, it’s not very beneficial to a company to train someone for a promotional job when they’re going to be leaving. For 3, I was scared out of my mind I would suck completely at it.
So I talked to Bundles this morning and was very honest. It had nothing to do with her, just the fact that if it were my company, I wouldn’t want me to take the position. Bundles was very surprised by my honesty. Not many people would sacrifice getting off the phones in a call center life.
Little does she know I just didn’t want to give up my bonuses. (Bwahahahaha).
First, I was offered to produce (with zero budget mind you) a training video encompassing all the different departments of the company. It’s going to be cheesy, very corporate and I’m in love with the project. There’s a new kid in the training class (who is a d-bag who thinks he's God's gift to broadcasting,but working in a call center) who has all the equipment I’d need. He’s a broadcast major who’s very excited to help/take over the entire project. Ehem.
THEN after that, my trainer, whom we shall call Trainer (I’m creative, I know), approached me and asked me if I was good at Excel. Let me give a little back story on young Twixter Two. I was the child, where at age 9, created an Excel document of my Christmas wish list. I included graphs breaking up my gifts by cost brackets, what stores they were from and level of desire.
I’m completely serious.
But after that, all I’ve know is above the average person about excel. I can fix basic problems and create general formulas.
So I told Trainer that I was good at Excel. I am, above the average Joe. So I had a meeting with the big boss on campus, whom we shall call Bundles. Well, Bundles offered me Friday, “a loan”. What this loan means is while my pay and title remain the same, I am on loan to Bundles to help with the corporate Excel documents. Highly classified information about the company, including performance reports, etc. Well, Bundles wanted me to repackage the information into different graphs and formulas. And learn a technique called VLOOKUP.
Now I accepted the position. I was dazzled. I’m brand new to this company, only starting out on February 1st. To be offered something like this is unreal. It was implied that if I stayed and showed the stuff I was doing had some value, it would become an actual management position.
Then I went home. Husband helped un-dazzle me of the excitement of getting offer a kind-of-promotion. And I spent 2 hours trying to learn VLOOKUP. I had no idea what it was talking about. I’m a fast learner, but I researched VLOOKUP on 5 different Excel sites and still could not figure it out. This was a problem, since that was going to be my main formula. Then I had some questions. I’m not getting a raise, but I have more responsibility: would my title change? What can I write down on my résumé? If I change my hours, will that affect this?
After all the questions rolled around in my head, and the lack of Excel knowledge, on top of the fact that Husband and I are moving in less than 6 months, why would I take this position? For 1, it’s way over my head. For 2, it’s not very beneficial to a company to train someone for a promotional job when they’re going to be leaving. For 3, I was scared out of my mind I would suck completely at it.
So I talked to Bundles this morning and was very honest. It had nothing to do with her, just the fact that if it were my company, I wouldn’t want me to take the position. Bundles was very surprised by my honesty. Not many people would sacrifice getting off the phones in a call center life.
Little does she know I just didn’t want to give up my bonuses. (Bwahahahaha).
Monday, February 15, 2010
Sick Day
Today I’m out of work on a sick day.
Back when I was fresh out of college, a sick day sounded like a wonderful idea. Getting paid to stay at home and be sick - AWESOME! Of course, those were the days where I operated off of the thought that if I woke up with the teeniest of headaches (regardless of last nights activities) it was totally worth it to ditch classes.
Of course, in the real world staying home sick from work doesn’t work that way. I’ll go to work coughing and sneezing and ugggghing in order not to take a sick day. Because one day sick equals about 3 days worth of catch up, and most of the time it just isn’t worth it. Of course, most of my office tends to have this same “work through the pain” mentality, which means for a couple months at the end of last year our office was an feasting ground for whatever the hip disease at the moment was.
However today there was just no way I was crawling out of bed before noon. It’s 1:00 and I’m just now stumbling out of my PJs - right into another pair.
All this to say, sorry about the shortage of posts over the last week / weekend. I promise more to come as soon as I Ahh Ahh AhhhhhCHEW! Well, you get the idea.
Back when I was fresh out of college, a sick day sounded like a wonderful idea. Getting paid to stay at home and be sick - AWESOME! Of course, those were the days where I operated off of the thought that if I woke up with the teeniest of headaches (regardless of last nights activities) it was totally worth it to ditch classes.
Of course, in the real world staying home sick from work doesn’t work that way. I’ll go to work coughing and sneezing and ugggghing in order not to take a sick day. Because one day sick equals about 3 days worth of catch up, and most of the time it just isn’t worth it. Of course, most of my office tends to have this same “work through the pain” mentality, which means for a couple months at the end of last year our office was an feasting ground for whatever the hip disease at the moment was.
However today there was just no way I was crawling out of bed before noon. It’s 1:00 and I’m just now stumbling out of my PJs - right into another pair.
All this to say, sorry about the shortage of posts over the last week / weekend. I promise more to come as soon as I Ahh Ahh AhhhhhCHEW! Well, you get the idea.
Friday, February 12, 2010
PAY DAY!
