Category: Illinois

I assure you… Boredom at work

January 15th, 2009 · · Entertainment, Illinois, Jaycees, Mount Vernon, School 5 comments - Tags: , , , , , , ,

Katie told me to change the sign at work. Now, for those of you who are not aware, I’m working at the gas station/convenience store between my IT job, full time school, and sleeping. The money isn’t great, but I really appreciate the position as the extra income helps out.

About a week ago, Katie (my manager) told me to change the sign at work. I have been trying to come up with something clever and/or unique to put up and entertain/draw in customers. Before the holidays, I had told Katie she had to see Clerks and Clerks II as she said she had not after I made some references that should be plain to anyone who has seen the films.

Katie works at the video store up the street part-time as well, so she rented them. Then, she took them back. She said she couldn’t handle the black and white. I informed her that she had to watch them, and the content is well worth it. She declined.

Once you add together me being put in charge of changing the sign, and Katie refusing to give Clerks the respect it deserves, the result is this:

Clerks reference II

Hope someone finds it as entertaining as I do before it gets taken down. There are a couple of other shots in my Flickr stream, but it’s the same view.

Evidence

January 12th, 2009 · · Family, Illinois, Jaycees, Mount Vernon One comment - Tags: , , , , ,

Last night, way to late, I finally got some photos moved from the camera to Flickr. There weren’t as many as I thought, but if you haven’t noticed, scroll down a bit and they are ready to see.

These will mostly be appreciated by friends and family as they are photos of the kids and family. We have a lot more, but these are the better ones and ones that I feel like letting out into the general public.

I can’t believe we only have one photo of the kids from Halloween. That’s what you get when dad is off running the Jaycees’ House of Horror instead of being dad. Things will definitely be different this year. Time to put the right things first.

The career advancement continues

January 2nd, 2009 · · Illinois, Mount Vernon, Technology 5 comments - Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday (12/31) I had an interview that I really would like to go somewhere. Out of respect for them and my current employer I won’t say anything until I hear positive or negative. This coming Wednesday (1/7) I will have another interview, however it is only for a 3rd job, not a replacement.

I really enjoy my time at Ecodigital, but I don’t know if they will keep me after my degree is done. My superior is aware that I am looking around, and that I’m not planning on leaving unless something spectacular comes along. I enjoy everyone I’m working with and the challenge of all the different facets of IT that I get to tackle every day. One minute I’m installing a new virtual server, the next figuring out a routing problem, the next working on one of the Xerox machines. It’s always interesting.

Em is still insistent on going to Texas. I don’t see the draw, but if there is nothing around here I’ll consider moving seriously. Gotta do what you gotta do. Leaving family and the town I’ve lived in for 30 years isn’t very enticing, however southern Illinois’ economy is even worse than the rest of the country. Sometimes you just have to suck it up and do the things that you don’t neccessarily want to do.

At the very least, I am getting some experience in interviewing again, and making some contacts. Plus, I get to learn more of what several different employers are looking for in new/replacement employees within our field. Thanks for reading, and feel free to offer leads if you have any.

No Walgreens’ Computer Room for me

December 8th, 2008 · · Illinois, Mount Vernon, School, Technology 4 comments - Tags: , , , , , ,

Most of you know that I recently interviewed for a position within the Walgreens’ DC Computer Room. I have been waiting for about 3 weeks to hear if I was selected or passed. Normally, Walgreens will send out the infamous ‘Thanks, but no thanks’ postcard, and I hadn’t received one so I was hopeful.

This afternoon I received a call from the lady who was part of my interview team. At that point my heart lept. In my experience, calls were reserved for offers and the postcard of doom was sent to those not chosen.

I was wrong. In this case they were nice enough to call me and let me know that I was not selected for the position.

As much as I hoped for the position, I can say I am still happy that I will be able to finish my degree this spring and find another position. If I had been hired by Walgreens, I probably would have been locked into that employment for some time given the current economic climate and incompatability of their schedule with the classes offered at RLC.

Needless to say, it has been a tough day with finals throughout, and then not getting the position. I feel that we will carry on and survive through it all though.

In case anyone misread what I have written here, I really am thankful for a phonecall instead of the postcard-of-doom. It’s nice that they were able to give me a courtesy call rather than a cold postcard. For that, I say thank you.

Time to bunker down for my hardest semester yet…

Walgreens Interview

November 20th, 2008 · · Illinois, Mount Vernon, Technology One comment - Tags: , , , , , ,

I just went to Walgreens for my interview. It was a great refresher since I haven’t had one in awhile. The two people interviewing me were very nice and laid back throughout the process. I think that made it much easier.

I answered the questions honestly, but I think I was a little rusty given how long it has been since I did a real interview. My process and delivery probably weren’t what they should be in an interview. At least I know I answered everything as well as I could.

Most of the questions were standard fare about previous employment, what did you like, etc. The technical questions were more up my alley, but I don’t know a lot about the proprietary systems they use. My experience is mostly networking, WIndows, and standard office support. They use IBM equipment that I don’t have experience working with yet, as well as some printers that I hadn’t heard of before. That may count against me.

I have to say that it was a great experience as Tom and Dusty were very nice and seemed interested in what I had to say about my previous knowledge.

I am very hopeful that they offer me the position. I would gain in pay, job security, benefits, and a position I could learn and become proficient with in time. They would gain a dedicated employee who will appreciate the position and strive to do well.

I know lots of people say that, but I mean it. I want to stay local, make a decent living, and enjoy what I do. This position can satisfy all of those goals. Plus, Em will get to finish her dental assisting, and I can take classes here and there (if need be) to finish my IT degree at RLC. Altogether it sounds like a great prospect.