Category: Mount Vernon

No Walgreens’ Computer Room for me

December 8th, 2008 · Daniel · Illinois, Mount Vernon, School, Technology 4 comments - Tags: interview, job, postcard, RLC, School, Walgreens, Work

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 · Daniel · Illinois, Mount Vernon, Technology One comment - Tags: Center, distribution, employment, interview, job, Walgreens, Work

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.

Krazy Klowns to host annual Ham and Bean Supper

October 30th, 2008 · Daniel · Illinois, Mount Vernon 2 comments - Tags: 31, Ainad, bean, burn, charity, children, cord, dinner, event, freemason, fundraise, ham, hospital, Illinois, Klowns, Krazy, lodge, mason, Mount, Shrine, spinal, supper, temple, Vernon

The local Krazy Klowns will be hosting their traditional Ham and Bean Supper this Saturday, November 1st, from 4 to 8PM at the Masonic Lodge buiding in Mount Vernon, Illinois. The Lodge building is located at 124 North 10th Street in Mount Vernon.

The purpose of this dinner is to raise funds for the Krazy Klowns, from which they will be purchasing Christmas gifts for children at the Shrine’s Hospital for Children. Some of the funds may also go toward general operations. The Shrine’s charitable hospitals provide care to children under 18 at no cost to the child or family. The hospitals help with orthopedic, burn, and spinal injuries primarily.

Tickets are only $5/each, and may be purchased from any Krazy Klown member. Carry-outs will also be available Saturday from 4-8. For questions or more information, please call 618-231-4031.

Some information was used from the Register-News, mostly because I forgot that this event was forthcoming.

For more information on Mount Vernon Lodge No. 31, click this link.

For more information on the Shrine, click this link.

For more information about Shriners Hospitals for Children, click this link.

This article does not represent any of the parties mentioned, their opinions, or official statements.

Full Weekend Ahead

October 10th, 2008 · Daniel · Illinois, Jaycees, Mount Vernon No comments - Tags: 62864, festival, flag, football, Guitar, Harvest, Hero, horror, house, Illinois, Mount, Southern, Vernon, WDML

Tonight will be the opening of the 2008 Mount Vernon Jaycees’ House of Horror at 7PM. We’re going to be open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for the rest of the month. The last week we’ll be open the 29th – 31st.

In addition, Erich’s team will be playing for the flag-football championship this Saturday at 10AM. That will only last an hour or so. As soon as the game is over, I will have to head to the Granada for the Southern Illinois Harvest Festival‘s Guitar Hero Tournament. That will last for a couple of hours and then maybe a short breather before heading back to the HoH.

Sunday should be pretty calm with just the House of Horror at night.

Tonight we will have the WDML Rockin’ Rhino broadcasting live from the House of Horror. That is always a good time with Dave Lister coming out to hang with us.

Hopefully Emily can handle the stress with me being gone, and hopefully I don’t have to be there too much on Sundays.

Useful Student Organization – Studyrails

September 30th, 2008 · Daniel · Illinois, Mount Vernon, Technology No comments - Tags: calendar, college, email, event, free, good, google, high, management, new, party, schedule, School, sms, student, Studyrails, subscription, time, Work

I have just been impressed by a new site/application site. Lifehack had an article about Studyrails the other day and I decided to check it out. It wasn’t so much a review as it was an offer for 100 free accounts at the site through January 2009.

I put my name in the hat, and didn’t get one of the free accounts. They did send me an email to let me know, and I decided to try out the site anyway.

Once I was there, Studyrails asked about some personal information (that they promise not to share), asked about my classes and their schedules, and finally some location/phone information. This was very painless and easy to step through. I give kudos for their great interface.

Upon entering the real site one can tell immediately that it very closely looks like Google Calendar. Fortunately, Studyrails is different enough to notice though. Their scheduling is great in that it lets you block off time and have it assigned automatically or specifically by you to certain tasks. All of the time assignment can be done by click-dragging across a period, and then assigning it to an event, studying, or whatever.

Dan Voyles