Haven't posted...

...because there hasn't been much to post about. I applied to a university that is hiring a junior accountant. Waiting to hear about testings for the two counties where I've applied.

Reading SWAMPLANDIA! I've been waiting for it for some time and am not disappointed. Have a ton of library books to return...unread. Other than SWAMPLANDIA! [I just like writing the title] I have not found much I've enjoyed lately.

Decided to stop applying to jobs in my home state. I'll wait until things get much more dire before I do that. I still have a few months, and who knows, if I have to I might be able to find part-time temp work that could at least help.

Trying to stay positive.

Even in dreams....

You know when you are in an argument or disagreement with someone, and later you think, "I should have said this...." It's even happening to me in my dreams. Last night I dreamt I got into an argument with a letter carrier. I mentioned to him that I used to work for the Post Office but quit, and he started berating me about how stupid I was for quitting the Post Office, what a great job it was, etc. Probably my subconscious.
I tried to explain that my job wasn't as good as his seemed to be, and he said something about how all jobs at the Post Office were the same and none of them were any worse than any of the others.

Anyway, he left, and I realized I should have told him that my first job I got after going back to school paid 20k more per year than my job at the Post Office, and also didn't involve me working weekends [usually] or non-standard hours [other than busy season.] But alas, the opportunity was gone.

We're hoping the jobs in my home state do not contact me, I think we've realized that it would just be too difficult for me to be that far away, both emotionally and logistically. Hoping to hear something about an exam for one of the county jobs this week.

Poking myself in the eye with a sharp stick...

....again.

The county here is hiring, exact same process as last time, etc. I need one more job to put on my UE form this week so I can have three jobs, so guess I'll sign up for more punishment. Our county is broke, I don't know how they can hire people like this.

I've been working on audit related courses for my continuing education, so maybe this will help me.

Still loving the high speed. I always have time to decompress when my wife gets home, because that's her turn to use the computer.

Hello 21st Century....

We finally have high speed internet. Huzzah.

We've had it before, back when I was working for the Big Firm, but haven't had it since moving back here to Detroit of the West. Nice.

No movement on the university job, so I think I don't have to worry too much about a conflict between them and the job I'm really interested in.

Okay, back to wasting time online....I'm going to have to work to stay focused on the various other things I like to do that don't involve technology. When I first moved to the craphole I used to live in while at the Big Firm, I didn't have internet or even a TV for the first week I was there. I actually enjoyed it. I'd just read quietly each night before bedtime. I think after the newness of this wears off, I may try to "unplug" at least once a week.

The race is on....

Found a job over the weekend with one of the counties here in this area. Great pay, and I meet the requirements. Biggest plus is that it is located in one of the few areas in this state where my wife and I would like to live. But...it is with a county government, and who knows how long they'll take to do anything. There will probably be another exam, and then eventually an interview. By the time all of that happens I might end up getting one of the jobs in my home state.

I'm hoping that I will at least be able to interview for this new county position assuming I am able to get to that stage, that way I could hopefully make an informed decision. Worse came to worse, I could renege on the university job and move back here and work for the county. If I were able to choose, I would rather stay here...the more I think about it, the more I hate the idea of moving, but if I get a job there, I have to do it. I view it as what I have to do because of the poor decisions I made over the last few years.

Of course, all of this assumes that I'm a contender for one of the jobs in my home state, which is also a big assumption.

The turnaround....

Well, maybe.

I was poking around and saw a job at the college at the smaller town to where I'm considering relocating. They want someone with a CPA, a master's, and a year of experience. Perfect. I called to see if the job was still open [the filing date had passed on the website] and was told that as long as the job was on the website they were still looking at people. So I applied. I'll be surprised if this doesn't result in at least an interview...I've made it clear that I'm originally from the area and am looking to move back, and it seems like they are having trouble filling the position [I'm guessing that most CPAs have way more experience and don't want to work that level of job with that level of pay or live in that area...I happen to be the exception!]

Guess we shall see. It's interesting to note that since I've decided to focus on jobs back in my home state I have found two okay prospects and one great prospect in one week.

