And just for fun a video starring our favorite pug:Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Sigh
I found out yesterday that a wonderful woman I work with lost her 16-year-old son on Friday night. You can read about his slaying here: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_13598870
I can't even begin to imagine her pain and grief.
She could use our prayers.
Love,
Cares
I can't even begin to imagine her pain and grief.
She could use our prayers.
Love,
Cares
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Where the Wild Things Are....
This title could be about two things:
1. A place that depicts my home with two dogs and a husband
1. A place that depicts my home with two dogs and a husband
or
2. My obsession with the movie version of a classic childrens book.
I can't wait to see the movie; I've seen every trailer, teaser, interview they've created. I am even listening to the soundtrack online. I promise to provide a full review once I've seen it. Any of you think I can get Shawn to go with me to the midnight showing Thursday night? Stranger things HAVE been known to happen. :-)
XXOO
Cares
I can't wait to see the movie; I've seen every trailer, teaser, interview they've created. I am even listening to the soundtrack online. I promise to provide a full review once I've seen it. Any of you think I can get Shawn to go with me to the midnight showing Thursday night? Stranger things HAVE been known to happen. :-)
XXOO
Cares
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
And we're back....
Is this thing on?
Well for those of you who have given up on me ever posting something new, I hope your faith can be renewed. :-) There's been a lot going on in the last however long it's been; and it would take me forever to catch you all up. I'll sum it up with the story of my new job and how I figured out how powerful faith can be.
Back in May I randomly received an email through a social website from a recruiter offering information on an open position for a technical writer and eLearning content developer. Of course I responded immediately but heard nothing back. I forgot about this inquiry and moved on with my ELL course I was required to take in order to apply for my teaching credential. One month later I received an email from the recruiter with a message that she had been out of the country, but that she'd love to talk to me more about the position. If I recall correctly the email came in at 4 on a Friday so I told myself I'd call back on Monday.
First thing Monday morning she called. I was impressed with the quickness of her efforts. She told me a little bit about the company; a big high tech company located in Sunnyvale (an hour at best from my house...sigh...) who creates proxy servers for blah blah blah blah. I didn't really care...I was getting antsy to get out of the house and start making money again.
I was asked for writing samples to provide for a phone interview but everything I'd done in my previous jobs were internal and therefore under non-disclosure agreement. To that Tess the recruiter offered up some advice: "Okay, well why don't you just mock up an eLearning module on one of our proxy servers, Okay?!"
Uh what...?Okay what else do I have to do? I downloaded a free trial of Captivate and went on my way. I showed it to a couple people and sent it on its way.
Tess the recruiter loved my mock up and set up a phone interview with the hiring manager who had a degree in engineering but went back for her certificate in technical writing. Great. My experience as a tech writer is quite conservative; My experience is less technical and more marketing, training, non-technical aspects. She asked me what I knew about the company blah blah blah.
I thought I bombed it. I didn't feel like we connected, even on the phone. But instead Tess the recruiter called me back and set up an in person interview.
That one I bombed.
I have never been as ill prepared in my life. The first 45 minutes of the hour long interview went beautifully. I even killed it when the Director (what would be my manager's manager) asked me to give an example of a dangling participle. (He cheated and brought his laptop in the meeting. English is his second language and he wanted to make sure I was capable of writing to a global audience.) Then he asked me if I knew what an IP address is. I said well, I know I need it to get online. This sent a chuckle through the room. Then he asked me to discuss a DNS server.
Back in May I randomly received an email through a social website from a recruiter offering information on an open position for a technical writer and eLearning content developer. Of course I responded immediately but heard nothing back. I forgot about this inquiry and moved on with my ELL course I was required to take in order to apply for my teaching credential. One month later I received an email from the recruiter with a message that she had been out of the country, but that she'd love to talk to me more about the position. If I recall correctly the email came in at 4 on a Friday so I told myself I'd call back on Monday.
