A Year of Gratitude - Day Two Hundred Fifty-six

Day 256 - Interviews

I have had a few interviews this week, including a phone screen today, and I have another scheduled for tomorrow morning.  It strikes me how important these conversations are to those of us dealing with long term unemployment.  I think we all would agree that even when the job is less than appealing, or not quite a good fit, or maybe even totally off the mark, the simple fact that someone might want us ends up being a shot in the arm.

I had a nice, brief conversation with a recruiter for Paychex, a national payroll and HR firm who is looking to fill a local position.  Andre only had 30 minutes to speak with me to determine whether I might be interested in, and qualify for, an account manager of sorts who works with new and prospective customers (not a “sales” position).  By the end of the quick chat, I didn’t really feel that he had a full idea of what I could bring to the organization, nor did I have a chance to go into any depth with my questions.  I had little expectation that the process would move forward, despite his comment that he was going to forward my resume to the hiring manager.  I was also left unconvinced that this would be a company into whose culture I would find a natural fit.

Still, knowing that even a passing interest in my abilities helped to lift my spirits for the moment, I have a modicum of hope for tomorrow, too.  

A Year of Gratitude - Day Two Hundred Fifty-five

Day 255 - Nice People

I had a very pleasant conversation over coffee with one of my Breakfast Club participants.  Manuel is an attractive, articulate man with a positive attitude and an easy smile.  He asked me for my opinions on his resume and “sizzle sheet,” the former having been done by a paid professional (which I thought looked pretty good except the 10pt font).  We talked about more than our respective job searches, too.  It was a good meeting.

I came away from the cafe thinking how fortunate we are that one can find so many genuinely nice people here in Portland.  Obviously, we can find nice people everywhere, but there is something unique about Portland’s culture that seems to bring out the nice people a little more.  Maybe it’s the gloomy weather, and people compensate; I don’t know.  But I’m glad for it.

A Year of Gratitude - Day Two Hundred Fifty-four

Day 254 - Happy Conversations

I had lunch today with Paul, one of my best friends.  Though we don’t get together often, we always pick up where we left off.  Lately, he has been very attentive to my frustrations, and has been such a good listener.  He lets me talk - and I do plenty of that (I very often wish it were harder for me to let loose).  He’s good to me.  He bought me lunch at a fantastic little Lebanese cafe, and was incredibly supportive.  I value his friendship enormously.

Then I went to Vancouver for what I thought was to be in informational interview with the  Sr. Employment Specialist at Goodwill Job Connection in Vancouver.  I have not been officially interviewing for a job with the organization, though I’ve been talking with them as if the process had been formally started.  (My first formal interview is next week with the leadership team - a good sign!)  

When I sat down with Randy, he asked me if I had my resume.  I was surprised, actually, and felt unprepared.  Thank heavens for smart phones - I accessed my email via my phone, and forwarded the email I had sent to his boss that included my resume as an attachment.  I explained that I didn’t expect this to be an official interview - just a conversation to gather information.  Within a minute or two, Randy had my resume in hand.

I expected our conversation to last maybe an hour.  90 minutes, tops.  It lasted three hours (in large part because he’s more of a talker than I).  Not only did I get quite a bit of information about the organization, but Randy gave me a lot of advice on what to talk to the leaders about and how to present it.  He gave me explicit instructions.  How often do you get that kind of coaching for an interview?

While the job pays an unbelievably low wage, I’m excited about the prospects.  I think I could enjoy this.  I’m grateful for happy conversations.  They simply don’t happen often enough.

A Year of Gratitude - Day Two Hundred Fifty-three

Day 253 - The Ability to Persist

I’m glad I have enough energy at this point to persist.  

I wrote a few days ago about my experience speaking with Gary at the Goodwill Job Connection (see Day 247), and the next day, drove out to Gresham to speak with Debra, an Employment Specialist in the outlying office there.  Today, I drove out to Oregon City today to meet with Marnell, the “ES” in that location.  And I’ve made arrangements to visit with Randy in Vancouver tomorrow.  I am feeling good about what I can bring the organization, and I’m trying my best to get my abilities noticed by the right people.

I don’t know where this energy is coming from, I’m just glad it showed up to the party.  I often feel weary of this process, and I just can’t take another step.  Then I meet someone like Marnell - unassuming, caring, driven - and it recharges me a little.  My conversations with Gary and Debra last week had a similar effect.  I’m glad I made the effort to drive out there.

I later had dinner with another HR friend who is also looking for work.  Larry is a great guy, and it was nice to catch up with him.  We wished we had better news to share, but it was OK.  At least he suggested an inexpensive place for Happy Hour, and while the food was inexpensive, it was quite good.  Score!

A Year of Gratitude - Day Two Hundred Fifty-two

Day 252 - Celebrations

I went to a couple of birthday celebrations - a brunch and then a party - for my friend Arnie.  He turned 50 today (a milestone I’m about to reach myself), and it was a happy, festive time.  I was glad to have been invited, and to share in his day.  

Arnie’s partner, Blair, plays the piano, and we all benefited from their recent purchase of a Roland digital “grand” during the evening.  Arnie had given Blair a “play list” for the party, which he managed to get to at various points through the evening (though I’m not sure if he finished any of the songs - so many people were interrupting and distracting him), and a couple of us had a chance to sit with Blair on the bench and sing along.  (Fortunately, it wasn’t a performance - no one heard me except Blair, thankfully, as I was not in good voice at all; but it was fun all the same.)

I met a few really nice people there, and I thought how fortunate I am to have such great friends who know other good people.  I enjoyed my day.  The fact that a happy celebration was the reason for it was the icing on the cake (so to speak).

A Year of Gratitude - Day Two Hundred Fifty-one

Day 251 - A Day Off

I had nothing on my agenda today, and it ended up being a great day.  I "took the day off," and it was nice to relax.  I read a lot.  I played with glass.  I did a little cleaning, too.  I was calm.

I needed this.

A year of Gratitude - Day Two Hundred Fifty

Day 250 - “Forced” relaxation

I didn’t have a car today, so there was little to do.  I applied to jobs (there weren’t many to do) and read my emails three or four times.  Fortunately the auto shop was able to work on my car today (it was ready later in the afternoon), but I had to postpone one meeting and skip the other.  Not exactly my plan.

I ended up reading a lot today, which was nice.  There is something pleasant about holding a book (yes, a real, hardbound book, not an electronic device) and being “transported” to another time and place for awhile.  I was home alone through much of the day, and it was peaceful.  

While I did not intend to “take the day off,” it was nice to have this time just to relax.  (...If only it were sunny and warm, and I could have been sitting by the river enjoying the book in the comfort of nature....  Summer is only six months away....)