I think I just tanked an interview
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Ho Ly Shit.
Got an email out of the blue from an old employer. They want freelance help.
Might be able to build on that, either there or elsewhere. At the very least it would prevent an employment gap after my absolutely inevitable firing, and get me some street cred with my old industry again.
It would fall in line perfectly with my plan to work only for myself by the time I'm 40. Good enough place to start.
My old boss's email was so nice I wanted to cry. I got on well with him and his son. They paid basically nothing but the job was great and I was proud of the work.
Regarding that, and my 40 plan: Whoever said that folks tend to get more conservative as they get older was full of shit. What they really mean is that people lose motivation in the things they used to love, and that's one way of making excuses for giving up on yourself. Security, right? Well, some of that is okay. Having a family necessarily means that you have to live less selfishly. But my mom sacrificed too much. She put up with too much shit to make our lives comfortable and it really screwed our family up. She wasn't okay, so neither were we.
Right now, without even trying, I have enough money to easily buy a flagship Leica and a handful of their lenses, and I can't remember when I've been more miserable. At my old job, I could barely afford clothes but things were fine. Even great sometimes.
I'd very much like to re-up on poor, please. Show me where to sign.
wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 01:23 last edited by Catseye3 8 Aug 2020, 01:27@Aqua-Letifer Eep! That is really great. Talk about timely!
There is something priceless about a pointer that tells you you're on the right path, ie your memory of being proud of the work you did for your old boss. I'm thinking you reeaally needed this right now. So like, thanks, Universe!
Despondency and anxiety are blue-ribbon energy killers.
As probably millions are discovering right now.
Speaking of, I think a thing that also happens as people get older is the plain old diminution of energy. I'm struggling with that like mad right now. Everything is an effort, that shouldn't be. Sometimes I watch other people bustling around living their lives, and I feel like I'm on the outside of the candy store, looking in.
Best good wishes that this offer pans out for you, Aqua. Hugs.
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wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 01:28 last edited by Mik 8 Aug 2020, 01:30
Excellent news, but it’s not an either-or thing. What you go for is the satisfaction AND the money. It’s out there. Find the industry that pays top dollar for what you have to offer.
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Excellent news, but it’s not an either-or thing. What you go for is the satisfaction AND the money. It’s out there. Find the industry that pays top dollar for what you have to offer.
wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 01:49 last edited by@Mik said in I think I just tanked an interview:
Excellent news, but it’s not an either-or thing. What you go for is the satisfaction AND the money. It’s out there. Find the industry that pays top dollar for what you have to offer.
Yeah, I know that's true. And I've got a plan for it—basically how to find what works and what doesn't. I'm also not going to be destitute or anything. Just gotta readjust some.
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@Aqua-Letifer Eep! That is really great. Talk about timely!
There is something priceless about a pointer that tells you you're on the right path, ie your memory of being proud of the work you did for your old boss. I'm thinking you reeaally needed this right now. So like, thanks, Universe!
Despondency and anxiety are blue-ribbon energy killers.
As probably millions are discovering right now.
Speaking of, I think a thing that also happens as people get older is the plain old diminution of energy. I'm struggling with that like mad right now. Everything is an effort, that shouldn't be. Sometimes I watch other people bustling around living their lives, and I feel like I'm on the outside of the candy store, looking in.
Best good wishes that this offer pans out for you, Aqua. Hugs.
wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 01:52 last edited by@Catseye3 said in I think I just tanked an interview:
Speaking of, I think a thing that also happens as people get older is the plain old diminution of energy. I'm struggling with that like mad right now. Everything is an effort, that shouldn't be. Sometimes I watch other people bustling around living their lives, and I feel like I'm on the outside of the candy store, looking in.
Best good wishes that this offer pans out for you, Aqua. Hugs.Thanks, Cats. If it helps—it certainly helped me—maybe stop trying?
Really though. Just let yourself be and have fun for awhile instead. "Do you" as the kids say. The motivation comes back after you stop being so hard on yourself. -
@Catseye3 said in I think I just tanked an interview:
Speaking of, I think a thing that also happens as people get older is the plain old diminution of energy. I'm struggling with that like mad right now. Everything is an effort, that shouldn't be. Sometimes I watch other people bustling around living their lives, and I feel like I'm on the outside of the candy store, looking in.
Best good wishes that this offer pans out for you, Aqua. Hugs.Thanks, Cats. If it helps—it certainly helped me—maybe stop trying?
