Before I go any further, time for my Weight Loss Adventure Update! Hurrah!
I weighed-in last Thursday, July 19, and was up just 1.7 pounds. After being at my future in-laws for the weekend, and having one of the WORST weeks (actually, two weeks) I’ve ever lived through, I consider that a big win. In all honesty, I was totally expecting to be up at least a few pounds. So, not even 2 pounds gained? Sa-weeet! I’ll take it! This week is going to be tricky as well – I didn’t lay a good foundation this weekend, so now I’m playing catch-up, and hoping I can offset my not-bad/not-good choices.
(My not-bad/not-good choices include a DELICIOUS Resse Peanut Butter Chocolate cupcake on Friday for a co-workers birthday, late-night cheesy garlic bread and Sidekicks with my fiancé for dinner Saturday, a footlong turkey sub on whole wheat from Subway – no cheese, veggies, lite mayo, mustard – but with a combo bag of Baked Ketchup chips for Sunday lunch, then a late Sunday dinner with my fiancé of a Healthy Option Sesame Chicken and Rice frozen meal, a Dole Bagged Light Caesar salad, and a grilled Mediterranean chicken wrap from McDs. I’ve been so-so on the tracking, and really need to get my water in that I missed this weekend!)
I’m getting back on track today, but because I didn’t pre-make my dinners for the week, I’m resorting to Lean Cuisines (who apparently have some kinda deal with Weight Watchers, and they can post the Points Plus values on the containers! I always check, but it’s nice to have that ease of choice at the grocery store). I’m not forcing myself to exercise tonight though – I’ll do it tomorrow and I’ll be ok with it!
So, we have the weight-loss update covered…now, for the test!!
As of right now, I’m going to be a Mrs on October 6, and I’m SO JAZZED! Not only do I get to marry the most wonderful man, I get to apply for a new job in a new city!! (Ok, maybe I’m more jazzed about the marriage bit. The second part is all about being fiscally responsible in this day and age…also, I’d be a horrible stay-at-home mother. Don’t ask me how, I just would be. I’ll stay at home for my maternity leave and all, but I’m one of those people that get all wound up in things I’m exposed to for a long time…I fear I may start actually watching talk shows and bombarding my husband with, “OH MY GOODNESS, did you know we could save 2.3% of our heating bill if we learned to breathe slower and adapt to living with colder bodies?!” or something like that. My poor future children…they’ll be the kids at school with the mom that packs a Wet Nap in their lunches, and they MUST prove they used it before and after eating…or something. I mean, if you do that already, kudos to you! I just remember a day and age when I could sit at my desk with a jar of peanut butter and only 3 kids in the entire school would have to leave the building…maybe. Siiigh… I digress.)
Ok, yes, so, JOB HUNTING!!
I applied to a few places last week, and one called back with an interview offer! I was so excited! I got all my informational pieces together, updated things, and made sure to pick out my best business-y outfit. I mentally rehearsed my answers for the typical interview questions: “Name three strengths and three weaknesses,” “What was your proudest moment at your last job?” “Tell me a little about yourself.” You know, the usual. I talked with my fiancé about the answers, and he helped sort out what I was going to say.
I went to bed Sunday night totally nervous but giddy at the new prospect in the morning.
I woke up, fairly well rested, and ready to take action – I double-checked my driving instructions, watched the news for any possible road closures or natural disasters that may impede my getting there on time. I left in good time, and started my GPS on my phone, just to be safe:
GPS: At Whatever Street, turn left
Me: Ummm…no. My fiancé told me to turn left on Steeles.
GPS: (Rerouting) At Random Street, turn left
Me: …no. No, I’m turning left at Steeles!
GPS: (Rerouting) At Wrong Street, turn left
Me: Ok, seriously, GPS, I don’t need this!! Why can’t you just coach me on my interview, and let me take Steeles?! The last time I followed you instead of my written directions, I got lost and Fiance laughed at me and cursed you! Don’t you remember that!?
GPS: (Rerouting) At Incorrect Street, turn left
Me: AHHHHHH!!!!
This lasted for probably no more than 10 minutes, but it felt like forever. Just as I was losing hope that maybe my ma was wrong and the GPS was right, the GPS rerouted and FINALLY said, “At Steeles, turn left.” I breathed a huge sigh of relief, and turned left.
I then checked my clock, and the remaining time to my destination. I had 20 minutes to get to the interview on time – not with time to spare – and 22 minutes remaining on my directions. In Toronto traffic. Panic Mode, Car Edition: Yelling at other drivers, cursing everyone that isn’t carpooling (even though I wasn’t), and freaking out at every traffic light that I stopped at. Which was, of course, every single one. Of course.
I finally arrived at the company, but could not figure out where to park. (I flippin’ hate that. I need to learn to start asking “Are there special parking instructions?” for EVERY new place I go.) I guessed at a parking spot, and dashed in, almost forgetting my portfolio. I filled out a Visitor’s Sheet, got a nifty Visitor’s sticker, and sat down for two seconds. The Receptionist then tells me that my interviewer is in the NEXT building.
Siiigh.
I go to the next building, and of course it’s one of those places that have a door with a keypad, for employees only. Thankfully, a lady was just behind me, and knocked on the window for someone to let us in. I cautiously entered, hoping I wouldn’t have to stand around like a goon. Prayer answered! My interviewer was right there in a second, and whisked me to her office.