First thing Monday morning she called. I was impressed with the quickness of her efforts. She told me a little bit about the company; a big high tech company located in Sunnyvale (an hour at best from my house...sigh...) who creates proxy servers for blah blah blah blah. I didn't really care...I was getting antsy to get out of the house and start making money again.
I was asked for writing samples to provide for a phone interview but everything I'd done in my previous jobs were internal and therefore under non-disclosure agreement. To that Tess the recruiter offered up some advice: "Okay, well why don't you just mock up an eLearning module on one of our proxy servers, Okay?!"
Uh what...?Okay what else do I have to do? I downloaded a free trial of Captivate and went on my way. I showed it to a couple people and sent it on its way.
Tess the recruiter loved my mock up and set up a phone interview with the hiring manager who had a degree in engineering but went back for her certificate in technical writing. Great. My experience as a tech writer is quite conservative; My experience is less technical and more marketing, training, non-technical aspects. She asked me what I knew about the company blah blah blah.
I thought I bombed it. I didn't feel like we connected, even on the phone. But instead Tess the recruiter called me back and set up an in person interview.
That one I bombed.
I have never been as ill prepared in my life. The first 45 minutes of the hour long interview went beautifully. I even killed it when the Director (what would be my manager's manager) asked me to give an example of a dangling participle. (He cheated and brought his laptop in the meeting. English is his second language and he wanted to make sure I was capable of writing to a global audience.) Then he asked me if I knew what an IP address is. I said well, I know I need it to get online. This sent a chuckle through the room. Then he asked me to discuss a DNS server.
Blink
Blink
Blink blink blink blink
Blink
Blink blink blink blink
Finally I smiled and said: "It's fairly obvious by looking at my resume that I do not have a strong background in highly technical writing, but what I lack in that area I more than make up for in my ability to learn...quickly. I'm not going to pretend I know what a DNS server is or try to describe it to you. "
Blink
Blink
GULP
Blink
GULP
He smiled and with his big personality said that he appreciated my honesty. Tess the recruiter piped in and said it's often more important to be able to know what you don't know and not try to fake it.
I guess I hadn't completely bombed it.
Everyone had been impressed with the initiative I took to download a free trial, attend an hour long online training and mock up a module based on their proxy server.
I was not out of the woods yet.
The team was sold, but not completely. Tess the recruiter sent me a powerpoint 4 slides long with various networking images and asked me to write the documentation that went with them.
I guess I hadn't completely bombed it.
Everyone had been impressed with the initiative I took to download a free trial, attend an hour long online training and mock up a module based on their proxy server.
I was not out of the woods yet.
The team was sold, but not completely. Tess the recruiter sent me a powerpoint 4 slides long with various networking images and asked me to write the documentation that went with them.
Sigh
Groan
Groan
Me: I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS THIS IS RIDICULOUS JUST GIVE ME THE JOB ALREADY!
Shawn: Caroline. They can do this to you, it's a horrible market right now.
ME: THANKS THAT HELPS A BUNCH
Shawn: Well, it's just a hard time to find work, there are a lot of people in your position right now.
Me: AGAIN, THANKS THAT HELPS A BUNCH
Silence
Me: Well do you think you can come home and help me?
Shawn: Sure, I'd love to.
I received this the day before Mom's birthday and I had planned to spend the day with her and make a lovely surf and turf dinner. Shawn looked over the powerpoint with me and we concurred it would take me at least 2 days to mock something up. I kept asking myself the question: how badly do I even WANT this? I wrestled and wrestled with that question because there are obvious pros AND cons.
This company has a much different mentality than companies I've worked for. Their motto is "work hard, work hard" when I've grown accustomed to "work hard, play hard". But it was an income and another outlet for growth. But there was no way I could finish what was given to me in the time frame.
I decided to make the call to the recruiter knowing I wouldn't get the job at this point. She thanked me and said she'd be in touch.