This enthusiasm is tempered of course by my desire to stay with my wife, and I guess that's something I will just have to get over.

The hour that stretches...

Today is one of those rare mornings where there seems to be plenty of time no matter what I'm doing. I have a couple of hours until it's time to go out, and I can exercise, bathe, read, relax, etc...always feels good when that happens.

I applied for another job in my home state and should probably get some kind of response. As I mentioned last April when the whole casino job fiasco was going on, I am Indian and most Indian tribes operate on Indian Preference. This doesn't make things automatic, but generally they have to justify not hiring a non-Indian. An Indian applicant that has good qualifications generally has a good shot at getting the job. It gets even better when you're applying with your actual tribe, at the very least because documentation is easier. Anyway, these two jobs are with my tribe. This might be a way out, we shall see. I'm hoping my wife and I wouldn't need to be separated much longer than six months.

That area is being clobbered by ice and snow [one of the few things I will miss about where I am now is not having to deal with that in the winter] so I don't think there will be any response for a while.

I am jumping the gun as always, working out a possible budget, etc. I shouldn't do that, nothing good has ever come of it.

Looks the like football I mentioned a few posts ago has already been pulled out. The Federal Agency Everyone Hates is basically going to be under a hiring freeze for this entire year, until a budget is passed. With the Republicans having the House it doesn't look good for hiring to be increased. Oh well, I would much rather have my current strategy work out.

You know you've been unemployed too long....

...when you start dreaming about filling out unemployment forms and paperwork instead of dreaming about former jobs.

So I'm biting the bullet and applying to a job in my home state. If it worked out I could live very cheaply and actually be able to pay my bills. My wife and I would separate for a year or so, then she would join me after she was able to quit her job and put her house on the market. If I could reduce my credit debt over the first year we could probably make it.

I am a little underqualified for the job, but could probably do it if given the right training and support. However, it is the type of job that people usually get after a few years of experience. Guess we will see what happens.

Catch-22 all over again....

I feel serious guilt right now.

I got a call this afternoon from one of the casino jobs I applied to out of the area.
We scheduled an interview for tomorrow, but the person let me know what the pay was, and it was a little low [probably short about 5-6k] but like a dummy, I agreed to come in anyway. Luckily, my wife came home briefly that afternoon and we could discuss it.
The salary just isn't going to work. It won't support us, although it could if we separated on a semi-permanent basis and if my wife continued to work and helped to support me while I was there. So, sheepishly, I called back just now to respectfully decline. It was just a little over an hour after they initially called me so I'm hoping it won't cause them too much of an inconvenience.

I guess it's good that I at least was offered an interview in February, even if I turned it down. If I had known the salary beforehand I wouldn't have applied.

We've been down this road before, also...when I moved to work for the Big Firm we had a similar situation where I was only making enough money to pay some of the bills, my own living expenses, etc. and ended up having to dip into savings after a while in order to make ends meet for what essentially were two households.

This brings up a conundrum. I can only bring in an entry level salary, but I don't have entry level obligations. I guess it's something that career changers out there should consider before taking the plunge and studying accounting, nursing, engineering, or whatever fields are "hot" right now.

I'm better off just waiting for unemployment to run out and at that point settle for the $8-$9 per hour temp job. Still have 4 months or so.

Kick that football, Charlie Brown....

I would post a picture, but I have no desire to rip off the estate of Charles Schulz.
Interesting factoid: I hear that Charles Schulz [note that it is not "Schultz"] is routinely is among the top posthumous earners, I believe Elvis is the only one who earns more, although Michael Jackson will probably be making the list for at least a few more years.

My particular football is The Federal Agency that Everyone Hates, and it is being lowered in front of me yet again. No jobs here where I am of course, but I don't really care....I'm applying anyway. We'll see how long before they cancel/postpone this job listing. Pretty sure I should get an interview this time, it has been over a year since my last one.

Most likely, though, I won't have a real shot at it until the economy improves to where these jobs are once again what they were pre-recession, an entry level opportunity for people who either won't or can't get their start elsewhere.