Look Out Workforce...

Here I come.

I got a job offer today!!!

Of course it depends on me passing a drug test and background check ( I think I should be ok there...)

I have to go into the office on Monday and sign the acceptance letter, tie up the loose ends and then I will be one of you.

Don't want to say too much about where it is/what it is because I am sure most companies would frown upon things like that.

So I will just say:
Its a large company.
Office based Mon- Fir.
Health insurance, vacations and all that good stuff.

I am so excited, but now the little nagging voices are starting, "What if I mess up" "What if I don't fit in and nobody likes me" " What if everyone dresses better/ looks better" "What if I cant do the job"

Enough already, I am going to think positive.Its going to be a culture shock thats for sure, no more slopping around in Jeans and a T-shirt or worse, PJ's all day.No more tennis shoes but real shoes, maybe with a heel.

And then there is all the cosmetics and hair brushing..not to mention the driving in rush hour.

Its going to be fun, Really! I will meet new people, have something to talk about other then what was on TV this morning or what the mail man delivered.


Talking about jobs, remember the first interview I went to the She said/He said? Well she emailed me the other day and said he had still not come to a decision (it's not like it was such a huge decision right ?),but would I still be interested in working from home (maybe an office meeting or two) helping her get the website side up and running by the end of Feb.

I said I would because I had not yet found a job, now I don't know what to do. I would feel bad saying no now because I said yes, but I don't know if I would have the time to put into it.
Its not like a blog design, it's a huge website with lots of scripts I am not familiar with and loads of data to be entered in.

I will wait until I hear from her again and then decide, perhaps I could just do some of it, the banner, move it over to the new domain etc?


I just looked out of the window and snow! OMG how will I ever drive in Ice and snow....

Well thats about it.

Have a great weekend and if you are in a bad weather area, stay warm, drive safe.

and if you are not...Lucky b*&%ers!

Chapter 3: Did I say enough...

Chapter's 1 & 2 can be found before this post.

So last Tuesday was the big day- the interview.
I get all my "evidence" together, joint bank statements, marriage documents, Utility bills that sort of thing, to basically prove we do actually live in the same house.

Now they do request on the appointment notice that you also take photographs as proof of a relationship- However if you could see my photograph on my work permit you would understand whenever any camera or recording device enters a room, I exit the room.

So I have all I need except my i-94 arrival/departure record.

Its a little green card that looks like this:

Holy Flipping Crap!! I cannot find it anywhere ( and I am usually careful about stuff like passports etc and I tend to keep them all in the same place safe & sound)
Not only that but I cannot for the life of me remember when and where I last had it, I know I scanned it and sent off a copy of it when I sent off my immigration forms, then I thought I had put it in the file with the extra passport photos, USCIS notices, letters and forms etc.

Maybe it slipped out of the file?
Maybe I lost it at the medical exam ?- I took the file with me to that.
Maybe I lost it in the move from the apartment to the house?

I have no clue and its really rather worrying because that along with the stamp in my passport are the only 2 things that prove I entered the United States legally.


Both got dressed up drove into the city, paid a fortune for parking and went into the USCIS

* insert suspense music*

We go in , I set off the metal detector as usual and have to have the little portable thingy waved up and down over my body.

Go to the waiting room which has quite a few other people in it ( mostly dressed up too- I knew it wasn't a jeans kind of thing)

No reception desk/ window at all, instead there is a door and a hole in the wall in witch you place your interview appointment letter ( probably so the staff don't have to listen to bitching?)

Now we wait, we are about 20 mins early. People come out of "the door" they don't seem to be smiling, just blank expressions, wonder if this a bad sign or a good sign.

People who came in after us get called in before us.

Then its our turn * Shudder*
A very severe looking woman ( Immigration Officer) shows us into her office- all glass walls, huge American flag ( with the yellow fringing ) on a stand, a desk, her chair and 3 chairs the other side of the desk. A webcam on the desk!

Before we sit down she has us swear an oath to tell the truth, WP bless his heart has to pipe up and say he cannot swear to God because he is an Atheist. Severe woman looks a little put out and I want to fall into a hole in the floor.
She looks up the non God believing oath and he agrees to tell the truth...

We sit down and she begins asking me a whole load of questions ( which I had already answered on the form)

Am I a communist
Am I a terrorist
Am I a felon
Am I a smuggler
Do I intend to practice polygamy

That sort of thing.

Then she moves onto how we met, looks at our joint bills, bank statements etc.
She asked why I did not leave the country when I was mean to, I (we) told her that was when WP first started getting ill and we could no longer afford to pay for more flights to and from the UK.

I took along the HUGE folder of medical bill records which I opened to show my point, she did not make any effort to take them to look at or whatever.

Then it was when and how did we decide to marry. I told her it was a whim.

She then said" so when you came back into the country in *insert month* you came planning to stay for good.*

Hmm sneaky trick question?