I'm sure this will happen a lot because I tend to get forgetful when a big change happens in my life. Bear with me this morning as I'm drinking my coffee as we speak and still trying to process how to spell. (Thank the lord for spell check). I'm an hour and a half early since I carpooled with Mom. But at least I didn't have to pay for the gas.
Today is PAY DAY. I'm so excited to receive my first check in 6 months. It feels strange to be living on paychecks again instead of installments of money at random times. Husband and I created an intense budget based on our wages. It's very strange to plan out my money so specifically. I've always tried, but never really succeeded in keeping with it. Partially because I never really understood how expensive "unexpected" expenses were. (That's a tonge twister. Expensive unexpected expenses. ha) We're saving for something pretty huge. (Blog on that to come probably Monday.)
But needless to say, working 40 hours a week will finally start to feel like it's paying off. I have to constantly remind myself that this job is worth it. It's a stepping stone. I won't be doing this for the rest of my life. Thank God.
It's hard to imagine people who stay in jobs they hate. I know how important money is to survival, but I would rather be slightly poorer but happier in a job I enjoy versus a job that pays well. Don't get me wrong, I understand the concept of working a very well paid job that you don't like so you can enjoy your time off. You can have a great house, nicer clothes, better vacations, etc. But that little happiness you look foreward to versus a general happiness all the time just doesn't seem worth it to me.
I might feel differently when I have kids though. We shall see.
Today is PAY DAY. I'm so excited to receive my first check in 6 months. It feels strange to be living on paychecks again instead of installments of money at random times. Husband and I created an intense budget based on our wages. It's very strange to plan out my money so specifically. I've always tried, but never really succeeded in keeping with it. Partially because I never really understood how expensive "unexpected" expenses were. (That's a tonge twister. Expensive unexpected expenses. ha) We're saving for something pretty huge. (Blog on that to come probably Monday.)
But needless to say, working 40 hours a week will finally start to feel like it's paying off. I have to constantly remind myself that this job is worth it. It's a stepping stone. I won't be doing this for the rest of my life. Thank God.
It's hard to imagine people who stay in jobs they hate. I know how important money is to survival, but I would rather be slightly poorer but happier in a job I enjoy versus a job that pays well. Don't get me wrong, I understand the concept of working a very well paid job that you don't like so you can enjoy your time off. You can have a great house, nicer clothes, better vacations, etc. But that little happiness you look foreward to versus a general happiness all the time just doesn't seem worth it to me.
I might feel differently when I have kids though. We shall see.
Friday, February 5, 2010
The 10-Year-Plan
I had a new ream of business cards printed about a month ago, but today was the first day I broke the seal and passed along my newly minted card - with my not so newly minted title.
Almost three-months ago now, I got a promotion at work. It’s was kinda a shock to me, being that I had only been at the company for six-months, but I loved the new responsibilities and change of pace.
Only, it came with a catch.
The Boss has had a bit of a history with assistants lately, managing to go through quite a number in the last couple years. When I first started the job I was told by more than one of The Boss’ friends and colleagues that my best title was “The Boss’ CURRENT Assistant.” Yea, that’s a good way to scare the new girl.
Luckily, The Boss and I hit it off great and not only did he keep me around - he promoted me! But in fact, he wanted to do both. My title switched to Client Coordinator - I now handle all the communication between our clients and the company, as well as (!) Coordinating all the shoots we do out in LA. But my pay remained the same, and my job responsibilities didn’t change - they doubled.
So now, I’m juggling both the assistant job and the coordinator gig, for the one low price of an assistant. The money woes are frustrating (that’s another blog entirely) but I’m ecstatic to add Coordinator to my title - it’s one GIANT step closer to where I want to be long-term. (Which actually IS as a Coordinator - only in a much larger role.)
Of course, the assistant gig continues. I’m still on hold with Hertz and managing The Boss’ appointments, and there are days where 5:30 hits and I still have a stack a mile high teetering on my desk. There’s points where it gets overwhelming, but I love my new title.
Originally, I had very short-term goals for this job. I figured I’d hold the assistant job for a year or two and then try for bigger and better things. But now the slightly bigger and slightly better things have found me, which again throws a huge spin on Twixter One’s set-in-stone life plan. Suddenly, I find myself working in a place I never thought I’d want to work (small office in a very niche market) but working on the first step towards my dream job - a step that should have taken at least a couple years post-grad to reach.
Throughout high school and college, my profs emphasized the need to have a “life plan.” The 5-year-plan / 10-year-plan assignment came up on more than one semester. Now, when I’m only 1-year out in that 10-year plan, nothing has gone the way I planned. It’s not better - not worse - but different entirely. My dreams change every year, my goals change every year, and my circumstances change by the month.
So what was the point of my 10-year-plan again?
Almost three-months ago now, I got a promotion at work. It’s was kinda a shock to me, being that I had only been at the company for six-months, but I loved the new responsibilities and change of pace.
Only, it came with a catch.
The Boss has had a bit of a history with assistants lately, managing to go through quite a number in the last couple years. When I first started the job I was told by more than one of The Boss’ friends and colleagues that my best title was “The Boss’ CURRENT Assistant.” Yea, that’s a good way to scare the new girl.
