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radaro
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« on: January 30, 2004, 05:44:34 pm » |
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Well, after almost eight years with the same organization, I am moving on!
I finally got a job with another organzation and did it the way you are not "supposed" to. I responded to a newspaper ad!
As you may or may not remember, I got my HR certificate last June and have been sort of looking for a job since. After my boss went on short term leave and I was saddled with a loser, I began my "full-court press" -- looking hard but not even getting so much as an interview. I was beginning to lose heart.
Anyhow, my husband spotted the ad in the paper one Saturday morning for a Labour Relations Assistant for our school board. I faxed my resume on January 12 and the competition ended January 14. The following Monday, I got a call for an interview for Wednesday. I had not been on an interview for almost four years so I was pretty nervous but I figured it would just be a practice run.
The night before the interview I take out my shirt and skirt. All looks well. I haven't bought a suit in years since my office is pretty casual. Just before I get into bed I give it the once over. Last time I wore the blouse, it looks like my youngest wiped his nose on the back of the collar. Yikes! So it has to be washed and hung up before I go to bed. Next morning I iron the shirt but when I finish, I realize that the shirt wrinkles like crazy and I will likely be uncomfortable with this during the interview. I run down to the basement to dig out a suit that I had planned to give away. Luckily it is clean and ready to wear!
The interview included preparing a letter and a chart in Word. I'm a longtime WordPerfect user but can work in Word. No problem typing up the letter (although centering a page top to bottom is much easier in WP) but I had never made a chart in Word before (it's only a click and drag in WP). Luckily, they hadn't shut off the "help" function so I was able to figure out how to insert an Excel table into the document.
Next the interview. Three interviewers at the same time and all taking notes. By the end, my mouth is dry, my underarms are soaked and I think I broke my smile. At the end of the interview I showed them my portfolio. They chose to look at it while I sat in the lobby, waiting.
I left the interview figuring that it was a good practice run but, of course, torturing myself about what I had forgotten to say and that it seemed like a very short time that they looked at my portfolio. Also, they said that the entire process would take about an hour and a half but it only took an hour.
By Thursday, I get a call from my boss (who is still on leave) that they had called him for a reference and by that evening, they offered me the job!!
I am really excited by this new opportunity. A bit sad to leave my job, friends and co-workers of almost 8 years though.
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gee4
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« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2004, 05:48:13 pm » |
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And pray tell me why you are not allowed to get a job by responding to a newspaper ad - don't we all at once stage or another??
G
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chris68
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« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2004, 06:08:59 pm » |
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That's how I got the last two jobs I've had. Believe it or not and 6 years later I'm still working at the same location. Way to go! Congratulations! Chris68
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donnap99
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« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2004, 06:40:49 pm » |
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Mazel Tov! So good to see you able to use your degree. A real whirlwind turnaround though, wasn't it?! Rub some of that luck off on me, ya hear?  DonnaP99 |
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radaro
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« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2004, 07:15:39 pm » |
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For Donna99 - rub, rub, rub.
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure many people get jobs from newspaper ads. It's just when you read any of the current job search literature the so-called "gurus" all harp on the same thing: "only 20% of actual jobs are advertised", "you have to work your network", "internet", blah, blah, blah.
I was just so surprised it happened this fast and through such a "traditional" method.
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ozbound
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« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2004, 08:36:11 pm » |
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Congrats!! Way to go. Who says the newspaper is "not" the way to get a job? Maybe not all the time, but I've gotten two pretty good jobs that way...
Hope your new venture goes well!
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countrigal
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« Reply #6 on: January 30, 2004, 09:59:12 pm » |
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Congratulations! So glad to see that you're able to move into a position to utilize your degree. Wishing you all the best!
CountriGal
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claudiamag
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« Reply #7 on: January 31, 2004, 03:03:49 am » |
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Congratulations! I wish you all the best in your new position.
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sobriquetnic
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« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2004, 12:56:05 am » |
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Hi there
First of all, congratulations on your new job! I hope it all goes really well for you.
Can I just ask something? You mentioned that you had to do a 'practical' on Word and then mentioned centering the page from top to bottom - can anyone advise me how you do this on Word? I have just tried but my help function is not working at the moment and I can't find my disk to do a repair!
Many thanks,
Nicola.
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movinonup
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« Reply #9 on: February 02, 2004, 01:41:02 am » |
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Once the letter is typed, go to FILE, select Page Setup, and then go to the tab marked LAYOUT. Choose your option under VERTICAL (top, center, or bottom) and then check "apply to whole page." I know this seems like a lot of trouble, but you can also do it by your eye...just go to page preview (you should have an icon at the top of the screen)...add spaces to the top or bottom of the page accordingly. Movinonup |
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sobriquetnic
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« Reply #10 on: February 02, 2004, 08:41:49 am » |
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Hi there
Many thanks for your prompt response on this. I felt a bit silly asking - I should really have known that!
I have tried a couple of options and prefer the 'justified'. My boss is very particular on filling the page up nicely!
Thanks again - I shall be using that all the time now!
All the best,
Nicola.
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