jobfair: SAISD

that job fair sucked.  the lines were super long! I hate long lines.  i blame my lack of patience on the microwave. but, no one likes to wait so i don’t need to excuse myself on that.

ok the awesome part of the jobfair is that the guy that interviewed me likes to watch Project Runway.  Also, i got to dress up and look all cute.  It rained A LOT which made driving there a nightmare BUT then again it gave me a chance to rock my a raincoat and actually use my umbrella (which matched my cardigan!!!).  as i walked from my car to the job fair site I was really tempted to call Rose just to complain about the seattle-like weather.  that temptation was interrupted by a Gap customer i had that same week…seriously, I’m just too popular.  I felt bad that i couldn’t be in “customer service” mode… Hey! How are you? Let me know if you need anything?! Let’s sign you up for a Gap Card!… yeah right oh well.  I also ran into Grant, my supervisor at Pearson.  a separate post on my essay scoring experience is coming soon.

Anyways, I only got to interview w/ one school Rhodes Middle School.  They had a potential math position.  I wasn’t too too inclined to interview with them because they’re pretty far from where I live and the word POTENTIAL… but it worked out ok I guess.  If i get a second interview it’ll be late june early july…?  that’s a big IF. and do you remember what i said about me and patience?  yeah.

in another note I should mention that travis and i talked about how his realtor and i are the same person.  at first i was way way WAY offended, but then it turns out that she’s always pointing out plans for his mythical boat.  which when he said it like that: OF COURSE, i see how we’re the same person!… no travis, no.

Ok i have to go there’s a guy sitting 20 feet from me that keeps coughing.  that usually makes me want to stare them down until they put a surgical mask on but I am forced to understand that I am at a public library.  I wish I could hose him with Lysol and he would say, “Thank you kind stranger.”  but i know that won’t happen.

peace out homebodies,

lo

“sad sacks of the American economy”

Joel Kotkin, Forbes writer, listed California, Ohio and Michigan as the worst places to look for jobs.  Joel:  duh! the list breaks down into worst big, mid size, and small cities for jobs and Florida also made quite an appearance. It does make me sad that Cali’s on the list.  I have love for that state for personal reasons wink wink! Can you say Vitamin D?!  Oh yeah, vitamin d. 

Actually, I was really scared that San Antonio and Austin would be listed.  but no, not yet. 

Ok here’s the weird thing: i don’t live in Michigan (pfftt!!) or Ohio (O-what?) or Cali (tear) BUT, I’m still unemployed.  for money i’m working at the gap (hooray for basics!), and scoring 7th grade Arkansas state writing exams (ask me how i feel about a 13 year old’s penmenship– ask me!) (Do NOT ask me about their writing: it’s torture to read AND THEN discuss it too…No. NO. no.  I can’t believe i even mentioned it.)

On the upside, Texas can breathe for now (because it isn’t Michigan, Ohio, or Cali) and I’ve really decided that teaching Middle School is going to require i accept that basic sentence formation knowledge isn’t gonna be there.

oh woe. and yet, i still want a job.  ANY job.  well career… that pays…with money.

wk. no (wk. no currently unknown…)

Ok so I didn’t work today.  I’m a sub so my schedule is not entitled to be planned.  BUT no excuses were used today to waste my day away.  Here’s what I did:

Diet: i ate a lot of cheese.  I had a really really blacked up grilled cheese for breakfast.  I nixed the coffee this morning because I slept an illegal amount of hours.  Also, I ran out of joe.  Had I had it in the pantry I would have forsaken the time slept policy and had it anyways.

for lunch I had a hefty slice of my sister’s meatloaf and rice…hmm…i guess I didn’t have as much cheese as i could have huh?

ok and for dinner which to be frank i wasn’t even hungering for yet, i had Sonic.  Fast food on the fly is the best when it’s deep fried and filled w/ preservatives so I went with: a Chili CHEESE Hot Dog, and CHED-AH filled jalapeno poppers, and a Route 44 (signature 44 oz drink) 1/2 filled w/ diet Dr. Pepper and 1/2 filled w/ Diet Coke and overflowing because I requested strawberries in my drink.  It was delicious to drink BUT not so fun when you realize you have your work cut out for you the moment one of the strawberry slices gets sucked into the straw.  BUT: i believe because of the strawberry entrapment incident I managed to increase my lung capacity.  The human suction power is almost might reach heroic status one day.

yummmmy! is greasy a smell? it is now...!