Luckily, The Boss and I hit it off great and not only did he keep me around - he promoted me! But in fact, he wanted to do both. My title switched to Client Coordinator - I now handle all the communication between our clients and the company, as well as (!) Coordinating all the shoots we do out in LA. But my pay remained the same, and my job responsibilities didn’t change - they doubled.
So now, I’m juggling both the assistant job and the coordinator gig, for the one low price of an assistant. The money woes are frustrating (that’s another blog entirely) but I’m ecstatic to add Coordinator to my title - it’s one GIANT step closer to where I want to be long-term. (Which actually IS as a Coordinator - only in a much larger role.)
Of course, the assistant gig continues. I’m still on hold with Hertz and managing The Boss’ appointments, and there are days where 5:30 hits and I still have a stack a mile high teetering on my desk. There’s points where it gets overwhelming, but I love my new title.
Originally, I had very short-term goals for this job. I figured I’d hold the assistant job for a year or two and then try for bigger and better things. But now the slightly bigger and slightly better things have found me, which again throws a huge spin on Twixter One’s set-in-stone life plan. Suddenly, I find myself working in a place I never thought I’d want to work (small office in a very niche market) but working on the first step towards my dream job - a step that should have taken at least a couple years post-grad to reach.
Throughout high school and college, my profs emphasized the need to have a “life plan.” The 5-year-plan / 10-year-plan assignment came up on more than one semester. Now, when I’m only 1-year out in that 10-year plan, nothing has gone the way I planned. It’s not better - not worse - but different entirely. My dreams change every year, my goals change every year, and my circumstances change by the month.
So what was the point of my 10-year-plan again?
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Being a Big Girl. And Going To Work.
Well, this will be my last weekend as an unemployed citizen. It's a bitter sweet feeling. As much as I've enjoyed sitting around the house doing nothing all the time, the empty wallet is not a feeling I've grown to like.
As I mentioned before, this job that starts Monday is the one job I didn't want. It's a "responsible adult" job that just does not sound fun in the slightest. I'll be working in the retention department of a call center for an internet provider. Not exactly what I would call a party, but the job is full time and pays better than any job I've ever had. It's going to be so amazing feeling to open my paycheck and see it's over $400. With only having part time jobs prior to this, it will be very weird to work for 40 hours a week. One other cool perk is I get free wireless internet installed where I live. Not to shabby.
I'm working on being very honest about my emotions in this blog, so bear with me. (Twixter One can attest, I don't often talk about my emotions. Just how I grew up I guess.)
I'm really freaking scared of this job. I'm terrified of not wanting to wake up each day because I hate 40 hours out of my 168 I get each week. That's 24% of my week. And say I sleep 8 hours a night. That leaves 52% of my week untouched. That's not a lot. It sounds like it is. But it isn't. What if the money isn't enough? I just really want to pay my bills off and have a bit of a savings. Sorry for the math lesson. Just a small peek into how my nerdy mind works.
But there's something else... What I'm really scared of is actually liking it. What if I really like this job and don't want to leave? I'm a goal oriented person. I like promotion and training and teaching. What if this place gives me the opportunity? Vegas was supposed to be extremely temporary. Move here, save some money and get the hell out. The longer I stay here, the harder it will be to leave. But I also don't want to leave too early. I don't want to be some place else with no job and no one to help us like we luckily have out here.
But then when is the right time to leave? I feel like I'm on the edge of a fence on a hot day. On one side, there's an awesome tree with shade. On the other side is a small lake. Both are helpful and can keep you cool. But which one do you choose? They're so different in their pros and cons. So I just stand on the fence sweating my ass off doing nothing.
(sigh)
As I mentioned before, this job that starts Monday is the one job I didn't want. It's a "responsible adult" job that just does not sound fun in the slightest. I'll be working in the retention department of a call center for an internet provider. Not exactly what I would call a party, but the job is full time and pays better than any job I've ever had. It's going to be so amazing feeling to open my paycheck and see it's over $400. With only having part time jobs prior to this, it will be very weird to work for 40 hours a week. One other cool perk is I get free wireless internet installed where I live. Not to shabby.
I'm working on being very honest about my emotions in this blog, so bear with me. (Twixter One can attest, I don't often talk about my emotions. Just how I grew up I guess.)
I'm really freaking scared of this job. I'm terrified of not wanting to wake up each day because I hate 40 hours out of my 168 I get each week. That's 24% of my week. And say I sleep 8 hours a night. That leaves 52% of my week untouched. That's not a lot. It sounds like it is. But it isn't. What if the money isn't enough? I just really want to pay my bills off and have a bit of a savings. Sorry for the math lesson. Just a small peek into how my nerdy mind works.
But there's something else... What I'm really scared of is actually liking it. What if I really like this job and don't want to leave? I'm a goal oriented person. I like promotion and training and teaching. What if this place gives me the opportunity? Vegas was supposed to be extremely temporary. Move here, save some money and get the hell out. The longer I stay here, the harder it will be to leave. But I also don't want to leave too early. I don't want to be some place else with no job and no one to help us like we luckily have out here.
