It's Been A While

OK, so it has been just over 4 months since I last wrote a blog post. Here's a summary of what happened.

• After being out of work for month I got a job at a 3PL called Pro Star Logistics.
• I finished my yearly reading of Harry Potter.
  
• My new favorite currently running show "Once Upon a Time" premiered. (LOST is still my all time favorite show in case you were wondering)
  
• The 5th and Final Season of "Chuck" Premiered.
  
• We had a fun Halloween in which I dressed up as a member of The DHARMA Initiative, Alisa was a witch, Collin was a dinosaur coming out of an egg and Liam was a pea-pod.
• We had a fun Thanksgiving at Grandma Norberg's house and one at my in-law's house in Idaho.
• I began my yearly reading of The Lord of The Rings.
  
• We all celebrated Kari's return to her family.
• Season 19 of "The Amazing Race" concluded.
  
• The first season of "Terra Nova" concluded.
  
• Collin (or one of his little friends) threw something at my TV and cracked the screen causing an annoying black line that extends from the crack to the edge of the screen.
• We had a wonderful Christmas.
• 2011 ended.
  
• 2012 began.
  
• I began watching the 4th Season of "Merlin" via iTunes
  
• I lost my job at Pro Star and became unemployed again.
• "Alcatraz" premiered.
• Liam turned 1 year old.
  
• The 5th and Final Season of "Chuck" Concluded.
• Alisa and I started watching the show "Prison Break" on Netflix while up in Idaho and got ourselves hooked.
  
• I finished my yearly reading of The Lord of The Rings.
• Season 20 of "The Amazing Race" began.

So, that's about it. At the moment Alisa and I are waiting for the next few DVDs of "Prison Break" to arrive at the library but my main focus is job searching. Things are going pretty well. I have had several interviews and one coming up tomorrow and I'm actively networking. More posts soon.

And We're Back

I suppose that most, if not all of you out there are aware of the fact that I am once again unemployed. A little after 4pm on September 20, 2011 my manager came into my office and let me know that they were going to have to lay me off. I was in a state of shock for a few seconds in which time though I didn't really think it was joke I did kind of hope it was. My manager was very upset about it as well and the next day she actually called me up with a job lead. Lisa, if you are reading this; thank-you.

So, for the past 2 weeks I have been working on trying to find employment. I don't really want to spend to much time on this but I do want to say that even though I didn't expect to be in this situation again so soon I am much more optimistic than I was back in 2008 when I got laid off before. I know a lot more about how to effectively job search so I won't waste nearly as much time as I did before.

So, in order to help myself not to get too stressed out I have prepared a list entitled: The Top 5 Ways that this Unemployment is different than the Last One:

5. Last time I was out of work I referred to that period as "The Dark Time," borrowing a phrase from Star Wars. This period of unemployment shall be known as "The Second Darkness." A phrase borrowed from The Lord of The Rings.

4. While I search for jobs I get to listen to the same annoying, noise-making toys as I did last time. This time however, they are being played with by a different kid.

3. Alisa is not working this time. This is a down side in that we don't have her income but it is a plus since this means I can devote more time to job searching and networking and less time chasing babies.

2. I have two more years experience in shipping now than I did then.

1. There is no way in $&#@ that I will allow this unemployment to last 14 and a half months!

THE NIGHTMARE HAS ENDED!

I GOT A JOB!!!!

At 10:30am on Thursday December 31, 2009 I had the chance to interview with a Freight Forwarder in the area called Air & Sea International/Freightlink. About a half-hour after I got home they called me up and offered me a position in their Operations Department. Alisa and I took the weekend to talk it over and come to a decision. This morning I called them up and accepted the job.

I have been out of work for about 14 and a half months. Alisa and I are very grateful to everyone out there that has helped us and prayed for us throughout this difficult time. In particular I want to thank the McAllisters who have watched Collin during most of the job interviews I have had over the past months.

I officially start on January 12th. I am really looking forward to getting back out into the workforce. Thank you all again for everything you have done for our family.

Owing to the fact that this is such an exciting occasion I have decided that I need to celebrate. And what better way to celebrate than with a 21 gun salute?! Well, I'll tell you. A better way to celebrate would be to 1 up a 21 gun salute and do a 22 gun salute. But you know, this is so monumental that I need to 1 up the 1 up and make a 23 gun salute. I could 1 up the 1 uped 1 up and go for 24 but that would be just getting carried away. So, I give you the 23 gun salute brought to you by some of my favorite TV shows.