Really though. Just let yourself be and have fun for awhile instead. "Do you" as the kids say. The motivation comes back after you stop being so hard on yourself.wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 01:58 last edited by@Aqua-Letifer said in I think I just tanked an interview:
Thanks, Cats. If it helps—it certainly helped me—maybe stop trying? Really though. Just let yourself be and have fun for awhile instead. "Do you" as the kids say. The motivation comes back after you stop being so hard on yourself.
Yeah, maybe . . . Something to think about.
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wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 02:11 last edited by
Good luck Aqua!
However, I have always say that luck is opportunity meeting skill.
And I think that you have both!!!!!!
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@George-K said in I think I just tanked an interview:
@Aqua-Letifer said in I think I just tanked an interview:
My wife knows full well how weird I am.
Of course she does. If she were in her right mind, she wouldn't have married you without knowing that!
She's part of our D&D group. She can hang.
wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 03:16 last edited by@Aqua-Letifer said in I think I just tanked an interview:
She's part of our D&D group. She can hang.
Always thought there should have be a story in Big Bang Theory about one finding a spouse from one's D&D group.
Good luck with your job situation.
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@Aqua-Letifer said in I think I just tanked an interview:
She's part of our D&D group. She can hang.
Always thought there should have be a story in Big Bang Theory about one finding a spouse from one's D&D group.
Good luck with your job situation.
wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 04:22 last edited by Aqua Letifer 8 Aug 2020, 04:24@Axtremus said in I think I just tanked an interview:
@Aqua-Letifer said in I think I just tanked an interview:
She's part of our D&D group. She can hang.
Always thought there should have be a story in Big Bang Theory about one finding a spouse from one's D&D group.
Good luck with your job situation.
Meh, it's common enough. I can't tell you how many spouses I know who met their significant other at a con, renn faire or D&D group. Big Bang Theory is like the movie Waiting: they think they're emphasizing things when the truth is well past what's portrayed. It wasn't written for that group; it was written for a mainstream audience who's outside of it. For something more accurate, read Kitchen Confidential or watch some Dungeon Dudes.
Thanks, @Axtremus and @taiwan_girl .
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wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 05:19 last edited by
Found this, and it reminded me of your late trevails. Written by Arthur Conan Doyle in The Sign of Four. Don't know if he was referring to himself or a character in the book:
"“My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere. I can dispense with artificial stimulants. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation. That is why I have chosen my own particular profession, or rather created it, for I am the only one in the world.”
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wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 05:33 last edited by
Yeah, it's Holmes' quote.
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wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 13:05 last edited by
Nice update, man. I know personally how your values line up and am thrilled it leads to improved satisfaction. I have a feeling I know which employer this freelance work would be for... cool stuff.
I agree priorities change when you have a family and kid, and agree with @Mik that there’s a good balance out there. It’s One of the nice things about this country, and I know some other countries as well, that you can pursue both happiness and gainful employment.
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Nice update, man. I know personally how your values line up and am thrilled it leads to improved satisfaction. I have a feeling I know which employer this freelance work would be for... cool stuff.
I agree priorities change when you have a family and kid, and agree with @Mik that there’s a good balance out there. It’s One of the nice things about this country, and I know some other countries as well, that you can pursue both happiness and gainful employment.
wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 13:50 last edited by@89th said in I think I just tanked an interview:
It’s One of the nice things about this country, and I know some other countries as well, that you can pursue both happiness and gainful employment.
Thanks man. (No joke, that's the only way I could make a decision about leaving Oz or not. Ultimately it came down to America being larger, so therefore, more opportunities, especially if things got bad. Which, yeah, I think 2020 qualifies.)
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wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 16:31 last edited by
This is terrific news, Aqua! Is this full time work, or would you be able to have additional contracts?
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This is terrific news, Aqua! Is this full time work, or would you be able to have additional contracts?
wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 21:06 last edited by Aqua Letifer 8 Aug 2020, 21:13@brenda said in I think I just tanked an interview:
This is terrific news, Aqua! Is this full time work, or would you be able to have additional contracts?
As of right now, they're offering only very limited part-time work. But that might be because they're desperate and they don't want to scare me away with a bigger ask. (They went on LinkedIn specifically to find me out, and they didn't know about my employment details then. All they knew is that I currently have a full-time job.)