But then when is the right time to leave? I feel like I'm on the edge of a fence on a hot day. On one side, there's an awesome tree with shade. On the other side is a small lake. Both are helpful and can keep you cool. But which one do you choose? They're so different in their pros and cons. So I just stand on the fence sweating my ass off doing nothing.
(sigh)
Friday, January 29, 2010
A Pair of Big Girl Heels
My wardrobe in college consisted purely of jeans, v-neck T-Shirts, a baggy university sweatshirt and converses. I was lucky enough to live a 5-minute walk from campus, which meant my morning routine consisted of tossing my hair in a ponytail and running out the door with a cup of tea in hand.
I’ve never been the dress up kind of girl. While a small part inside of me loves dressing up fancy, finding that perfect little black dress or curling my hair just right, a bigger part of me loves sleep. I can’t imagine spending an hour on my hair in the morning when I could be using that hour for something much better. Like sleep.
I was frightened about entering the work world and having to slip on heels every morning before I headed to the office. My first day at my new job I agonized over my wardrobe and finally decided on a black collared shirt, grey dress pants, and a brand new pair of Two-Inch “Big Girl” heels.
Can I repeat? TWO-INCH HEELS!
I’m pretty sure those heels have only been worn once since then. I walked into the office on my first day and met my coworkers – who were all wearing flip-flops and jeans. I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief and the next day switched out my heels for a much more comfortable pair of flats.
There are moments when I cherish my companies casual dress policy. (Like today, Friday, when the boss is gone and all I wanted to do was stay in bed in my PJs). Yet, sometimes I wish there was a little bit more push to dress up for work each day. Because if I know it’s fine for me to come into work in converses and a v-neck, I will. There’s no motivation to dress otherwise.
So, I loved Work Chic’s blog about how to have Profession Style in a Casual Office.
A lot of the suggestions on both the site and the blog are a little expensive for a post-collegiate like me, but my favorite go-to substitution (Target) has a lot of options that could work. For someone whose idea of “changing things up” is to wear a zip-up instead of a hoodie, I liked the suggestion of finding “trouser style denim” and using accessories to brighten things up. Maybe it’s time I get out of the college slump and (gasp) freecycle some of those old T’s and jeans and go on a bit of a shopping spree.
Of course, what I liked the most about the article is that neither outfit mentioned any kind of killer heels. Even if I’m tiptoeing into the world of professional dress, I’ll can still tiptoe in a pair of comfy flats.
I’ve never been the dress up kind of girl. While a small part inside of me loves dressing up fancy, finding that perfect little black dress or curling my hair just right, a bigger part of me loves sleep. I can’t imagine spending an hour on my hair in the morning when I could be using that hour for something much better. Like sleep.
I was frightened about entering the work world and having to slip on heels every morning before I headed to the office. My first day at my new job I agonized over my wardrobe and finally decided on a black collared shirt, grey dress pants, and a brand new pair of Two-Inch “Big Girl” heels.
Can I repeat? TWO-INCH HEELS!
I’m pretty sure those heels have only been worn once since then. I walked into the office on my first day and met my coworkers – who were all wearing flip-flops and jeans. I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief and the next day switched out my heels for a much more comfortable pair of flats.
There are moments when I cherish my companies casual dress policy. (Like today, Friday, when the boss is gone and all I wanted to do was stay in bed in my PJs). Yet, sometimes I wish there was a little bit more push to dress up for work each day. Because if I know it’s fine for me to come into work in converses and a v-neck, I will. There’s no motivation to dress otherwise.
So, I loved Work Chic’s blog about how to have Profession Style in a Casual Office.
A lot of the suggestions on both the site and the blog are a little expensive for a post-collegiate like me, but my favorite go-to substitution (Target) has a lot of options that could work. For someone whose idea of “changing things up” is to wear a zip-up instead of a hoodie, I liked the suggestion of finding “trouser style denim” and using accessories to brighten things up. Maybe it’s time I get out of the college slump and (gasp) freecycle some of those old T’s and jeans and go on a bit of a shopping spree.
Of course, what I liked the most about the article is that neither outfit mentioned any kind of killer heels. Even if I’m tiptoeing into the world of professional dress, I’ll can still tiptoe in a pair of comfy flats.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Lack of Job Interview Hospitality
Today I went to an interview at a very nice hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. It was pouring rain today in Vegas. And I actually do mean freezing rain, not that "sprinkling" business. But I wore a rocking turquoise suit jacket anyway to prove the rain doesn't get me down. And the fact is, my jacket is awesome.
The 15 person took place in one of the executive suites. It was gorgeous.
I have to tell you, in high school. I was a brown-noser, kiss-ass, suck up, whatever term you use. That was me. I have since grown from my days of attempting to make every superior I meet love me by what I say about them or the company they work for. I have found honesty works better.
