April Fools Day

Posted on April 1, 2012 by kdarcy21

Although it is a Sunday, I was able to get my sister (JB) with an April Fools joke.

I called her at 10 this morning and said I had some really good news.  I told her that I had just been offered the job that I had applied for in BC.  She doesn’t necessarily want me to work so far from Ontario.  I sold it to her and she asked, “why would they call on a Sunday”.  I replied with, “well, it is April the first”.

For some reason, she was mad at me and called me a few names.  I got her pretty good though.

It does pale in comparison to what I did last year.

It was the start of the federal election and I was working on the Dykstra campaign. I was likely the closest person to the office so I was made the emergency contact for the alarm company.

Shortly before 8am on April 1, I opened the office and got an idea.  I called both the campaign manager and the main IT guy and told them (separately of course) that the office had been broken into and destroyed.  I went on for a minute or so describing the damage – windows smashed, holes in the walls, computers destroyed, list of supporters burned.

Both panicked, as you can imagine.  They both indicated that they would be there as soon as they could.  I asked them to hold on a second as I was filling in the police report.

I asked them, because I was shaken up that I couldn’t remember the date. JR immediately realized what was going on and said something, although expected and deserved, was a bit rude.  DS didn’t pick up when he told me it was April 1 – I asked him if anything “special” sometimes happened on April 1, still nothing.  After a few more seconds, he also realized that he has been pulled in.

The joke when re-told to the other campaign workers went over quite well.

I am still fearful of DS getting some sort of revenge on me – guess I will have to wait and see.

Anyway, I think as long as the pranks aren’t actually harmful then they are all for the fun of it.  I am sure that I’ve been gotten from time to time, but, I can’t think of a specific example.

At any rate, happy April Fools to you and hopefully you’ve not been gotten too badly.

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Go West, Young Man…

Posted on March 30, 2012 by kdarcy21

I had an interview today for a job based in Calgary.  I will likely have a 2nd interview next week with them in Toronto.  I also find out next week if I will be offered the position in BC.  I have had some good interest in jobs out west, so, it looks like I may be making a big move.

Calgary would be interesting.  I am a Flames fan, although, by the time I get there, I don’t think they will be playing any more hockey this season anyway.  I like wearing cowboy boots and those would fit in very well out there.  Cowboy hats, not really me, but who knows.

I am not counting my chickens before they hatch, but I have a good feeling.

I have had some interest in this end of the world, mostly the GTA.  Quite frankly, I would rather live in Calgary than Toronto.  I will take whatever is offered to me first though.

I’d be leaving a lot here.  Family.  Friends.

There are phones, email, Skype.  Other ways to keep in touch.  I am not worried about it.  Perhaps a new start would be a good thing for me – I really think it would.

There have been some “odd” changes at the Region and I am glad that I am no longer there.  I wish my ex co-workers the best of luck in the coming months and I hope that it works out for the best.

Anyway, if the west calls, I will go.  I suppose that I could pack up and leave in a day or two.  Not sure what I would do with a LOT of my stuff, but I can figure that out later.  Storage for now I suppose, bring what I need.  Although nothing is written in stone, I need to sort of plan things out in my head so that I don’t explode from thought flooding if/when it does happen.

For now, it is the weekend so there won’t be much on the job front.  I am sure that I will apply for a few jobs but that will be about it.  I am going to try to do an April Fools joke on JB…  It’s a Sunday though, so I doubt that it will work.  I am going to tell her that I was offered and have accepted the job in BC and I will be leaving this week.  She’ll likely clue in pretty quickly, but, who knows.  I am sure I will report success/failure here.

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Lots of interest from placement firms…

Posted on March 30, 2012 by kdarcy21

I had another phone interview this morning.  I think it was for a job that I applied for only about a half hour before they called.  Talk about quick turn around time eh.

It’s for a support job with a company in Grimsby.  That would be nice and close to go to.  This interview was with a placement agency so they will now forward my resume onto the company in Grimsby – I don’t know who the company is though, that’s not a big issue for me mind you.

He also asked me about a job that I applied for in Sarnia – I indicated that I have no issues with relocating at all.

So, perhaps I will hear from both of these companies in the next week or two – who knows…  Maybe I will already be working by then – I hope so…

I have to call that recruitment firm in Toronto again this afternoon.  The client (in Burlington) hadn’t gotten back to them yesterday when I called. Hopefully something works out there as well.

I think I’ve indicated that I will accept the first offer that I am given.  I discussed (with RK) what would happen if I am offered a job and then a day or two later I am offered another job, better job.  I guess it would be a hard decision to make.  Unless the offer was much better, I don’t think I would jump ship and go with a second offer, but, I suppose I would have to examine that one a case by case basis.  Not an issue right now of course, the offers aren’t flying in through the door.

 

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Today

Posted on March 29, 2012 by kdarcy21

Went for dinner tonight with J&D – Kelsey’s at the Pen was the destination.  We had to wait for a booth, who would want to sit at a table?  Not my sister anyway…  Well, she’s getting older, we have to please her…  (I hope she reads that).

Wings were 1/2 price which is a pretty good deal.  Their wings are quite awesome.  I also had the deep fried Mars Bar, I didn’t need it (obviously) but it was good.

I looked through Workopolis and Monster today but didn’t find anything new.  I think I’ve applied for every relevant IT job that I’ve seen.

I am still (patiently) waiting to hear from a few places – hopefully something materializes next week.

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Multiple subjects in this post, live with it…

Posted on March 28, 2012 by kdarcy21

Well, I haven’t heard from that company in Burlington that I applied for via the recruiting firm in Toronto as yet.  I received a call from the recruiting firm on Monday, around 3pm I think it was.  She indicated that they would be contacting me for an interview – nothing as yet.  I really hate the waiting part, that’s gotta be the hardest.  I sent a follow-up email to the recruiter that interviewed me, just to ensure that I didn’t misunderstand or something – I hope to get a reply email later today.

I am waiting for other follow-ups next week.  I have had phone interviews with a number of companies.  I am guessing that with some of them, they don’t do a follow-up if there isn’t a match after the phone interview, not sure if I agree with that.  Even a simple email would be nice, at least then you know.  I do realize that some HR departments are slow, so, I continue to wait.

I am hopeful for the position in BC – it sounds like it would be interesting and it would be a fresh start.

J&D returned from Cuba yesterday afternoon.  They had a great time and renewed their vows.  Their 25th anniversary is coming up, April 25.  I was in the original wedding party so it’s too bad that I really couldn’t go to Cuba with them.  Despite my not liking a) sand, b) hot sun and temps c) foreign countries, I would have gone had I been working.  Not sure who I would have had look after my dogs.  It is tough to find someone to look after two of them.  I could try a kennel, I am sure Zeus wouldn’t like that, Blondie likely wouldn’t care – she’s young and goofy.

I saw today that my Dad’s house is for sale.  They are asking $13k more than we did 6 years ago.  They have done some work for it so I don’t think they are really far off.  If there is an open house, I plan to go through – it would be nice to see the place that I used to live in (for 25 years) and see what’s become of it.

So, that is an update for today.  As any readers of this blog can likely tell, I am looking forward to going back to work.  Hopefully it will be soon.  Until next time.

 

Posted in Personal, Work, Zeus, Blondie, Hera and Twix | Leave a comment

Phone interviews…

Posted on March 26, 2012 by kdarcy21

Had another phone interview today.  It was 45 minutes long, went well.  I may or may not get a 3rd interview with them next week, this time it would be with the client.  This is for a job in Kitimat, BC.

I am not sure if there are any other phone interviews that I will have this week.  I am waiting to hear back from a few places so I am hopeful that something materializes in the very near future.

Other than that, I am still applying to jobs as I find them.

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Spring cleaning time…

Posted on March 23, 2012 by kdarcy21

I am going to take a day off today from looking for a job.

I don’t think one day without hitting Workopolis or Monster will kill me and any jobs that are posted today will still be there tomorrow.

Now, I might get a call or two (job related) which is find – actually, I hope that I do.  I sent an updated copy of my resume to a friend in Ottawa who is going to pass it along to someone who might have a lead for me.  I appreciate the assistance.

Anyway, I am cleaning house today.  Well, not right now, I am taking a break.  I want to get the place a bit more organized.  OK, I want to get the place a LOT more organized.

The island in the kitchen looks like a bomb went off.  Gotta tidy it up.  I have already organized the front area.  I just have too much clutter, that’s all.

I found the registration for my Jeep – it had been missing for a while.  This is a good thing (finding it, not the fact that it was missing).  It is now in the Jeep. So, it has already been productive.

I am also going to connect my stereo system so I can listen to music and the radio.  What’s it been?  Almost a year since I moved in (10 months anyway, close enough) and no, I haven’t connected the stereo.  Pretty sad, I will admit.

Oh well – today is the day to get it all done.  It is nice out so it is cool inside.  It started to get darn hot in here yesterday.