 

aside from my not-so- impressive-cheese-intake-list my day wasn’t that interesting. 

 

Here’s a breakdown:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. I filled a loan consolidation application.  I want to thank Direct Loans for making that possible otherwise I would have spent 3.5 hours of my day doing something else.  I also want to thank the internet for saving me a stamp.
2. I applied to teach middle school math at Northeast Independent School District.  In my Letter of Intent Form I spoke of how my fashion background made the greatest use of math by helping me organize my award winning creations on paper…?!  Yes.  I’m serious there.  UNBELIEVABLE.  I don’t know what I’ll do if I get an interview because that is something I AM NOT looking forward to explaining.
3.  I checked my email.  Several times.  TALK about INITIATIVE!!!WOW!!! i’m the best at checking my email.  I don’t think i can be beat.
4. I checked craigslist for a WHOLE BUNCH of jobs that i could possibly be interested in for the summer when the kids are out and the need for substitute teachers is obsolete.  The progress report on that is pending.  However, I did get a rejection letter from some Virginia chick:

Dear Ms. Alvarez:
 
Thank you so much for submitting your resume in consideration of the position as listed above.
 
We have decided to move on with another candidate for this particular position. 
 
I wish you much success,
 
Virginia Balfour
Human Resource Coordinator
Med-National, Inc.

Thanks Ginny.  I actually do appreciate it when they get back to me.  At least I know I didn’t fall for a scam posting.

5.  I studied for my Sunday Mtg…CHECK!

6.  I went to the park and saw a kid and his dad.  The dad was trying to push his kid on the tri BUT what the dad should have been doing is investing on a belt, or a third hand so that he could lift the back of his shorts at LEAST 2 inches.  It was then that i totally though: he must be a plumber.  Then it became understandable.

7.  OH!!! and i registered to test for EC-4 Certification.  You guessed it: one day, yours truly might end up being a KINDERGARTEN TEACHER eeekkkkkk!!! Can you say Cardigans? cos i can!!!

8. I watched a good 40 minutes of Bones.  Yay for science shows that totally downplay the science and crank up the drama…

9. OH!! i weighed myself in this morning.  the results were satisfactory yet i should mention there was a .6 lb increase from last week. 

ugh…this listing option isn’t the best.  alignment is so non-existant.

peace-out my homebodies

is google the next wal-mart?

ok so i don’t know how i stumbled on the you-tube vid for Goog-411. it’s been posted since SEPTEMBER…how i missed it, i dunno anyways here’s the show… Take a look for yo’-self:

 

isn’t that awesome!! i love the internet. so many tools. so many freebies. so much google for everyone. it’s just fantastic. love the internet–LOVE IT. but it’s weird in a way. to get stuff free. on some days when i consider how many people are unemployed i stop and NEARLY wish that $4/gal gas was back if it gave everyone’s job back. that’s unlikely to solve the issue which is why i only NEARLY wish. so when google came out w/ this super cool FREE version of 411 i thought: YAY! goodbyyeeeeee 50 cent charges for 411!!! however, what is the regular 411?
people are at the end of that 411…people that get paychecks for 411 operator services and stuff like that, stuff i don’t think to deeply about yet i have a pretty good feeling that it’s going to affect those people not so deeply thought about (that’s such a poorly written sentence above all my poorly written sentences THEREFORE, i should take a moment to call upon my faithful excuse: English is my second language.)
anyways, so even though 411 is this super big or small group of people that get money for their service, what is google doing to them? I seriously love google…i’m torn. what if google turns into the wal-mart of information and takes the jobs of all these people that sell the convenience of obtaining information?

well if that happens i don’t know. I feel bad. but strangley enough…not bad enough to hold myself from programming goog-411 into my cell.