Well that was the wrong strategy today. We had a 30 minute question process where you had to state your name and why you wanted to work for the company. I almost scoffed out loud at the answer of a guy my age in a full (ill fitted) business suit. We shall call him Suit-Boy from now on. Suit-Boy may as well have gotten down and bowed to the interviewer as he read some invisible cue cards advertising the hotel. I couldn't believe it. His "random question" which is supposed to explain your personality was, "What would you do if you could live a life without fear?" Suit-Boy of course answered well.
When it was my turn, I answered honestly. I didn't have front desk experience and I have ALWAYS wanted to work front desk. But alas, exactly like the freaking food industry, no one will hire you unless you have experience. How am I supposed to get experience when no will give me the chance? (Off my soap box)
Then my "Random Question" was "If you could play any instrument, what would it be and why?"
My immediate thought was Are you freaking serious? THIS is my question? The guy next to me just got asked about what super power he'd want and why. WHAT INSTRUMENT? UGH!
I answered well. Piano. Some BS. Whatever. Annoyed.
After it was done, the interviewers deliberated and we all waited outside. Guess who I got to chatting with? Suit-Boy. Find out we went to the same high school together. Both in honors. Graduated the same year. He had no idea who I was. (Luckily I didn't remember him either so I didn't feel like THAT much of a loser). His major? Hotel Hospitality and Management. I had no chance.
I was right. He got called in. As well as "If someone gave me 2,000 to spend on myself I'd donate every penny" woman. Whatev.
Maybe I'm not meant for the hospitality industry after all.
The 15 person took place in one of the executive suites. It was gorgeous.
I have to tell you, in high school. I was a brown-noser, kiss-ass, suck up, whatever term you use. That was me. I have since grown from my days of attempting to make every superior I meet love me by what I say about them or the company they work for. I have found honesty works better.
Well that was the wrong strategy today. We had a 30 minute question process where you had to state your name and why you wanted to work for the company. I almost scoffed out loud at the answer of a guy my age in a full (ill fitted) business suit. We shall call him Suit-Boy from now on. Suit-Boy may as well have gotten down and bowed to the interviewer as he read some invisible cue cards advertising the hotel. I couldn't believe it. His "random question" which is supposed to explain your personality was, "What would you do if you could live a life without fear?" Suit-Boy of course answered well.
When it was my turn, I answered honestly. I didn't have front desk experience and I have ALWAYS wanted to work front desk. But alas, exactly like the freaking food industry, no one will hire you unless you have experience. How am I supposed to get experience when no will give me the chance? (Off my soap box)
Then my "Random Question" was "If you could play any instrument, what would it be and why?"
My immediate thought was Are you freaking serious? THIS is my question? The guy next to me just got asked about what super power he'd want and why. WHAT INSTRUMENT? UGH!
I answered well. Piano. Some BS. Whatever. Annoyed.
After it was done, the interviewers deliberated and we all waited outside. Guess who I got to chatting with? Suit-Boy. Find out we went to the same high school together. Both in honors. Graduated the same year. He had no idea who I was. (Luckily I didn't remember him either so I didn't feel like THAT much of a loser). His major? Hotel Hospitality and Management. I had no chance.
I was right. He got called in. As well as "If someone gave me 2,000 to spend on myself I'd donate every penny" woman. Whatev.
Maybe I'm not meant for the hospitality industry after all.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Oh Baby...
I feel like babies are all around me. Sister-in-Law has her little munchkin that is growing so much. Nephew is now 5 months but looks like he's 3 months since he was born 2 months premature. He's starting to get little fat rolls and a double chin. It's wonderful.
On that note, I was pursuing facebook, or picture stalking as those who are brave enough to admit it call it, where I discovered one of my first friends from junior high had twins recently. TWINS. I remember the beginning of our friendship, watching her branch off to find more friends since she was much cuter and less socially awkward than my group of friends (which was 2 of us mind you). I watched her remain so nice all through junior high and high school even with popularity and public school life. Now seeing pictures of her looking...well...like a mom with her 2 daughters is overwhelming.
Now that I'm married, the possibility of children is looming. It's a terrifying prospect. I do want kids. Several in fact. But I feel so conflicted about it. I have found myself worrying about what IF. What if I did get pregnant now? Obviously having no real steady income yet is a problem. As well as no property to call my own. But that's not what I think about it. When I think about it, I end up feeling...guilty.
Now, Twixter Two. Why would you feel guilty about having a kid? You're married. You're sprightly! It's the next step! What does it matter?
Well....I find the phrase "worst thing in the world that could happen to me right now" snakes through my head. I know that's extreme. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. I think I would make a good Mom. And Husband would be an awesome Dad. It's just....I'M YOUNG!
I'm only 22. I don't want to have a kid yet. There's things I want to do. What if I want to move back to LA? If I want to be in the film industry or any industry that requires a lot of standing (which I want...forever) it's not too good to have kids. Not to sound dramatic, but having a kid ends one spouses everyday life. It changes everything. I'm not naive enough to think that life goes on the way it did before you have kids.
Now let me clarify. No one is making me bear children. I actually want to have kids early so that way they're out of the house. :) (spoken like a true Twixter at heart. Get the kids out so I can go on vacation!). The question is...when? UGH.