Relief washed over me just seconds before the pangs of guilt and frustration caught my breath.
I made dinner, relaxed with my family and heard my phone ring.
Tess the recruiter.
She had not given up on me and told me that if I could explain to the manager's manager how a DNS server worked I was still in.
I had to follow this through now, right? RIGHT??
She called the next day as Shawn and I drove out of town wanting to know when a good time was....today at 4?
I put the phone interview off until Monday when I'd have some time to prepare.
I killed it. He cut me off telling me I was TOO descriptive. Awesome. Then he asked me why I had ended my sentence with a preposition. UGH come ON guy this is where I'm knowledgeable. I sweetly told him that I had ended the sentence with a prepositional PHRASE, not the preposition itself. It took me about 10 minutes to explain this and I was frustrated. We thanked each other and hung up the phone.
Tess the recruiter set up one more round of phone interviews the following day with 2 tech writers from the team.
Shawn: Caroline. They can do this to you, it's a horrible market right now.
ME: THANKS THAT HELPS A BUNCH
Shawn: Well, it's just a hard time to find work, there are a lot of people in your position right now.
Me: AGAIN, THANKS THAT HELPS A BUNCH
Silence
Me: Well do you think you can come home and help me?
Shawn: Sure, I'd love to.
I received this the day before Mom's birthday and I had planned to spend the day with her and make a lovely surf and turf dinner. Shawn looked over the powerpoint with me and we concurred it would take me at least 2 days to mock something up. I kept asking myself the question: how badly do I even WANT this? I wrestled and wrestled with that question because there are obvious pros AND cons.
This company has a much different mentality than companies I've worked for. Their motto is "work hard, work hard" when I've grown accustomed to "work hard, play hard". But it was an income and another outlet for growth. But there was no way I could finish what was given to me in the time frame.
I decided to make the call to the recruiter knowing I wouldn't get the job at this point. She thanked me and said she'd be in touch.
Relief washed over me just seconds before the pangs of guilt and frustration caught my breath.
I made dinner, relaxed with my family and heard my phone ring.
Tess the recruiter.
She had not given up on me and told me that if I could explain to the manager's manager how a DNS server worked I was still in.
I had to follow this through now, right? RIGHT??
She called the next day as Shawn and I drove out of town wanting to know when a good time was....today at 4?
I put the phone interview off until Monday when I'd have some time to prepare.
I killed it. He cut me off telling me I was TOO descriptive. Awesome. Then he asked me why I had ended my sentence with a preposition. UGH come ON guy this is where I'm knowledgeable. I sweetly told him that I had ended the sentence with a prepositional PHRASE, not the preposition itself. It took me about 10 minutes to explain this and I was frustrated. We thanked each other and hung up the phone.
Tess the recruiter set up one more round of phone interviews the following day with 2 tech writers from the team.
Sigh
The phone interview went well and then I confirmed my suspicions.
The question I love to ask when applying for a tech writing job is how well the engineers work with the tech writers. I ask potential co-workers to describe two experiences they've had: one positive and one negative. Turns out the engineers at this company expect you to be the subject matter expert before even going to them.
Just as I suspected. This would be a GIANT learning curve for me; and usually I'm not afraid of those, but this one just didn't FEEL right. Then again, it's a job.
Tess the recruiter called me back the next day and verbally offered me the position at 10K less than the lowest point on the range I had given. I accepted and she must have noticed my apprehension because she kept asking me if I was excited. I reassured her I was and thanked her. I immediately called Lisa and Ben and let them know that Shawn and I would indeed be able to go on vacation with them the next month since I now had a job.
I spoke too soon. Tess the recruiter called the next day.
Tess the recruiter: Hi there, I just want to keep the lines of communication very clear. This position isn't in the bag yet, but I will keep you informed.
WHHHHAAAAATTTTT???!!!!
Me: But you've already given me a verbal offer. What does that mean? You're waiting for my background check to clear?