I said that no I had not and that I had intended at the time to return to the Uk again and come back at a later date ( which was the truth) but because we no longer could afford to do that I ended up just staying.


* Its seen as an act of fraud to come into the United States on the Visa Waiver Program with the intent to marry or not leave the country again after the 90 days.


So thats about it pretty much.....Now you all know me, I like to scare myself about every possible scenario by reading other peoples illnesses/ stories on the internet.

So of course I had googled many many times looking up what happens at immigration interviews.

According to the general consensus on the many internet forums out there. You go /you convince the IO that you did not intend to stay and break the law/ they are satisfied with your story and immediately stamp your passport- ( the stamp is so you can leave the country and re-enter etc while you are waiting for your green card- That and I guess would allow you a bloody drivers license right away!)

Did she stamp mine? NO.

She took it and Wp's DL to photocopy, looked at my work permit ( which I also ready they then take it away from you when you get approval for a green card), I still have mine.

She said IF I were to get approved then they would more then likely hold off the green card date until mid feb.
The reason for this is if you have been married less then 2 years you get a 2 year conditional green card ( which I think is meant to put a stop to people marrying just for a green card and then splitting up)
One you are nearing your second wedding anniversary you then become eligible for the proper 10 yr green card- The card lasts 10 years but once that permanent resident status is issued you get it for life (unless you commit a serious crime or something)

So they would hold off on our case and just grant the 10 yr card once we have been married 2 yrs. where as if they gave me one before it would be another 2 yrs before I could swap it to the 10 yr one.

Which makes sense I guess.

WP being the little ray of sunshine he is then started asking what would happen if my case was not approved, how long would it be before I had to leave the country, could I stay here and just not work, him take care of me that sort of thing.

She said if the case was not approved I would get a trial (cripes) and even felons who go to trial sometimes get granted approval.


So on the whole I think its looking ok, I just wish she would have been a bit more "forthcoming" and more "human"

One thing she never mentioned the 1-94 card ( which is still playing on my mind being lost n all)
So that was a positive.

Once we had left though I wondered if I should have showed her:

My return ticket to the UK- just to show I had intended to return.

I also had a letter from work agreeing to my career break ( a formal word for unpaid time off)- To show that I had not given up my job to come to the US.

But its too late now.

Another positive thing is WP received a letter from them yesterday stating that his application I-130 Petition for Alien Relative had been approved. I was happy for a while until again I had to go and get on the internet and read about cases where I-130's but I-485's Application To Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status ( which is what the interview was about) were not approved....


So I just need to sit it out, stay calm and stay off emigration forums for the next few weeks and hope for the best.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!!

And if you kept up with 3 posts worth of drivel and still managed to get the general gist of things as they now stand, you are a better person then I !!!!


Oh and just one more thing: I have an interview on Friday at one of the larger companies in the area, don't want to say too much more at this point other then its one of the jobs I applied for back in early December ( and they just called yesterday) and that I don't think I am probably qualified enough for the job so I am not holding out much hope but will give it a shot.

Chapter 1: She said- He said...

Today I am going to attempt not only to bring my blog up to date ( I know, it's been a while...) and try to visit as many people on my blogroll as I can even if its only to say "Hi"

Wish me luck.

I think this will be easier to make 3 separate posts.

Here goes.

Chapter 1 She said/ He said.

A few weeks back I applied for this job...

Administrative/Marketing Assistant


An exciting position that will allow you to use your creativity as well as your computer skills. Must be proficient in Microsoft Applications. Web design and/or knowledge is a plus. Must be self starter and willing to work as a team.
This position will grow with the right person.
Hours will be 25 per week and work into full time approximately 90 days.

$10 per hour

I sent off a copy of me resume and got a call within an hour to go for an interview on the following Wednesday.....
Best of all its only 6 miles away from the house.


Wednesday- She said.

I arrive 20 minuets early, dressed up in my "professional attire" Okay so it was pants, a shirt & pointy shoes. which is dressed up when you have spent the last 3 years in Jeans or PJ's.
The lady who placed the ad seemed impressed I was so early and took me into her office. We hit it off right away and were soon discussing ways to market the companies home search webpage better.

This is what she said the job consisted of:

Creating a new Webpage banner.

Listing new home builds on the website- Contacting the actual builders to get specs, details etc.

General upkeep of the website.

Contacting Local real estate agents with a view to getting them to place their listings on site.

Contacting Various local businesses, from Fence builders to odd job men to sell ad space.

Contacting her current clients just to "check in" and give them updates.

Thinking of ways ( with her) to market their franchise in "Assist 2 Sell"

She put it across that generally I would be her personal assistant ( well thats how it came across to me anyway).

So nearly an hour later she informed me that she thought I would be perfect and that in her opinion she was 99.9% sure I had the job.

She did not say but I knew she had at least 2 more people to see after me ( I saw the list).