Twixter One is so much less dramatic than me right now. I need to have some more fun in life.
On that note, I was pursuing facebook, or picture stalking as those who are brave enough to admit it call it, where I discovered one of my first friends from junior high had twins recently. TWINS. I remember the beginning of our friendship, watching her branch off to find more friends since she was much cuter and less socially awkward than my group of friends (which was 2 of us mind you). I watched her remain so nice all through junior high and high school even with popularity and public school life. Now seeing pictures of her looking...well...like a mom with her 2 daughters is overwhelming.
Now that I'm married, the possibility of children is looming. It's a terrifying prospect. I do want kids. Several in fact. But I feel so conflicted about it. I have found myself worrying about what IF. What if I did get pregnant now? Obviously having no real steady income yet is a problem. As well as no property to call my own. But that's not what I think about it. When I think about it, I end up feeling...guilty.
Now, Twixter Two. Why would you feel guilty about having a kid? You're married. You're sprightly! It's the next step! What does it matter?
Well....I find the phrase "worst thing in the world that could happen to me right now" snakes through my head. I know that's extreme. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. I think I would make a good Mom. And Husband would be an awesome Dad. It's just....I'M YOUNG!
I'm only 22. I don't want to have a kid yet. There's things I want to do. What if I want to move back to LA? If I want to be in the film industry or any industry that requires a lot of standing (which I want...forever) it's not too good to have kids. Not to sound dramatic, but having a kid ends one spouses everyday life. It changes everything. I'm not naive enough to think that life goes on the way it did before you have kids.
Now let me clarify. No one is making me bear children. I actually want to have kids early so that way they're out of the house. :) (spoken like a true Twixter at heart. Get the kids out so I can go on vacation!). The question is...when? UGH.
Twixter One is so much less dramatic than me right now. I need to have some more fun in life.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Merry New Year and a Happy New Blog!
Yes, it’s January. The entire world is set on keeping their New Years resolutions. (It’s still January 8th, so that statement remains true for at least another 7-days.) The world is filled with good intentions, so I’ll add another one to the batch.
I’m actually going to keep blogging here.
I wish I could say that the past 4-months have been a whirlwind of adventure, leaving me no time to detail you on the turbulent journey that is me reaching adulthood. It hasn’t been. Then again, the past 4-months haven’t been a prison sentence of ho-hum boredom either. I’ve pretty much just been lazy, or selfish. Or maybe a little bit of both.
How I managed to completely skip over 4-months of my life, I couldn't tell you. When I was in college I had semesters to mark my life. It's been x amount of days since mid-terms, or y amount of weeks until the final. You started dating so-and-so the fall semester of your Junior year, and bought your favorite t-shirt the summer before you were a Senior.
Suddenly, when you graduate, all sense of time gets thrown out the window. (and don't even get me started on how life-altering it is to no longer list your facebook albums by semester.) You begin living for the weekends, and there's no summer break to hold out for. Soon you can't remember if the weekend you lost your flip flops at the beach was in July or January. (and here in Southern California, either month is a toss up.)
Before you know it, it's been A YEAR since you finished school. One full year, can you believe it? I certainly can't. Then again, there was a time where life was filled with blue books, paper cuts, and coffee. lots and lots of coffee. Today those stresses are a thousand miles away. Instead I came home from work today, took an hour to decide on dinner, and stared at a book before deciding once again to toss it somewhere under my stack of bills. (This may or may not be the same book I've attempted to finish SINCE my last final, but that's neither here nor there.)
Where has all the time gone? What have I done? Suddenly my built in self-reflection time has withered up and a winters break worth of "what now" must be fit somewhere into the weekend between "wash all the dishes from last week" and "neah, I don't think I'll make the bed again today." It's a different life now, and I'm not sure how to deal with it.
But maybe that's it. Maybe I'm not supposed to figure out how to deal with it. I just deal. I wake up, I go to work. I see movies when I want, I binge on Grey's Anatomy episodes when I want. I pay the bills, and if I decide I feel like making a spur of the moment trip up North, I put it on my credit card.
Then suddenly, I wake up, and it's January. and it's been 4-months since I've blogged. Hello again.
I’m actually going to keep blogging here.
I wish I could say that the past 4-months have been a whirlwind of adventure, leaving me no time to detail you on the turbulent journey that is me reaching adulthood. It hasn’t been. Then again, the past 4-months haven’t been a prison sentence of ho-hum boredom either. I’ve pretty much just been lazy, or selfish. Or maybe a little bit of both.
How I managed to completely skip over 4-months of my life, I couldn't tell you. When I was in college I had semesters to mark my life. It's been x amount of days since mid-terms, or y amount of weeks until the final. You started dating so-and-so the fall semester of your Junior year, and bought your favorite t-shirt the summer before you were a Senior.
Suddenly, when you graduate, all sense of time gets thrown out the window. (and don't even get me started on how life-altering it is to no longer list your facebook albums by semester.) You begin living for the weekends, and there's no summer break to hold out for. Soon you can't remember if the weekend you lost your flip flops at the beach was in July or January. (and here in Southern California, either month is a toss up.)
