I think I just tanked an interview

Catseye3 · wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 01:58

@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.

taiwan_girl · wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 02:11

Good luck Aqua!

However, I have always say that luck is opportunity meeting skill.

And I think that you have both!!!!!!

Axtremus · 8 Aug 2020, 04:22

@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.

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 .

Catseye3 · wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 05:19

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.”

Aqua Letifer · wrote on 8 Aug 2020, 05:33

Yeah, it's Holmes' quote.

89th · 8 Aug 2020, 13:50

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.

Aqua Letifer · 8 89th 8 Aug 2020, 13:05

@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.)

brenda · 8 Aug 2020, 21:06

This is terrific news, Aqua! Is this full time work, or would you be able to have additional contracts?

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.

Mik · 8 Aug 2020, 21:30

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.

Aqua Letifer · 8 Aug 2020, 21:42

@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.

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.

Aqua Letifer · wrote on 10 Aug 2020, 19:54

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.

LuFins Dad · 10 Aug 2020, 20:17

@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 old

Never heard back from the last company?

Aqua Letifer · wrote on 10 Aug 2020, 20:17

@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 old

Never heard back from the last company?

Nope, ghosted me. Expected.

LuFins Dad · 10 Aug 2020, 20:40

Get a haircut and some real clothes and come work for me.

Mik · 10 Aug 2020, 20:44

Not necessarily. Your company could be using this as a face saving device to allow work from home. Especially if you organize the troops to rebel. You know they don’t want to go back. You guys are the product. If they don’t have you they are out of business.

Aqua Letifer · wrote on 10 Aug 2020, 20:40

@LuFins-Dad said in I think I just tanked an interview:

Get a haircut and some real clothes and come work for me.

Ask me again in a month, man! Things are about to slide in all directions.

Aqua Letifer · M Mik 10 Aug 2020, 20:38

@Mik said in I think I just tanked an interview:

Not necessarily. Your company could be using this as a face saving device to allow work from home. Especially if you organize the troops to rebel. You know they don’t want to go back. You guys are the product. If they don’t have you they are out of business.

Maybe, but highly doubtful. Our dept. head fired my co-worker for saying he would have to work remotely until June. This was apparently unacceptable. Even though, y'know, it's fucking August and we're still working remotely. But the point is, mentioning it got him fired.

My old boss mentioned in our team meeting today that because of her loss of child care, she wouldn't be able to return quickly if asked to. Our dept. head was visibly pissed about this. If management had it their way, they'd absolutely force us all to go back tomorrow.

The problem is the number of hoaxers and sheeple working there. I don't know if we have the clout required to be taken seriously. Things don't look good.

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I think I just tanked an interview