She would be in touch....

I don't hear anything for a few days, then I get an email saying she thought I would be a perfect fit for their company and could I go in again the following Friday for another interview with the VP of the company.

Okay fine ( remember this is not a huge company so a second interview is a little strange IMO)

Friday- He said.

I get their early again for my 9.30 appointment.
I wait around, various men come out of their offices and offer me coffee, which I decline.
She gets in around 9.40, we go into the VP's office and sit in the fancy leather chairs.
Hee looks a lot like the guy who hosts Deal or no deal.

We chat a little about interest rates etc ( I am trying to sound Not totally clueless knowledgeable here).

This is what he said the job consisted of:

Sitting up front at the high glass block reception desk. -not really the ideal height to type at ?

Take all incoming calls both for the real estate side and the broker side. -isn't that a receptionist?

Send out email blasts (mass emails) to everyone in their database.-In other words send spam to people ?

Prepare mass mailings to mail out. - Send junk mail to people ?

And that basically was about all the job consisted of in his view... Now I know I am not the brightest coin in the jar but is it just me or do they seem totally different jobs?

Added to that I asked about benefits and he told me they pay nothing towards employee health insurance but they do have in place a health care plan I could choose to pay into myself.


Anyway, I didn't feel he and I "clicked" at all really, or maybe it was just me.

He said they may have other candidates to see and they would have an answer by Friday (the 18th).
As I left the room I turned and asked him if he would be so kind as to let me know the outcome either way- He said he would.

I am still waiting....

Happy 2008

A belated Happy new year to y'all.

I haven't got much to update really, quiet Christmas, Quiet New Year, Bloody FREEZING today- Thankfully (or not) I don't have to worry about going out in it, other then to start WP's car so it's warm when he leaves for work.

On the job front, Firstly I have heard nothing from ad's I have applied to and I have only myself to blame.

STUPIDLY, I sent my resume as a word attachment thinking" Well at least people will see I can use word" Not even giving a thought to how many people are gonna be dumb enough to open an email attachment from somebody they do not know!

BUT.....

Today I got a call - OK a wrong number, I thought at first it was by some teeny chance it was a job.He was after a completely different person....
I happened to mention I thought it might have been a job call and he asked what sort of work I was looking for because he was looking for someone to help out in the office.
So we had a brief chat and he said he may have time to see me later in the week!

Of course it's only a very small lead and he is in the "UC Loop" which maybe too far and he may have been totally just saying it to get the crazy woman off the phone but who knows.. but keep your fingers crossed for me!

demoralized....*sob*

I am sick of applying and searching for jobs....

I have sent off countless copies of my resume and had not one reply.

Nothing from the hospitals ( and I thought they were under- staffed)
Nothing from the larger businesses in the area.
Nothing from all the Craig's List postings I have replied to.
I even applied to Wallgreens ( with heavy heart)

Nobody wants me, even WP is tiring of supporting me.

I really really really really do not want to work in retail, I don't think I could stomach it anymore.

All I want is A: a little office job.
I can type (quite fast )-albeit with two and a half fingers.
I can be polite & discreet.
I can navigate myself around most MS office programs without too much trouble.
I can answer the phone, use a PC without crashing it, file, be generally organized,make & maintain a website, use photoshop AND make coffee if required.


Or B: A hospital tech job ( IE: not mopping up vomit & urine)
Again...
I can be polite and full of customer service.
I can use a computer
blah blah blah.
Anyway you get my general drift.

* If any perspective employers out there are reading this in the St Charles/W County area...cause you never know who's looking....

I am a very good time keeper, rarely take time off sick and am very loyal & dedicated.


Of course on the optimistic side, perhaps companies are just gearing down for Christmas... Right?


[/Rant]


Afterthought: I have nothing against anyone who works in Retail and I am not being a snob, its just that was the old me and I don"t want to go backwards.

If that makes sense ?

This one's for Kim...

This post is for Kim over at all the worlds a stage :)

I know I haven't got my blogging mojo back as yet but heres the latest....

The Good:

• I got my work permit!

• I got my SS# this week.
  

• The house is just about organised, but still needs oodles doing to it.

The Bad:

• I am no longer within walking distance to any places of employment, I haven't spotted one bus either...

• I don't have a drivers license and WP shouts at me tells me I am a terrible driver.

• I don't have a car.

• I have no experience to get a job in health care...I have been looking into a CNA course at the local collage which is only 12 weeks and under $400.

I really want to get into Phlebotomy, Lab assistant, Histology aid, X-Ray tech that sort of area but I am thinking if I do this course (when I get some cash & a car) them maybe it will be a step in the right direction.
If I don't get into the health care route I want some sort of 9-5 office job, I am determined I am NOT going to work in retail again, I am so done with that.

The Ugly:

• I have my initial immigration interview in January *yikes*

And that my friends is just about it,.

Stay warm & safe folks.