hasta la vista lovies

job hunting take untwenteenth…

ok so i’m in the process of applying to teach for america and well, i have a few days to go. but seriously, that program gives me the heeby jeebeees in nervousness and i don’t know why! well, because I want it. But then again if i get it i’m scared of it. i guess it’s my unicorn right this moment and for the past months or so worth of moments. we’ll see. the sad thing is, i realized today: i REALLY like my congregation here yeah it makes me sad because, this is the thing that has endeared me to stay here in san antonio and i’m kinda scared of what kind of a congregation i’ll land in if i do the teach for america thing. regardless of the congregation, my mtg attendance won’t be comprimised. but my attitude will be. and what makes it suck more yet is that i’ll be alone…again. for 2 yrs. no go backs. i guess i shouldn’t get nervous yet. I haven’t gotten it. i have some time before i hear i get rejected hee hee.

wk no. 52: ok i have some plans

So like i said, i will be looking into teaching as an option. Preferably math or science cos it just seems like more fun to do those and i was best at those in school. I guess i was ok in english too but i’m not so sure i want to do that although i’m completely open to all possibilities. but here’s the thing: i’m a hands on type of girl and i want the kids make cool stuff. somehow or other i’m gonna get them all to build something. i don’t care how small or simple i want something built. i thank you my visual background.

alright alright already

so i’m looking at 3 programs so far. Teach for America, cos hello Cornell drilled it into me. Texas Teaching Fellow, you can only apply to one location, i’m gonna pick San Antonio due to cheap cost of leaving oops, i meant, cost of living. Okay and the last one will be Austin ISD Teaching Academy because it’s in Austin, duh. TTF also has Dallas, El Paso and Austin as possible locations but I’m sticking to San An just cos i’m already there. Plus, the Teaching Academy is what I’ll bank on for returning to Austin. And TeachforAmerica because…well, I’ve met some corp members and they just seem to be really grounded. I’ve studied the program in class(es) too so it’s hard to not admire the system they have in place. I like their approach.

Ultimately, I want to teach. I like kids and I like to give presentations, I’m great with parents for some reason beyond my control, and I’m just fun like that so give me my summers back! PLEASE!!! Plus, teachers, get awesome benefits.

BEST OF ALL: i love cardigans! i already have all the professional apparel required to look the part. how fun is that gonna be.

it's a teaching basic

i know i’m excited when I start to plan what I’ll wear on the job. there is a part of me that really really wants to teach math or science. although, if i teach science…what kind of science? and how would i get kids to build something for science? If i teach science i guess they can experiment with different clays and build tiny little huts, oooh or bones, or i can have them create replica ecosystems. it sucks that i can’t keep plants alive. maybe i can use my fiber science background and teach them about basic textile care, that would be practical. ooh i can also teach them about forensics. YES!! if i’m a science teacher i think my class will have to solve a mystery every week. well maybe bi-weekly or even monthly. my goal is to make whatever subject i’m teaching fun for them. I want them to look forward to coming to class.

ok well i need to get back to packing. i DESPISE the moving part of moving. i love the meeting new people learning about new places but the packing and unpacking part. that’s the hardest part of it all. i wonder when i’ll be moving next. oy vey. OY VEY!

my imaginary boxes...i'm actually using shopping bags and some luggage pieces as well as my many handbags

“Suck Antonio”

today i called Nick who got transferred to San Antonio. i told him, hey, i’m moving to San Antonio soon. I want to transfer. He was soo happy to hear that. it was as if anything will make him happy because he’s unhappy there. actually, knowing Nick, he’s not unhappy. but he did call San Antonio “Suck Antonio.”

this move was not encouraged by that. also, PBK…i want my $4.50 back!

there go $4.50 I’ll not see again

ugh…forever ago I went on an interview for a very bare bones type of position for an Architecture firm.  I have a love affair w/ too many things architecture btw, so of course no matter how remedial the job was, i wanted it.  I NEEDED IT.  and i obviously didn’t get it.  From what my recruiter told me: 

“Unfortunately, PBK ended up going with another candidate who has less experience.  He was extremely impressed with you and honestly thought you would be bored after a few weeks.  I am waiting to get the scoop on the other firm and will keep you posted.”

awesome.  I didn’t get it.  because i’d be too good at it?! what a negative quality to have in an employee, like duh!  fine.  i’m flattered, but only to cover up the non-salary i’m getting, and still managed to lose 2 days of my job so that i could make the interview.  which, btw, the guy really did like me.  I left there feeling great! I was crushed when I didn’t get the job.  Now, they have a Marketing position open.  I don’t think I’m gonna get it.  I’m saying that now.  

