Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Day 28 - A Slow Day

I had the best intentions to get a lot of things done today but let's here it for poor execution. I woke up to help get my daughter off to school and then planned on hitting the job search but a soft bed won out. It was just the right temperature and the pillow was so fluffy - I got pulled in - what can I say.

Finally when I was well rested, I needed to write my thank you notes for the interview. I looked through my stash and realized sending a card with a pug or a caricature of me on the front of it was not appropriate for the occasion. I ran out to the store where I bumped into a neighbor and got stuck in a conversation that had no content and went way too long. It is hard to escape from that situation. It was especially awkward because she asked if I landed a job? and then gave me the canned "you are talented and I am sure something will work out."

Now it is about one hour later and this errand should have taken 15 minutes. Then, I went for my mandatory 32 ounce diet coke at Burger King. Finally I am on my way home and decide to return my sister in law's call. She wants to meet for a quick lunch. I tell her no and then change my mind - what the heck, I was hungry.

OK, now it is 1:30 p.m. and I am finally home. I write my first card and it is going on and on and on. I realize it is better to send a thank you e-mail since it would be faster and neater. I finish my second thank you e-mail and hear my husband screaming at a rude customer service rep on the phone. He then yells up that he needs me to pick up carpool at school. I could not argue because I had about 5 minutes to get over there as school was being let out.

I picked up two screaming boys and my daughter and had to listen to their self made skit song. They sing at the top of their lungs "don't tease the ladies or they will die!" I then interject that their message was disturbing and did they want to discuss any repressed anger (I was a Psychology major). I suggested they change the words to "don't tease the ladies cause it is not nice!" they did not buy it.

Now it is 3:15 p.m. and I have to finish the last thank you e-mail. I then straighten out my COBRA. I have been waiting a month for an invoice to pay for medical coverage. All our medication we filled in 2009 are down to the last pills. We are kind of desperate to have this firmed up. Not having health insurance is a scary proposition. I tried to avoid any situations in January where any of us could get injured.

I then realize that I owed a call to a recruiter who is looking for a Talent Acquisition Director for a Pharmaceutical Company. As I spoke with her, the role started to sound really interesting. Next thing I know, I am in a full blown telephone interview having to provide examples of my out of the box thinking. It was not the most inspiring day so I really had to dig deep inside. This company had a big ramp up to release a cancer drug to the public. I have no idea what that takes and the type of talent involved in a project like a drug release. I start improvising - throwing out ideas (which I am sure were totally lame). Maybe we can reach out to doctors, cancer victims, project managers... I had no idea. All I know is that I hope I never have to use that drug.

Something must of stuck as she was going to present me to the VP. She told me he was looking for someone from a different industry. I thought I sounded kind of insane but who knows maybe I met the job specification "Looking for a crazy chick with stupid ideas."

Realization - I need to schedule myself a day in advance so I don't get off track. I need to complete my tasks and if it means skipping lunch or sleep in time, so be it. Realization 2 - I need to develop an elevator speech that I can use when I get stopped on the street and someone asks have you found work yet? My first thought should just be a simple no and it cut off the discussion - just kidding.

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