Before you know it, it's been A YEAR since you finished school. One full year, can you believe it? I certainly can't. Then again, there was a time where life was filled with blue books, paper cuts, and coffee. lots and lots of coffee. Today those stresses are a thousand miles away. Instead I came home from work today, took an hour to decide on dinner, and stared at a book before deciding once again to toss it somewhere under my stack of bills. (This may or may not be the same book I've attempted to finish SINCE my last final, but that's neither here nor there.)
Where has all the time gone? What have I done? Suddenly my built in self-reflection time has withered up and a winters break worth of "what now" must be fit somewhere into the weekend between "wash all the dishes from last week" and "neah, I don't think I'll make the bed again today." It's a different life now, and I'm not sure how to deal with it.
But maybe that's it. Maybe I'm not supposed to figure out how to deal with it. I just deal. I wake up, I go to work. I see movies when I want, I binge on Grey's Anatomy episodes when I want. I pay the bills, and if I decide I feel like making a spur of the moment trip up North, I put it on my credit card.
Then suddenly, I wake up, and it's January. and it's been 4-months since I've blogged. Hello again.
Happy New Year! Kinda?
I just re-read my last post from 4 months ago and laughed. It feels like eons, yet days ago I was just starting my semester in Los Angeles. Now it's over and things are completely different AGAIN. I'll have to post a longer blog about my previous semester. Now it's time for a new year and a new me! (sort of...well, not really at all)
Translation? "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! I HATE MONEY!!!!!!"
But this new post is about what is happening in my life, in the moment! Against all odds, Husband and I ended up back in Las Vegas. Strangely enough, it's not as bad as I thought it would be. Life isn't easy (living in the spare bedroom of your sister-in-laws house never is), but we're surviving. And Vegas is a whole hell of a lot cheaper than Southern California. So the goal is to stick it out until we can move somewhere we want or (gulp) maybe stay in Vegas. I of course would rather not stick it out in Sin City, but it does have its appeal. (Don't tell Twixter One. She'll come murder me out here)
The meat of the problem of my life is work. I have a pretty decent chance of working for an internet service provider out here, doing "retention." AKA, "misery." Well...ok...not "misery" but angry customers who want to cancel their service, I have to convince them to keep it and possibly spend more money. The only major positives to this job is it pays AMAZINGLY well and is consistently 40 hours a week. As in the debt I have will be totally paid off in probably 6 months tops with Husband and I working. Which is a huge goal of ours for this next year.
My other potential job is at a super fun restaurant as a hostess. Although I've only had 1 interview out of 3, so we'll see how that goes. The flaw with the restaurant is the hours aren't set. I could have anywhere from 20 to 35 hours. But I know my life would be significantly happier there. But less money equals stress elsewhere than the workplace.
So now, here I potentially stand at a Twixter moment. Do I choose the fun, less stable job or be the adult and choose the job I don't want for the bigger picture? The retention job makes me cringe internally/possibly punch something every time I think about it. But then my mind wanders to the idea of being debt free, and having the ability to buy a computer that doesn't overheat after an hour, or jeans without holes in them or an apartment.
So now, here I potentially stand at a Twixter moment. Do I choose the fun, less stable job or be the adult and choose the job I don't want for the bigger picture? The retention job makes me cringe internally/possibly punch something every time I think about it. But then my mind wanders to the idea of being debt free, and having the ability to buy a computer that doesn't overheat after an hour, or jeans without holes in them or an apartment.
That's all. Thanks and it's good to be back. I plan on writing in here a lot more. Seeing as I'm unemployed at the moment, it really helps inspire blog posts.
--Twixter Two
Thursday, August 13, 2009
What Retail Has Taught Me
The one thing that working in retail these past 3 months is patience.
I have learned patience in many different facets. Starting with customers. I know this is the obvious answer. Any job working with the public will lead you to the "customer" who is always right. I have asked a customer if they need help finding a size, they answer no, then proceed to tear apart the stack of shirts I just folded. That part irks me the most. I literally just offered to help but American consumers need help but won't ask for it. So I find myself offering help and rarely getting a response. It honestly makes my day when a customer actually asks for help. My job is much more joyous when I don't have to size pencil skirts every minute of my shift.
The next aspect of patience is learned by my co-workers. I never thought I would find myself in clothing retail. Most of the girls I work with are the stereotype of what I always suspected in woman's retail. Many women who love to talk about the other co-workers and spend a good chunk of their paycheck every week. On the other hand, I have to look at the tempting clothes on sale without purchasing a single item. I am saving every penny just for food and bills. I get frustrated hearing my lovely co-workers whine about how they are so broke but leave their shift with a bulging bag of new merchandise.
And finally, I learn patience because it is just a job I do not truly enjoy. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad. I like being on my feet and interacting with customers (minus the aforementioned issue). But I want to be doing something interesting. I want to feel like I'm contributing to my future. Working in retail pales in comparison to how I would like to feel in my job.