Last night close to midnight I found out that the same firm, PBK Architects is hiring a Marketing Coordinator.  When I saw that posting on careerbuilder i felt like the clouds opened up so that sunlight could beam down on me.  YES! the firm i wanted, the job i wanted!!!!  omg… so i emailed the guy that I had interviewed with, real nice guy too, Darrell Pearson, a Director too.  I secretly thanked all my college roommates that many a times preached the power of networking and I emailed him.  

Then this morning I sent printed out a ream of resumes and headed to the Austin office with a few resumes and a box of donuts to be shared.  he took the donuts and wrote an email address on a resume, then said good-bye.

encouraging?  very.

bye donuts.  I barely knew you.

bye-bye my sweets

interviews: check.

ok so my interviews are over and done with.  which is nice, cos i was getting soo HONGRY!!!  I’m glad Kelley was there.  I was comfortable with that.  She’s a great interviewer, which i had expected, but i felt like it was my little sister interviewing and i dunno it was just a such a warm feeling every time she’d give her responses.

 

anyways.  so for about the first interview:

it was at ashby staffing which is a staffing agency.  and it was for a position doing the same stuff i’m doing: so rfq’s and rfp’s hub stuff…and the lady that interviewed me said she really liked me.  Its of obvious benefit for her to get her people hired so I’m hoping that she finds possible leads for it.  Anyway, so that went well and she will also be looking for other stuff for me.  She basically told me she things i’m an overall good package and a marketable candidate for marketing positions.  That was nice to hear.

My second interview was at SpryDev and it was for that entry level assistant position.  so i didn’t get that job.  I didn’t even make it to the second round.  But Ben did invite me too interview for the Jr. Internet Marketing Coordinator position.  I think i could probably bring more to the table with that job. and while it does not come w/ an iphone, it comes with a higher salary so i’d be able to afford an iphone on my own.  I did like meeting him and while i did not learn about what they do exactly, or what their daily processes are like i did enjoy getting a feel for what he has going on.  so yes, it was definitely worth going to.  and as i said: i landed the 2nd interview.  What i wasn’t thrilled about was the work schedule.  Mr. Cox allows me to take a half day once a week so i can do my volunteering.  :(  and, you know I really enjoy it. This job doesn’t seem to offer that, and if anything i’m a bit hesitant as to the hours: 8am-6pm.  currently, i’m at 8:30-5:30.  so i put in 35 hours a week just about.  I don’t mind working through lunch, in fact if i’m avoiding traffic and drive thrus and fast food calories and the love handles to follow….i think i’m better off. 

so far my leads are SpryDev, UT Co-op, that lady from Asby, and i’ve yet to hear back from adLucent.  but i might not ever hear back from them…who knows.  so far, it’s an even tie between SpryDev and the UTCoop.  

pre-interview post

today i have two things to look forward to.

1. i can excuse myself for fast food for lunch. 
2. nylons and pencil skirts! woo-hoo!

Yes. i have an interview at 1:00 with Caren for the Marketing Coordinator/Proposals Manager job so since it’s at 1.00 i need to grab a burger or something else that i might possibly spill on myself right before my interview.  and nylons and pencil skirts cos that’s what i get to wear!!! gosh i’m sooo excited.  so so so excited that i don’t know if i’ll be able to contain myself.  I seriously hope that i actually don’t share that during my interview because i am very likely to disclose my personal perk of the day.

also, i got an email back from Ben.  and YES, i can interview for BOTH. in his email he said to go ahead and go in today for this interview which is the personal assistant job.  The other position is to be the Jr. Internet Marketing Coordinator.  The thing is…he said if i don’t get this one as in the personal assistant job to go ahead and apply for the other one if i end up liking his style and all.  Ok, If i end up not getting this one: am i gonna like his style?  Think about it: i’m notoriously full of myself…so am i gonna like his style if i don’t get it?  oh ben…

there are two outcomes that I’ll be satisfied with:  That I become the personal assistant for the first few weeks or so and then get promoted to Jr. Marketing Coordinator ( i think i’ll like saying i’m Jr. something lol “hello, i’m lorena jr.”). or that at the end of this interview he say: you know, i’m so convinced you will be perfect for the Jr. MIC job.  and then he’ll either just hire me.

yes, i have 2 interviews.  it’s sad that what i look forward to about the other is that i get to eat fast food. oi vey.