I opened with a little joke about listening to my fiancé verses my GPS, hoping to deflect any negative review on me JUST having arrived. She laughed, and I figured, “Ok, she laughed, just chill out and be cool and be yourself!” She opened up all her notes and the resume and cover letter I’d sent to her. I was ready – rushed, but I knew my Interview Instincts would kick in when the first question was posed.
“So,” she began, “Did you start college right after high school?”
“Uh, no, I went to college later. I worked full-time until college, starting with going from part- to full-time at my after-school job.”
“Ok, I see that here…you’ve had a number of jobs in that time,” she says, reading my resume. “Were you trying to find your niche?”
Find my niche? What? I know what a niche is, but I’ve never been asked that question. I felt like my GPS at that moment – “Rerouting.”
“Uhhh…” I stammered, trying to formulate my answer, “I uh, yeah. I left my first job because they started messing with my hours, after they’d promised me regular hours (this is true) and I just didn’t think I needed to put up with that anymore. So, started working mostly in customer service jobs, and it wasn’t until about here… (I pointed to a job entry on my resume) that I realized I wanted to go into Admin and focus on that.” Phew, I’m now hoping this answer is the only strange one I have to think of on the fly.
“Ok…and, you went to Niagara College for Office Administration?”
“Yes, I did.” I smiled extra-nice, to indicate that I loved this program. I truly did, and still do love my college course!
“What made you want to go to that course?” she asked.
“Well…” I started, pausing and rerouting again, “I’d been doing jobs that were ok, not great. I wanted to upgrade, and move on with my life. I’d always wanted to go into Admin, and my sister started college at the same time, so it all seemed perfect.” That answer was a little easier, because I had to say it time and time again when people found out I was going to college, “finally.”
“Ok, good...tell me, when we spoke on the phone, what made you want to interview with us?”
It was at this point I knew I'd stepped into some weird, alternate dimension of interviewing. I know you prep as best you can, and expect to think on your feet, but c'mon! I am horrible and lightning-quick reflexes, mental or physical. That's why I'll never be a true/viable ninja. It's a shame I live with every day.
“Well, uhhh...what did we talk about...” I hemmed and hawed, trying to buy thinking time. Ah-ha! “It was when I was telling you about my current job and my salary, and you said, 'Ah, you're ready for a change.'” I held my breath as she kinda smiled, then exhaled. I figured that was a good answer – I couldn't very well just blurt out, “I'm moving here to get married – I kinda can't rely on my husband alone to support us in these uncertain economic times!” That was more truthful, but less socially polite.
By now, my nerves are shot. I'm feeling waaayyy less confident, and I get asked if I have any questions. I asked about the company having an open-door policy – I was then asked to clarify my question, due to the general nature of it, and many managers throw the term “open door policy” around. At least I knew how to answer that. I (probably meekly) asked if she wanted to see my portfolio. She said sure, and I went through it as I'd rehearsed. However, looking back, I'm pretty sure that desperation was starting to become more evident in my voice – I'd lost all confidence in myself, and didn't know how to gain it back.
She ended the interview, telling me she had them all day long, and would call the next day if there was a need for me to return for a second interview. We shook hands, and I left the building. I promptly called my fiance, and answered his question of, “How did it go?” with “...I honestly don't know.”
Well, that was Monday. It is now Wednesday evening. I've had no phone call, so I'm going to make the assumption that, no, I did not get through to Round 2. Yesterday was agony, waiting and waiting, everyone being so positive that I'll get a callback. Today was less agony, more like, “Geez, what did I do wrong?!”
Most (if not all) jobs that I've interviewed for, I've gotten. However, this is not me just getting any job now – I'm an adult looking for my potential career. The stakes are higher. I can't just expect that what I did in interviews before will land me a job now. Sure, I'm a little bummed, but now I know that the rust is shaken off a little, so the next interview will be better!
My first order of business? Do a test-run of the route I'll take to the interview. Time it, then tack on 30-45 minutes extra, just to be safe! After I locate the place, I'll find a nearby Tim Horton's or Starbucks I can just chill out in until it's time to go.
It's hard, keeping the faith that things WILL work out. I know they will, but rejection in any form is never easy to swallow.
On the plus side, I can look forward to hangouts with my one bridesmaid for her hubby's birthday this weekend! That's always fun, hanging out with them and their friends. I can start packing more of my room up, and get organized for moving. I'll see my fiance on Sunday, and we'll talk more wedding plans, as well as plans for next weekend – our only “vacation” this year, a local Country Jamboree with his mom and step dad! (Loyal readers will remember me talking about this Jamboree as the one that the Melty Cupcake Story came from – there will be NO CUPCAKES this year!) Finally, I'll hopefully get some rest! I'm burning out a little, and that doesn't help matters when your room is getting smaller due to boxes that need to move out, or knowing you REALLY should be online and looking for jobs instead of dozing while your DVD of Arrested Development plays.
Ok – time for bed, and a good nights sleep! Tomorrow is another day, and I fully plan to meet it head on...oh, crud, I gotta weigh in tomorrow. Aw, geez...well, last-ditch effort – lots of water, and a fibre bar! Staying positive, whoo!!
