I seem to have disappeared off the face of the blog. It’s been less than a month, but if I don’t update for a few weeks, I start to feel like I’m forgetting to document everything that’s going on… not that it all has to be documented, but anyway!

The biggest thing is that I have a job! I started on Wednesday of this week, and so far it’s going well. I’m very happy with everything, and at the end of the three month trial period, hopefully I will be converted to a full-time employee. I technically work full-time now, but I’m under the recruiting firm’s payroll, rather than the actual company. They want to see how it works out before committing. The interview process was such an arduous one [I met with them five times!], and their search was essentially to fill the role in the long-term. I guess their last person wasn’t so great, so they’re taking a safer route now.

Before starting work, I spent a week in DC on the #AYCJ pass. I stayed with a friend [Matt] in his corporate housing and spent the days wandering around DC, Arlington, and Alexandria. I was basically all over the place, but I would’ve explored more if I wasn’t there by myself. There are a lot of areas that people advise you not visit, so I would stick to the areas that I was certain about. For the other places, I’ll have to wait for RV to accompany me to DC! Promise I’ll be updating with photos and lists of the places visited soon. They’re just sitting on my camera…

On the Metal Mouth front, I went to the orthodontist for the last time before the surgery! They put the hooks in, so basically when surgery is over, the oral surgeon can just wire me shut on those… I am so not excited about this. My pre-op is coming up next week!

An update on the 101 in 1001:

026 – Pass the CPA exam.
I’m not done yet, but I am one step closer! Checked the results of the last exam I took, and it appears that the advisory score is PASSING. *happy dance* So close, yet so far away. The last exam is the one I’ve been struggling with for some time. I’ve got videos to watch online to help with the studying, but basically I will have to do problems and review concepts over and over… I will settle for just PASSING the exam. I don’t need perfect scores!

028 – Redirect the career path. Find a new job.
Having been laid off, I’m on my way to redirecting the career path. I have been interviewing lately [waiting to hear from them they found someone else :(] and have a few others lined up as well [phone ones and in-person ones]. It’s interesting because all of the positions are related in that my previous position provided the background to do those jobs, but they are all in different industries with very different companies. Most are smaller than the last company because I’d rather move away from being a statistic at a large firm, lost in the numbers.

I really do hope that I find something before unemployment actually kicks in. But just in case, I’ve bought a bunch of stamps from Costco. They’re cheaper there – $0.44 stamps for $0.4375! Only thing is, I had to buy 100 at a time. At least they last forever?

From Rob Brezny for the week of April 23, 2009:
“Being understood is not the most essential thing in life,” said actress Jodie Foster. While that may be true for her, I bet you won’t turn it down if a flood of appreciation and acknowledgment comes your way in the next few weeks. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you now have the potential to be better understood than maybe you’ve been in a long time. I suggest you take maximum advantage of this good fortune. Make it easy for people to see you for who you really are.

I interviewed for two jobs via a recruiter in the past few weeks. They were scheduled before the lay-off. I guess I had really good timing in terms of getting in touch with them, except I didn’t get offers for either. One, I didn’t appear interested in their company. Two, I was a bit more qualified than they were looking for. Someone else interviewing with one year less caught their eye. Oh well. It’s good practice, and with each interview, it seems that I am getting feedback to work on. I’m also figuring out what I’m looking for and how I want to present myself, at least in a way that truly reflects the matching of my needs and the companies’ needs. While the thought of interviewing still makes me nervous, the actual experience itself hasn’t been so bad, so I’m not dreading it when it happens again next.

The economy is tough though.

Despite no longer having a job, I am not freaking out about it. I think I must have mentally prepared myself over the last month or so, considering the state of the economy and what I knew of firm economics. While slightly sad, I was not surprised. It’s sad because over the last five years, that’s all I did. That’s all I know! To have to throw myself back on the market is strange. It’s like being in a long-term relationship and with the new single status, you’re not sure what to do with yourself.

I’m very fortunate to have worked for a company of such great people though. As soon as I let the news spread that it was my last day, people sent emails of well wishes, as well as job opportunities! At times, it seemed like a lonely place to work because of the nature of each engagement. I was on small teams and spent very little time in the office. It felt like I didn’t know anyone, but now I see that it just gave opportunity to meet more people.

Anyway, I’m moving forward. I’ve not yet decided what my exact plans are, but for now, they involve a few interviews. I know that I could easily take time off to study and travel somewhere new and exciting, but I’d like to at least put my frame of mind back into that mode. At first I might not find what I want, but I’ll not know till I try, right?

Yeah, I’m an optimist.

PS – I’ve told the parents. They didn’t act very surprised or were they very upset. I think I mentally prepared them well in advance.

A week later, and I’m finally feeling a little better. Last week was a rough one with a combination of work deadlines and cramming as much information into my head as possible for the exam. RV witnessed my breakdown during the middle of the week. We survived it, so I guess he’s a keeper. ;)

Once the exam was over, a weight was lifted off the shoulders, despite not knowing the results until two months later! The heavy feeling is gone for the time being, even though I still have the work-related deadlines to work through. It’s just easier when you don’t have something in the background.

There’s talk of a big impending layoff. I’ve been anticipating one for the last month or so. Busy season is over, so if there are extra people about, now’s the time for the firm to send out the emails… Luckily, I didn’t hear from HR regarding that in the last few weeks. It doesn’t mean that it won’t happen though, so it’s best to be safe than sorry. I’ve begun chats with recruiters just to see what’s out there. Not really much, but also not completely hopeless. While I might not have the skills to match what employers are currently looking for, it doesn’t mean something won’t come up.

Plus, I’m still at my job for now.

In perusing job listings on Craigslist [just to see what's out there], the following thought crosses my mind:

How much are my time, experience, and skills really worth?

It baffles me when the postings list x, y, and z skills, but when they include the compensation they are going to pay, they’re basically expecting candidates to work for free. Even $10-$15 per hour in this city is not enough. Seriously, if you want x, y, and z skills, the person would have put in time and money to acquire the skills and certifications.

I understand that the job listings are really a company’s wish list, but still – baffling. You can’t get something for nothing, or can you?

From Rob Brezny:
“To see what is in front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle,” said George Orwell. While that’s true for many of us most of the time, I’m betting you’ll be an exception to the rule in the coming week. You will find it easier than usual to escape from the trance of everyday life. As a result, perfectly obvious secrets that have been invisible to you will tap you gently on the forehead and say “Look at me!” After the initial shock, there’ll be a release of tension you didn’t even realize you were carrying around, followed by a warm, fuzzy explosion of raw hope.

It seems to me that this is exactly what I need. I’ve told RV in the past week how much I want to go on a vacation, to just throw everything aside and rest my mind. Work is wiping me out. I’m not one to want to give up, but there are frustrating times when I wonder what it’s all for. What’s it worth to me? I even have these conversations with my equally frustrated manager. It’s no wonder there is such high turnover in this industry! Spending free time scanning job listings may very soon be part of my routine. You know, just to see what ELSE is out there.

Anyone in need of a senior accountant, accounting manager, or an assistant controller? Those are just job titles. I’m a Number Muncher! Remember that game? Hah!

Anyway, I hope that the next week brings me something new. Not new for the sake of being new, but something that’s always been here right under my nose that I’ve failed to see. I want to experience an awe similar to how I feel when I spend weekends wandering the city that I grew up in still discovering the new.