On a separate exciting note, I'm moving to Los Angeles in a week and a half to start a film program. I can't wait to start my internship. Maybe then, even while I'm making copies and answering the phone, I'll feel like I'm contributing to something bigger. We shall see.
I have learned patience in many different facets. Starting with customers. I know this is the obvious answer. Any job working with the public will lead you to the "customer" who is always right. I have asked a customer if they need help finding a size, they answer no, then proceed to tear apart the stack of shirts I just folded. That part irks me the most. I literally just offered to help but American consumers need help but won't ask for it. So I find myself offering help and rarely getting a response. It honestly makes my day when a customer actually asks for help. My job is much more joyous when I don't have to size pencil skirts every minute of my shift.
The next aspect of patience is learned by my co-workers. I never thought I would find myself in clothing retail. Most of the girls I work with are the stereotype of what I always suspected in woman's retail. Many women who love to talk about the other co-workers and spend a good chunk of their paycheck every week. On the other hand, I have to look at the tempting clothes on sale without purchasing a single item. I am saving every penny just for food and bills. I get frustrated hearing my lovely co-workers whine about how they are so broke but leave their shift with a bulging bag of new merchandise.
And finally, I learn patience because it is just a job I do not truly enjoy. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad. I like being on my feet and interacting with customers (minus the aforementioned issue). But I want to be doing something interesting. I want to feel like I'm contributing to my future. Working in retail pales in comparison to how I would like to feel in my job.
On a separate exciting note, I'm moving to Los Angeles in a week and a half to start a film program. I can't wait to start my internship. Maybe then, even while I'm making copies and answering the phone, I'll feel like I'm contributing to something bigger. We shall see.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Workin' the 9-5
It's only 11:36 AM on a Tuesday and I'm already resorting to blogging at work to make the hours pass by. This is going to be one long week.
I finished up the last of my undergrad units in December, which means I've really been "graduated" for over 6-months now. But, I weaseled my way into taking one more unit of internship, meaning I got to "play student" for another semester and avoid real life. Those six months were SUPPOSED to be my opportunity to find my dream career - namely one that allowed me to wear converses and didn't use the term "9-5" anywhere in my hiring contract.
However, as the months clicked by I got more desperate, so I only managed to land one of my two requisites. Every morning at 8 am I slip on my converse (or rainbows during the glorious summer months) and crawl into work, hitting the kitchen for a strong cup of tea before beginning my day.
I am not a 9 - 5 kind of person. The idea of working the same job, never ending, from 9 am - 5 pm every Monday through Friday has sent me into panic mode on more than one occasion. I'm not adverse to working long hours - in fact, I'd much rather work a 10 or 12-hour day! But the idea of showing up to an office and working the same thing, at the same desk, day after day makes my eyes cross and my mouse gravitate towards facebook.
I'm not the person who can do the same repetitive task day after day. I need something that excites me and challenges me or else my work ethic whittles it's way down to none. Luckily, even though my new job has me chained to my desk every day from 9-5, my boss' intense, high-octane personality gives me some sense of unpredictability.
Nonetheless, I am envious of my fellow graduates who are freelancing and jumping from set to set today. I'd die for a chance to be on location, instead of locked away in an office. Then again, I'd probably die then from lack of nutrition, since production is at an all time low and I wouldn't even be able to make rent. So, in the long run working a 9-5 job won't kill me - as long as it comes with an week-to-week paycheck.
Tick-tock-Tick-tock - Ten Minutes down, and only 31.5 hours left until the weekend.
I finished up the last of my undergrad units in December, which means I've really been "graduated" for over 6-months now. But, I weaseled my way into taking one more unit of internship, meaning I got to "play student" for another semester and avoid real life. Those six months were SUPPOSED to be my opportunity to find my dream career - namely one that allowed me to wear converses and didn't use the term "9-5" anywhere in my hiring contract.
However, as the months clicked by I got more desperate, so I only managed to land one of my two requisites. Every morning at 8 am I slip on my converse (or rainbows during the glorious summer months) and crawl into work, hitting the kitchen for a strong cup of tea before beginning my day.
I am not a 9 - 5 kind of person. The idea of working the same job, never ending, from 9 am - 5 pm every Monday through Friday has sent me into panic mode on more than one occasion. I'm not adverse to working long hours - in fact, I'd much rather work a 10 or 12-hour day! But the idea of showing up to an office and working the same thing, at the same desk, day after day makes my eyes cross and my mouse gravitate towards facebook.
I'm not the person who can do the same repetitive task day after day. I need something that excites me and challenges me or else my work ethic whittles it's way down to none. Luckily, even though my new job has me chained to my desk every day from 9-5, my boss' intense, high-octane personality gives me some sense of unpredictability.
Nonetheless, I am envious of my fellow graduates who are freelancing and jumping from set to set today. I'd die for a chance to be on location, instead of locked away in an office. Then again, I'd probably die then from lack of nutrition, since production is at an all time low and I wouldn't even be able to make rent. So, in the long run working a 9-5 job won't kill me - as long as it comes with an week-to-week paycheck.
Tick-tock-Tick-tock - Ten Minutes down, and only 31.5 hours left until the weekend.