Tess the recruiter: We are waiting on the CEO to approve the position.
I was sick to my stomach, but what could I do?
Two weeks later Tess the recruiter called saying the position was not yet approved and I should go about my job search. So I did.
My credential was months from being finalized so I applied for a tech writing position here IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY! That meant no more commuting!
Two weeks after my conversation with Tess the recruiter, I had my first phone interview with the Santa Cruz company. As I'm in the middle of the call my other line rings. Guess who!!!
Tess the recruiter.
She called to tell me the job had been approved and it was all mine. Now what?!
Well I put her off as long as I could. 2 weeks to be exact. In that time I had my first round of in-person interviews and was on my way for a second and final round.
I went around and around trying to figure out what to do. I had to create more mock documentation and sell myself for a position with a job description that outlined skills I had minimal experience doing. But I decided I would just have some faith: Faith that if I turned down Tess the recruiter's position and I didn't get this other one that I'd be where I needed to be soon. Faith that I would get an offer for the position or be better off in the long run. Faith that Shawn and I would be okay. It was an amazing release to tell Tess the recruiter that I was going with another offer. (One I hadn't received yet.)
One week later I was offered the project management position here in SC County and they came in OVER my salary range.
That's what faith can do, and that's how fast it can work.
I still have my goal to teach, and I will get there. My credential has been issued but I still have to become ELL certified and go through a county orientation.
For now, I'm a happy girl right where I am.
The question I love to ask when applying for a tech writing job is how well the engineers work with the tech writers. I ask potential co-workers to describe two experiences they've had: one positive and one negative. Turns out the engineers at this company expect you to be the subject matter expert before even going to them.
Just as I suspected. This would be a GIANT learning curve for me; and usually I'm not afraid of those, but this one just didn't FEEL right. Then again, it's a job.
Tess the recruiter called me back the next day and verbally offered me the position at 10K less than the lowest point on the range I had given. I accepted and she must have noticed my apprehension because she kept asking me if I was excited. I reassured her I was and thanked her. I immediately called Lisa and Ben and let them know that Shawn and I would indeed be able to go on vacation with them the next month since I now had a job.
I spoke too soon. Tess the recruiter called the next day.
Tess the recruiter: Hi there, I just want to keep the lines of communication very clear. This position isn't in the bag yet, but I will keep you informed.
WHHHHAAAAATTTTT???!!!!
Me: But you've already given me a verbal offer. What does that mean? You're waiting for my background check to clear?
Tess the recruiter: We are waiting on the CEO to approve the position.
I was sick to my stomach, but what could I do?
Two weeks later Tess the recruiter called saying the position was not yet approved and I should go about my job search. So I did.
My credential was months from being finalized so I applied for a tech writing position here IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY! That meant no more commuting!
Two weeks after my conversation with Tess the recruiter, I had my first phone interview with the Santa Cruz company. As I'm in the middle of the call my other line rings. Guess who!!!
Tess the recruiter.
She called to tell me the job had been approved and it was all mine. Now what?!
Well I put her off as long as I could. 2 weeks to be exact. In that time I had my first round of in-person interviews and was on my way for a second and final round.
I went around and around trying to figure out what to do. I had to create more mock documentation and sell myself for a position with a job description that outlined skills I had minimal experience doing. But I decided I would just have some faith: Faith that if I turned down Tess the recruiter's position and I didn't get this other one that I'd be where I needed to be soon. Faith that I would get an offer for the position or be better off in the long run. Faith that Shawn and I would be okay. It was an amazing release to tell Tess the recruiter that I was going with another offer. (One I hadn't received yet.)
One week later I was offered the project management position here in SC County and they came in OVER my salary range.
That's what faith can do, and that's how fast it can work.
I still have my goal to teach, and I will get there. My credential has been issued but I still have to become ELL certified and go through a county orientation.
For now, I'm a happy girl right where I am.
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