They might not be able to afford to pay me much right now, either. Oh and to make it more fun: they are absolutely terrible at paying freelancers. It can take them 9 months to do so. It's not entirely their fault in that it's never their intention to screw people over, but, it's definitely a problem.
Great opportunity, right?
I don't care, it's a start. -
wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 21:17 last edited by
Make time to payment part of your contract and DO have a contract. Let me know if you need assistance with this. Do not let their cash flow problems be yours. Nice months is entirely too long.
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Make time to payment part of your contract and DO have a contract. Let me know if you need assistance with this. Do not let their cash flow problems be yours. Nice months is entirely too long.
wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 21:30 last edited by@Mik said in I think I just tanked an interview:
Make time to payment part of your contract and DO have a contract. Let me know if you need assistance with this. Do not let their cash flow problems be yours. Nice months is entirely too long.
Well, my ace in the hole is that I worked with Becky back in the day. We know each other. Becky handles the checkbook. And I still have her contact information. So that's helpful.
But I might pick your brain about it still. Gotta have at least some guarantees, absolutely. They never stiffed anybody, but everyone complained about timely payment.
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@Mik said in I think I just tanked an interview:
Make time to payment part of your contract and DO have a contract. Let me know if you need assistance with this. Do not let their cash flow problems be yours. Nice months is entirely too long.
Well, my ace in the hole is that I worked with Becky back in the day. We know each other. Becky handles the checkbook. And I still have her contact information. So that's helpful.
But I might pick your brain about it still. Gotta have at least some guarantees, absolutely. They never stiffed anybody, but everyone complained about timely payment.
wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 21:42 last edited by Catseye3 8 Sept 2020, 00:00@Aqua-Letifer said in I think I just tanked an interview:
Gotta have at least some guarantees, absolutely.
Yes. It's a matter of respect. You can love them to death, but if they know they can leave you hanging, they will. Maybe not out of meanness, but their bad pay practices will somehow translate into making Aqua wait indefinitely because they can.
It's okay to negotiate a generous wait for the money, but you need to establish your value at the outset. You need to make them understand that if they want your fine ass, they're going to have to treat you accordingly. Don't let them disparage you. They can skip lunch to pay you if they want your work.
This hardball approach might be scary. They don't have to know that. But it will be better for you and better for them.
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wrote on 10 Aug 2020, 19:54 last edited by
Well, it's real now.
We're having an all-staff meeting tomorrow to discuss, on a personal level, how working remotely has been working out for everyone so that management can learn, and listen, and better accommodate everyone's needs moving forward.
I know my company. We'll be forced to return to work very soon. Which means I'll be out of work very soon. It's not because I'm stubborn, it's because I work in an office with very small, open cubicles, full of people with absolutely no common sense. Three of them still think this whole thing is a democrat hoax. I have to have regular meetings with some of these people. So, I'm going to opt out.
I also spoke with my old boss today. He's anxious to get something started. And it sounds like they'd pay me monthly, which would help keep them honest. It won't pay all the bills, not even close, but it would help me extend my savings. Any port in a storm.
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wrote on 10 Aug 2020, 20:11 last edited by
@Aqua-Letifer said in I think I just tanked an interview:
urn to work very soon. Which means I'll be out of work very soon. It's not because I'm stubborn, it's because I work in an office with very small, open cubicles, full of people with absolutely no common sense. Three of them still think this whole thing is a democrat hoax. I have to have regular meetings with some of these people. So, I'm going to opt out.
I also spoke with my oldNever heard back from the last company?
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@Aqua-Letifer said in I think I just tanked an interview:
urn to work very soon. Which means I'll be out of work very soon. It's not because I'm stubborn, it's because I work in an office with very small, open cubicles, full of people with absolutely no common sense. Three of them still think this whole thing is a democrat hoax. I have to have regular meetings with some of these people. So, I'm going to opt out.
I also spoke with my oldNever heard back from the last company?
wrote on 10 Aug 2020, 20:17 last edited by@LuFins-Dad said in I think I just tanked an interview:
@Aqua-Letifer said in I think I just tanked an interview:
urn to work very soon. Which means I'll be out of work very soon. It's not because I'm stubborn, it's because I work in an office with very small, open cubicles, full of people with absolutely no common sense. Three of them still think this whole thing is a democrat hoax. I have to have regular meetings with some of these people. So, I'm going to opt out.
I also spoke with my oldNever heard back from the last company?
Nope, ghosted me. Expected.