Job Interview on Tuesday - prayers please - 2nd UPDATE pg 2

[Maridw]

In September, I was laid off from my job of 15 years. It was a big surprise to me. I was the only one who had over 2 years in the office. Our president hadn't even been there for 2 years. Plus I was the only one who had the most knowledge of how things were done. (They have called me quite a few times since I was laid off to ask how to do something or where something is).

Anyway, I have been applying for jobs and finally have an interview with the Department of Transportation on Tuesday. It is a job I know I can do with no problem. I know someone on the interview board, so hopefully that will help some, but could use all the good thoughts right now.

My severance package runs out on the 20th of Jan and I would like to have a job before it does. All the jobs I have applied for are jobs that I would have no problem doing and yet this is the very first call for an interview that I have received. While I enjoy being home, I am getting bored and really would like to get back to work.

Hope everyone has a Happy New Year!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, good thoughts - and good luck!

But, no matter what happens, PLEASE start screening your calls and NOT responding to your former employer!

 

[golfgal]

Good luck. I also agree, stop answering questions for your old job--they felt they didn't need you any longer so now they need to figure things out without you--OR start charging them a contractor fee to help.

 

[snoopybabe]

Good luck on Tuesday. Said prayer that all goes well.

Please quit being nice and answering your former employer's calls. They were stupid enough to let you go they need to live with it.

 

[Rose&Mike]

Sending good thoughts your way! Hope the interview goes great!!!

And I agree with the PPs. Stop taking their calls or charge them!

 

[Maridw]

Thank you all. The main reason I have been answering the calls is because of the severance package. But once that ends, I had planned on no longer answer the calls.

One time they called about a couple spreadsheets they needed to figure some payments. I told them exactly where they were and about the information in this notebook that I had made for myself. I went to drop off a Santa suit to my old boss (he was playing Santa for the dance school I go to) and the person that was hired after I was let go asked me about where to find them. I showed her in the notebook (which listed the names of the two spreadsheets they were looking for) and I showed her on my old computer where they were. She asked about what to put in them, and I showed her the information in the book, and told her to go to previous years spreadsheets to figure out what to put on them. This is how I had to do it as I had very little training on them myself. Most of the stuff I did as the accountant was learn on my own, especially after the old president retired suddenly. What I thought was odd was that they had called me about these same spreadsheets in November and I had not heard back from them, so thought they had found them. So when she asked me about them, I knew they were now 2 months late on these particular payments. Oh well, not my problem any more.

I really so hope I get this job, it would be with the state and I realize now that I really needed a change. I had been with my old job too long, even though I enjoyed it. The old president had set me up to fail and would have had me out of there if he hadn't retired. My husband went after him to the board of directors because he had harassed two other employees to the point that they retired. He knew that the old president would eventually go after me.

 

[Robinrs]

It's already yours!!

 

[Rozz]

Regarding your previous employer, next time they call, offer to serve as a consultant for pay. A couple of calls for little things can be understood, but ongoing calls and more than just to ask where something is located, I don't think so!

Good luck with your interview! I hope you get the job!

 

[Maridw]

Robinrs: I love the pics that you use as your family. Could you tell me how you did those?

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Prayers, good wishes and lots of luck coming your way!

 

[crazelion]

Job is yours. Think positive.

 

[Maridw]

I went to my interview and found out from a friend who was on the interview board that there were 279 applicants and I was one of the 28 that they were interviewing.

I felt I did very well in the interview. There was a little test afterward - simple proofreading a letter and marking the corrections; some basic math (having to know your order of operations, percentages, fractions and averages); and alphabetizing. I had 45 minutes to do the test and I was done in 25 and that was after triple checking everything.

Don't know when I will hear anything, but hopefully by next week.

Thank you for all the prayers and good thoughts.

 

[Robinrs]

Robinrs: I love the pics that you use as your family. Could you tell me how you did those?

Sorry I'm just seeing this! I used VistaPrint. I used them on my Christmas cards, too! It was like $5.00 for the entire thing I remember! Thanks!

 

[Robinrs]

I went to my interview and found out from a friend who was on the interview board that there were 279 applicants and I was one of the 28 that they were interviewing.

I felt I did very well in the interview. There was a little test afterward - simple proofreading a letter and marking the corrections; some basic math (having to know your order of operations, percentages, fractions and averages); and alphabetizing. I had 45 minutes to do the test and I was done in 25 and that was after triple checking everything.

Don't know when I will hear anything, but hopefully by next week.

Thank you for all the prayers and good thoughts.

Please let us know. I know how hard it is after being in a job for years and then trying to jump back into the arena, I'm praying for you!

 

[mikehn]

You are a real class act. Best of luck to you.

 

[rie'smom]

Prayers and good wishes to you.

2 words for the old employers: BITE ME

 

[luvflorida]

Sending good thoughts your way! I hope you get the job!!

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Good luck to you!!!

 

[Maridw]

Please let us know. I know how hard it is after being in a job for years and then trying to jump back into the arena, I'm praying for you!

I was really nervous, but I explained this to the interviewers saying that it had been awhile since I had had to go through an interview.

I felt really confident with my abilities and the experience that I had. Thankfully with the different types of jobs that I have had over my lifetime, I was able to use them as a reference for some of the questions.

Some of the questions were:
Tell us your experience of being able to work unsupervised.
How would you handle a conflict between yourself and a co-worker.
Handling correspondence via email, letter, phone etc.
Being able to learn new things.

As I said, with the different jobs that I have had, I did have what I thought was a good answer for all of them.

The person I knew on the interview board also reviewed all the applications except mine. She had someone else review that, so I got into the top 28 without her influence. She was in the room, but did not ask any of the questions, they rotated between the other 3 people on the board.

Again thanks for all the thoughts and prayer. I will let you know once I hear the news one way or the other.

 

[Maridw]

Monday I got a call for the Dept of Transportation. They have narrowed the field to 10 people and are doing second interviews to narrow it down to the last pick.

SO I went to the interview on Tuesday and they asked about 5 or 6 questions similar to the ones that they had orginally asked. Then I had another a quick test to do. One of the last things that they asked was if I was selected would I be able to start on Feb 8th.

From what they told me, they started at over 250 apps and the first cute got it down to 28. Which they then cut to 10. Hopefully some thing will happen.

But even if I don't get this job, I know that I made it through two cuts on the interview process.