Perhaps I missed a reply somewhere, but how is the job hunting going?
Last time you said you had an interview and seemed positive about it, but not too expecting. Have you heard anything back?
Perhaps another victim of our political discussions... (http://5g8.net/smileys/brick-wall.gif) or perhaps religious...?? (http://5g8.net/smileys/praying.gif)
Quote from: All Saints Day on June 29, 2008, 11:01:05 PM
Perhaps another victim of our political discussions... (http://5g8.net/smileys/brick-wall.gif) or perhaps religious...?? (http://5g8.net/smileys/praying.gif)
Nyah.
I've been in a debate with Clock and seen him get into it heavily in political discussions. He can more than hold his own.
You mean Clockwork Canary? I just got a PM from him today and he sounds content, says he might get a very well-paying job, even though he's also mentioned some living conditions that sound very rough.
Hello all:
Thanks for the concern; I appreciate it. Sorry I haven't been frequenting the forum as much as I'd like lately...and also been trying to stick with just bad/good movies when I do get the time so I haven't been checking the political folder here (aka off topic) :)
The interview I spoke of last time went rather well; they made me an offer about an hour after it was over!! Can you believe that?! I've been interviewing at least once a week for the last couple months and I get to the point where I don't even expect to get it and I get the offer -go figure. Not only that, but yet another place wants to interview me this week (before I start) and are offering me quite a bit more $$$, however I probably wouldn't accept it since it's only a 6-monther.
Anyway, just got back from the hair test and awaiting all the background checks, test results, and credit checks. It's a lot to go through for this year long contract, but work's hard to find. Anyway, if all goes well, and I expect it will, I will start my new job next Monday! I worried about my credit check (since I haven't had good employment for a few months, the credit starts taking dings) but found out as long as I don't have anything over 2k in collections, I'm fine. Last I checked, I'm only a couple hundred behind and it's not even in collections.
More about the position: I'll be writing instruction manuals for a software application that's used in government medical related cases (hence all the background checks)...it's decent money and more job security than the last contract I had (which was only 3 months). I really wish I could find a fulltime perm job but I'll take what I can get, especially in this region of the country; I'm just lucky I'll have a job period.
Of course, I won't be getting any income for a couple weeks but once it starts coming in, I can get everything caught up within a month, so I'm feeling good about things. I'll also have a stable place to stay at least 'till I get my savings built back up.
Thanks for the concern folks - sorry I didn't respond to that one post with an update; at first I thought it was too good to be true. But it's not on until it's on; I won't feel 100% about it until I'm actually there and working :) But damn, it feels good to know I got something in the works.
How's everyone else's job situation?
Hey Clock, that's good news!!
Nice to hear all is well with you, clock. :thumbup: :smile:
Just one question: what is a hair test? :question:
My work situation: same job, different day. It seems I've always been a film archivist and always will be: next year, I'll have been doing this for twenty years! :buggedout:
The one thing that keeps me going is that the work is never the same: next week, I'll be at a film festival, presenting the films I look after. You would like to be in the cinema when the people there see someone in the audience get up and start chatting to them about the films coming up. Their expressions are quite priceless, I can tell you: hopefully I can borrow a video camera this time. :teddyr:
Good news Clockwork !!
Quote from: Trevor on June 30, 2008, 10:20:16 AM
Just one question: what is a hair test? :question:
It's another invasive form of drug testing. With the hair test, they can check for drug residual that goes back further than what a urine test will confirm.
Like the credit check, it's another thing that is none of their business.
Good grief, why don't they just ask for a spare set of keys to your house so they can stop by and go through your stuff whenever they want?
Quote from: Menard on June 30, 2008, 10:54:26 AM
Quote from: Trevor on June 30, 2008, 10:20:16 AM
Just one question: what is a hair test? :question:
It's another invasive form of drug testing. With the hair test, they can check for drug residual that goes back further than what a urine test will confirm.
Like the credit check, it's another thing that is none of their business.
:buggedout: :buggedout: Thanks, Dr M: it might be winter here but I'm going to go have my head shaved. Now.
Thanks all! Hopefully a week from now I'll be at work instead of posting right now hehe. But yeah, all these hurdles are quite intrusive. I was stunned when they told me I had a hair test. But it almost p**ses me off more about the credit check. I mean, I hope it doesn't work out that I won't be able to get the job just because I haven't had a job (hence the credit issues). But I think I'll be ok.
Damned pleasure police. I mean, I'm well-behaved now, but I had heard those tests go back several years and I wasn't always a good boy back in college all those years ago. Anyway, I did some research and found out that most hair tests only go back 90 days so I'm definitely good there.
So anyway, I'm 99% sure I'll have the job: no criminal record of any sort, no recent drug use, and only minimal credit damage.