Anyway, back to it.  Spring cleaning time.

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Interviews, interviews, interviews…

Posted on March 22, 2012 by kdarcy21

This was a productive week for interviews.

One scheduled in Toronto on Wednesday and a surprise phone interview while on the TTC heading to a sit-down interview.

Today, I had another phone interview that went well – this was for the position in BC. I have a follow-up interview scheduled for Monday morning on this one.

I received another phone interview this afternoon – seemed to go well. I hope to hear back on this one soon.  The position is in Kitchener.

I should find out tomorrow if the “surprise” phone interview I had when I was in Toronto goes anywhere – hopefully it will.  This was for a position in Stoney Creek.

I also followed up with the company that I interviewed with in Oakville – they will schedule a second interview the first week of April (I may have already reported that – not sure).

So, I think that is a pretty good week.  I hope that I am offered something and soon.  I would think that it will be a first come first served situation.  If I am offered the job in BC, off I go.  Guess time will tell on that.

On a side note – Today is March 22, I think it is the first full day of Spring (not entirely sure on that). It was 25C today – a record. Wow.  My place actually got pretty warm, almost warm enough to need to turn the AC on but I didn’t. It is cooling off now, hopefully it isn’t too hot upstairs.

Anyway, I will wait and see if any offers or additional interviews are on the table for tomorrow.  That’s it for me for today.

 

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Trip to Toronto – Productive

Posted on March 21, 2012 by kdarcy21

I went to Toronto this morning.  Left St. Catharines at 8:30am so I hit a bit of “rush hour” traffic.  Not sure why it is called rush hour since no one really rushes anywhere…  Anyway…

I made it to Toronto in 1:15 which is pretty good.  The drive along the QEW/403 from Guelph Line to Ford Drive was a bit slow but otherwise it was smooth sailing.

I took the TTC downtown (from my Aunts place) and made it to my interview with 15 minutes to spare.  A return trip on the TTC was $6 as compared to parking downtown which would have likely been upwards of $20.  On the way to the interview, I received a call from another prospective employer and he wanted to do a phone interview.  I will find out on Friday if I get an interview for this job which is in Stoney Creek.

I had my interview with this recruitment firm and it went well.  The person I spoke with gave me some pointers on my resume and wants me to send her a new one today or tomorrow and then she will pass it along to the company that is hiring in Burlington – she expects that I will hear from them next week.

So, all in all, today was a productive day.  It’s nice to have one of those every once in a while…

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The Hunt

Posted on March 20, 2012 by kdarcy21

I have a couple of job interviews this week and I followed up on the interview that I had last week.

I had a phone interview last week on Tuesday – after it was over, she indicated that my resume would be passed along and if they wanted me for an interview, they would contact me within 5 days.  I was called the next morning at 9am for an interview that afternoon at 2pm.  OK – great.

I went to the interview and spoke to a gent for about 20-25 minutes.  He indicated that he was going to have a couple of HR people sit in right away in another interview.  He came back in a few minutes and said that they weren’t available as they were in a meeting so would I mind if they called me back.  OK, no problem.

I hadn’t heard back from them by today (Tuesday) so I figured that I would follow up to see what was happening.

The original person that I had the phone interview apologized and said that yes, they will call me back for an interview but the person that I need to see if off and they will call me the first week of April.  No problem, it would have been good to know that – just a miscommunication perhaps.

So, I guess I will hear back in a couple of weeks on that one.

In the meantime, I am meeting with a recruitment firm tomorrow in downtown Toronto for a position with a company in Burlington.  The interview is at 11:30.  I plan on leaving my vehicle at my Aunts place and taking the TTC into downtown.  It’ll save me some money seeing as parking is so darn expensive in Toronto.  It would be nice getting a job in Burlington as I could commute to work.

On Thursday, I have another phone interview with CGI for a position in Kitimat, BC.  That would be a BIG move.  It is some 4700km from here.  They do offer relocation assistance though so that will help anyway.  I guess I would see the rest of the country on my trip out there.  I think that I would enjoy living in BC.  Kitimat is in northern BC, 600km north of Vancouver.  It is a small town, under 10000 people.  That would be a new start for sure.

I’ve applied for at least 40 jobs in the last 2 weeks or so.  I am sure that I will hear from a few more as the job postings close – I would hope so anyway.

The only real issue that I am facing right now is that I am running out of funds – I will have to give notice at the end of this month if I don’t secure a job or at least get a job out of the area.  A little bit of pressure.  Guess I will see what happens…

Anyway, as always, wish me some luck.  Thank you.

 

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