Funny Job Post

So, I was job searching (surprise, surprise) and as I was reading through a job posting I came across the following description of the physical demands of the particular position they were hiring for:

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

I'm not sure how I feel about having to use my "hands to finger, handle or feel." I would be more comfortable if they would specify what type of substances or people I would be required to "finger." I'm confident in my vocal and auditory skills so I'm sure I would have no problem with the requirement to "talk or hear." I must say though, I'm not too thrilled about the requirement to "reach with hands and arms." I really do prefer to reach with my legs and feet.

A Dark, Dark Day

Well, as of 12:30 pm Mountain Time today I have officially been out of work for ONE FULL YEAR. There are a number of colorful terms that are not allowed on network TV that I feel a bit like screaming right now. But, I will forbear.

Anyway, I think that's about it for now.

Job Stuff

Well, I had another job interview yesterday. It went really well and I am expecting to hear back from them in the next few days. I am still waiting to hear back from the other companies I have spoken with in the last few weeks. That's about it on that subject.

Job Hunt Update

OK, so I had that interview back on September 10th and that went REALLY well. At least, that's what I think. It looks like a really great opportunity and they said they would be letting me know in about 3 weeks. That was a little over a week ago so I still have a little while to wait. I also had an interview yesterday. The company told me when I contacted them that they didn't have any open positions but they wanted to speak with me anyway. That interview went well also. They told me they would let me know if they have any openings come up in the near future and they would also keep an eye out for opportunities with their customers. It's always good to have a few more people keeping their eyes open for you.

Interview Update

I have a job interview tomorrow morning. I am excited and optimistic about it so everybody cross your fingers. As for the interview I had a few weeks ago; I'm still waiting. They sent me an e-mail back on the 28th telling me that they are still reviewing resumes and they would contact me "should further interviewing be requested." I like to think that the fact that they sent me that message means I'm still in the running. Anyway, that's the update.

A Whole 'Nother Interview

Well, I must sound like a broken record but, I have a job interview on Friday morning. This came as a surprise to me because this was a company I had applied with back in January and had received a rejection postcard from. Well, whilst I was up in Idaho enjoying some time with my inlaws, celebrating Collin's first birthday and learning a great deal about the stock market from my father-in-law, I got an unexpected e-mail. As it turns out there are rare occasions when that whole "we will keep your resume on file" thing they say in those rejection letters is not just a big fat pile of bantha poodoo (that's a Star Wars reference. Ask a nerd if you don't get it.). They have another couple open positions and they want to have me come in to see if any of them will be a good fit. So, I am very optimistic about the interview on Friday. Wish me luck.

Job Search Update

For those of you who are craving an update on my happy joyous job search here it is. I had my interview back on Wednesday and I got a rejection e-mail on Friday. However, there is some good news. I'm leaving in about an hour for an interview with another company. It just goes to show that this whole "Networking" thing is pretty useful.

Another Job Interview

Well, I have another job interview tomorrow. I interviewed with this company before back in November but this is for a different position. Also, I had a networking contact that works for the company and recommended me to the person I'm supposed to interview with. So, I guess we'll see what happens.

Job Fair

Well, yesterday I left Collin in the care of his grandma and headed up to Idaho Falls to attend a job fair put on by the Idaho National Laboratory. Considering how little luck I've been having with the job search here I thought it would be a good idea to take a look elsewhere. I felt like it was a pretty good experience. There were some companies that kind of brushed me off but I felt like I made some good contacts. There were a lot of people there so I had to park way off in the boonies and then wait in line for a while. But, while I was in line I got interviewed by a local TV station and I appeared on the news for a few seconds. Below is the video:

REJECTED

Well, I went to the mailbox a few minutes ago to get the mail and found something there I had been really fearing. No, not any packages with strange white powder, no letter bombs, no divorce papers. As most of you should know I had a job interview almost 2 weeks ago. What I found lurking in my mailbox was a very polite rejection letter from that company. I was a bit sad to say the least but I guess that this job was just not the right thing for me and my family.

I would very much like to express my gratitude to all of you who have been praying for me during these seven long months of my unemployment. It really does mean a lot to me and my family to have your support. I will keep you all posted.

But, on the bright side, we also got the new copy of the Ensign and Alisa and I both received coupons for free candy bars. See, life's not all bad!

Job Interview - Update

OK, so I had my job interview today. I felt like it went well and it really looks like a good company. They said they would be calling people for second interviews in the next week so I have my fingers crossed.

Job Interview

Well, I got a call today from a company I applied with last month and they asked me to come in for an interview. I'm going in Monday afternoon so wish me luck.

6 Whole Months

Well, as of today I have now been unemployed for 6 months. That's half a year for those of you keeping track. Exciting isn't it!?