Hair tests are really discriminatory when you think about it - quite a few people have their head shaved these days. Probably a bunch of wild party animal types too. Maybe they would ask for a sample of hair from someplace else :lookingup: And credit checks? Egads...whatever.
Anyhow, good luck with the job and hope to see more of you here!
Years ago I applied at a job that wanted to do a credit check on me, I told them fine I'd need a copy of the financial statements, assets and balance sheet etc. before hand that seemed fair.
Since they wanted to a credit check on me to see if I'm a reliable, bill paying, kinda guy. Then I need to know that the company had the financial stability and liquid assets to pay me and stay in business. Which I heard they weren't.
Well long story short they didn't hire me, and they ended up closing down within a year. Not because they didn't hire me, but I had heard before going in that they had money problems. So I wasn't going to take the job anyway if offered. To many places want to know to much, and I think if they are going to ask a lot of questions then they need to answer a few. Granted it's hard when you need to get a job, but in my "work for somebody else" days I just wouldn't let employers walk all over me.
Guess that's why I work for myself now.
Well good luck Clock on the new job and mo' money, mo' money.
Congrats and good luck, Clock.
I think the credit check is more offensive. It's reasonable to presume someone who uses drugs is going to be less reliable than someone who doesn't. If I was hiring two close candidates and one failed the drug exam and the other didn't, there's no question who I'd choose. It's not like you have a legal right to use drugs, and there's no expectation of privacy issue because it's just a contractual setting.
It's hard to see the relevance of the credit check. All I can think is they're looking for people who have really BAD credit and lots of debts, assuming that they'll work harder and knuckle under because they really need the money.
The trouble with drug testing is that you can take a whole bunch of hard working, loyal employees and instill a real screw you attitude towards management into them. I saw that exact thing happen at one place I worked. They had a shop full of young guys who, like any group of young guys, liked to do their share of partying. They also tended to be extremely good workers. Then they started with the drug testing, and the sexual harassment training seminars, and all that other crap. Within a year most of the really good employees had left. They could have gotten more money from other places at any time, but they had been loyal to the company for years, but that was all gone. The older employees didn't care, they didn't do drugs or flirt with anybody. They also worked at a snail's pace.
QuoteMaybe they would ask for a sample of hair from someplace else
Unless they shave... never mind.
Thanks for the congrats all! I appreciate it.
I know some guys who work in a small factory where they threaten to do company-wide drug testing; and if they did, they'd loose 90% of their work force.
The drug argument is a tricky one. There's a big difference between a person drugged up all the time and those who smoke a joint once a weekend. Since I quit everything a long time ago, it doesn't really apply to me, but I don't think it's fair that Mr. Smokey gets nailed for smoking once 3 weeks prior than say opposed to Mr. Alchy who comes in hung over almost daily and doesn't have to worry about it. I've worked in factories with guys who drank right at their machines! They never had to worry about any test. Hell, I'm related to a totally anti-drug guy who's drunk almost all the time. Go figure.
Point is, it's not all that consistent. Alcohol is a drug too, and while I do have a drink now and then, it's still a drug, even if it's a socially accepted one. I really don't know which is worse; a drug like pot that affects the cerebrum (and thus, mood), or one like alcohol that affects the cerabellum (motor controls, judgement, etc.,). All I know is I don't think anyone wants to work with a coke, meth, or PCP user for sure. The worst thing about it, those harder drugs leave the system faster while pot users are stuck with it in their bodies for a month or more.
But let's call a spade a spade; all drugs, legal or not, do tamper around with one's brain chemistry -not something anyone should be doing on a frequent basis.
I understand having a hair test for the harder drugs. I also understand any amount of drug testing for critical safety jobs and the like. What I do not understand is all the scrutizing drug tests for writing jobs. Do they worry we might get a nasty papercut? hehe. In all seriousness though, I understand not wanting a drug-addicted employee ...totally. Problem is, our society is rather addicted to all sorts of medications and over the counter drugs of all kinds.
I myself have become quite addicted to coffee, but the way I see it, it's a great trade up for being addicted to any other drugs like nicotine. Speaking of which, besides the occassional cigar, I quite smoking cigarrettes 2 years and 3 months ago! One of the best decisions I've ever made.
Anyway, I'm still waiting to hear back from the hair test, credit checks, and background checks, but I'm rather optimistic about it since i have nothing to hide. I just can't wait to get back to work.
PS: Meant to mention this before: if you shave your head, they can take a hair sample from other areas of your body...and those other hairs grow slower so they'll technically go back further in time.
Quote from: clockworkcanary on July 02, 2008, 10:47:11 AM
Hell, I'm related to a totally anti-drug guy who's drunk almost all the time. Go figure.
:teddyr: :bouncegiggle: