Now that we are just T-7 days away from leaving, I have started applying for some jobs. I didn't want to start too early because I knew I wouldn't be available for interviews, but I am working on a couple of things now.
To start, jobs at schools or government entities generally have a closing date for applications, so if I have seen something with a closing date near the time we are set to arrive in Charlotte, I have applied for the job. I figure the time frame for interviews and hiring will be such that I will be up there by the time I might get a call. In the interest of full disclosure, I will say that there has only been one job like this so far.
Part-time jobs have been the other part of my focus. Some income is always better than no income, so I would like to find a job of some sort as soon as possible. The more money we have coming in, the less we will have to dip into our savings. This is another time when I have been grateful for technology because I have been able to apply for all these jobs on the computer. On a somewhat related note, aside from allowing you to upload a resume and cover letter, Barnes and Noble also has an option to link your Linkedin profile! Of course, I did that step in an effort to show that yeah, I am all on top of the latest technology. I'll continue to apply for part-time jobs when I get up to Charlotte because with the holidays just around the corner, there should be lots of places hiring extra help.
Another position I applied for was as an online writing tutor. I am probably most qualified for that out of all the jobs I applied for, and working from home would have advantages like saving on time and gas. I like interacting with people, though, and that is something I wouldn't have working online.
There is one aspect of job hunting that makes me yearn for the old days, and that is the cover letter. I remember when writing a letter that basically said, "Here is my resume for your review" was sufficient. Well, those days are long gone. Now it's all about getting someone's attention and selling yourself in the first few lines. It's about tailoring every cover letter to specifically address the needed qualifications advertised in the job posting.
I believe I have good writing skills, but I find writing a cover letter to be incredibly challenging. I'm not sure exactly why that is. Maybe it is because I have never thought of myself as a salesperson. Maybe it is because I feel like I have to be too creative to put the right spin on what I'm saying. Or maybe it is because I just over-think the whole damn thing! It also doesn't help that when researching information on how to write a cover letter (and format a resume for that matter), there are so many differing opinions. Who do you believe? Who knows ... you just have to go with what makes sense to you, I guess. Regardless, writing a cover letter is a very important part of the employment process now, so I must learn to do it and do it well. I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunities ahead, so by the time I'm gainfully employed, I may an expert on the subject.
Since we are moving in the coming week, I am confident that I won't write another post until after we are settled in. Until next time ...
Friday, August 22, 2014
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Modern Technology, I Heart You!!!
"Back in the day," communication that wasn't face-to-face had to be done by either snail mail or phone. The internet, however, has changed that in such a profound way. Today, we can accomplish so much online, and I, for one, am darn happy about it. It makes so much of the moving process easier.
Moving means having to let people know where you've gone, and in the past, that could have meant investing a lot of time in contacting the post office, magazine publishers, and a host of other people and places. Now, though, you can change your address online. It's fast, easy, and efficient.
While I'm all for the adventure of discovering a new place, there are some definite advantages to learning about the place to which you're moving before you get there. I already know where our closest grocery store, Target, Walmart, and Walgreen's are. I also know where the closest hiking trail is for those times I need a nature break stat. On the last night of class this term, my students gave me a $50 gift card for Barnes and Noble. I know where I can go spend it, and even better, the store has a book club. The information about when the club meets and what they are reading for the next couple of months is on the B&N website, so I can show up prepared to not only join the club, but also discuss the month's book. Not only do I know where these places are, I also know how far they are from our house and what routes I can take to get there. I don't have to look up places in the telephone book, and then call for directions (which I'd have to write down), or try to find my route on a paper map. Technology has put everything at my fingertips.
Let's not forget that moving also means setting up utilities. Since we are moving to a new city and from an apartment to a house, there are a number of entities I need to contact. No problem. Gas, water and garbage pick up, electricity, and cable an internet accounts are all set up, and I only had to make one phone call to accomplish that.
I've done plenty of online research about Charlotte in advance of our move, and during my web surfing, I encountered a website called Charlotte on the Cheap (www.charlotteonthecheap.com). I had already researched free activities around town in anticipation of having to live more frugally than normal for a while, but this website has that and more. The site is tabbed by categories, some of which are food and drink and attractions and museums. This categorization allows you to focus on what, in particular, you are looking for. There is also a tab titled shopping, and under that category you can find local thrift shops and consignment stores, and ... wait for it ... a list (with map) of garage sales taking place during the coming weekend! There are a number of things Mr. Weezy and I will need to purchase when we get to Charlotte, like a washer/dryer and lawnmower, simply because we are moving from an apartment into a house. We are also going to have to purchase a dining table. My elderly mother would never be able to make it up on one of our pub height stools; besides, the pub table we have only accommodates two people. Thanks to Charlotte on the Cheap, I am confident we will be able to find these things at a reasonable price.
So, is it any wonder I heart modern technology? Although some may think finding out about a place ahead of time detracts from the adventure of moving, I respectfully disagree. Learning all Charlotte has to offer is increasing my anticipation while at the same time lessening my anxiety.
Moving means having to let people know where you've gone, and in the past, that could have meant investing a lot of time in contacting the post office, magazine publishers, and a host of other people and places. Now, though, you can change your address online. It's fast, easy, and efficient.
While I'm all for the adventure of discovering a new place, there are some definite advantages to learning about the place to which you're moving before you get there. I already know where our closest grocery store, Target, Walmart, and Walgreen's are. I also know where the closest hiking trail is for those times I need a nature break stat. On the last night of class this term, my students gave me a $50 gift card for Barnes and Noble. I know where I can go spend it, and even better, the store has a book club. The information about when the club meets and what they are reading for the next couple of months is on the B&N website, so I can show up prepared to not only join the club, but also discuss the month's book. Not only do I know where these places are, I also know how far they are from our house and what routes I can take to get there. I don't have to look up places in the telephone book, and then call for directions (which I'd have to write down), or try to find my route on a paper map. Technology has put everything at my fingertips.
Let's not forget that moving also means setting up utilities. Since we are moving to a new city and from an apartment to a house, there are a number of entities I need to contact. No problem. Gas, water and garbage pick up, electricity, and cable an internet accounts are all set up, and I only had to make one phone call to accomplish that.
I've done plenty of online research about Charlotte in advance of our move, and during my web surfing, I encountered a website called Charlotte on the Cheap (www.charlotteonthecheap.com). I had already researched free activities around town in anticipation of having to live more frugally than normal for a while, but this website has that and more. The site is tabbed by categories, some of which are food and drink and attractions and museums. This categorization allows you to focus on what, in particular, you are looking for. There is also a tab titled shopping, and under that category you can find local thrift shops and consignment stores, and ... wait for it ... a list (with map) of garage sales taking place during the coming weekend! There are a number of things Mr. Weezy and I will need to purchase when we get to Charlotte, like a washer/dryer and lawnmower, simply because we are moving from an apartment into a house. We are also going to have to purchase a dining table. My elderly mother would never be able to make it up on one of our pub height stools; besides, the pub table we have only accommodates two people. Thanks to Charlotte on the Cheap, I am confident we will be able to find these things at a reasonable price.
So, is it any wonder I heart modern technology? Although some may think finding out about a place ahead of time detracts from the adventure of moving, I respectfully disagree. Learning all Charlotte has to offer is increasing my anticipation while at the same time lessening my anxiety.
Friday, August 15, 2014
A Sad Reminder of Why I Am Making a Big Change
When I started this blog, I wrote about what led me to decide to quit my two jobs and move out of state. One of my motivations was the terminal illness and subsequent death of a co-worker. It was a reminder of that ol' cliche, "Life is short." It's a cliche for a reason: it's true. And since we don't know how short our lives will be, we had better learn to live in the moment and enjoy the people and things that are important to us.
Although I didn't need a reminder of the brevity of life, I got one this week. A former co-worker of mine has been battling cancer for 3-4 years now. If I remember correctly, she originally found a lump in her neck that turned out to be a tumor. She's had two surgeries along with chemo and radiation treatments over the last couple of years, but now her cancer is back in a devastating way. It has spread into the base of her skull and her brain, among other places.
The way she has handled her illness thus far--with grace and an incredibly positive attitude--has been truly inspirational. So has the way she has continued to live her life. She has kept her life as normal as possible within the confines of her disease, and she has endeavored to invest her time well. She has continued to work, and outside of work she has spent time with the people who are important in her life: her friends; her wonderful husband to whom she has been married over 20 years; her kids; and the joy of her life, her five grandchildren.
Now that her cancer is back, she is going on disability and is scheduled to have an 18-hour surgery the first week of September, followed by chemo and radiation. I wish her well and send positive thoughts out into the universe for her every day. Regardless of what happens, though, she will know that she lived and enjoyed her life, and that is what we all should strive to know when our time is up.
Although I didn't need a reminder of the brevity of life, I got one this week. A former co-worker of mine has been battling cancer for 3-4 years now. If I remember correctly, she originally found a lump in her neck that turned out to be a tumor. She's had two surgeries along with chemo and radiation treatments over the last couple of years, but now her cancer is back in a devastating way. It has spread into the base of her skull and her brain, among other places.
The way she has handled her illness thus far--with grace and an incredibly positive attitude--has been truly inspirational. So has the way she has continued to live her life. She has kept her life as normal as possible within the confines of her disease, and she has endeavored to invest her time well. She has continued to work, and outside of work she has spent time with the people who are important in her life: her friends; her wonderful husband to whom she has been married over 20 years; her kids; and the joy of her life, her five grandchildren.
Now that her cancer is back, she is going on disability and is scheduled to have an 18-hour surgery the first week of September, followed by chemo and radiation. I wish her well and send positive thoughts out into the universe for her every day. Regardless of what happens, though, she will know that she lived and enjoyed her life, and that is what we all should strive to know when our time is up.
Friday, August 8, 2014
Get Thee to a Realtor
In one of my previous posts, I discussed how I was going about finding a house to rent. I had set up searches on Zillow, and my intention was to call the various property management companies that oversaw the houses I wanted to look at to set up appointments to see the homes. When I shared this information with the woman from the temporary agency whom we brought in to take my place at my day job, she suggested I call a realtor. This is what she had done when she moved back to So Flo. The realtor got all the information about the type of property she was looking for, and he sent her the MLS listings that matched her criteria. From there, he set up the appointments for showings. Well, let me tell you--that was the best damn advice I've had in a long time.
A friend of mine from school and I reconnected on Facebook in the not-too-distant past. My friend relocated to Charlotte several years ago, and I noticed he often shared posts from a realtor in that area. I assumed the realtor was whom helped him find his house, so I sent my friend a message. He confirmed my assumption and said his realtor had been very helpful. I, in turn, called the realtor to see if he handled rentals. While he normally deals in sales, he said he would be happy to help out. And boy, did he ever help!
He began by setting up a couple of searches on the MLS listings for me, so I could see what was available. A couple of days before I was to go to Charlotte, I emailed him the list of properties we were interested in. He set up all the appointments for the Saturday I would be in town.
I did as much research as I could on the properties before hand, maybe even too much research. I had so much paperwork with me, I could barely keep track of it all! Perhaps because I made my list right before the first of the month, houses kept getting rented out from under me. By the time we left my hotel Saturday morning, my list of 10 possible houses was down to six! Out of the six, I felt five were real possibilities. One was just a little too rough looking. It's funny because as Mr. Weezy and I looked through the MLS listings, we would come up with names for houses based on something we identified with the house. For instance, the house that didn't pass muster we called the "dog" house because in two pictures on the MLS listing, we could see a dog outside looking into the sliding glass doors. The chewed up blinds in the house were evidence that the dog had, in fact, been living there ...
My realtor and I finished up our tour mid-afternoon, and I immediately began calling people to find out how I could apply for the rentals. I had a ton more paperwork with me that had all kinds of banking and pay information, and I also had it all saved electronically on a flash drive, so I could get the application process going. Here is how the process went:
My #1 home choice, which I had been absolutely salivating over since I saw the pictures of it, was the first place I called. The note under pets on the listing sheet said conditional. When I called the realtor and told him we had two small dogs and a cat, he told me they wouldn't take cats. Well, dumbass, why didn't you put that in your listing? It would have saved my realtor and me time and a wasted trip to see the house, and it would have saved you the time you just spent talking to me.
On to my #2 choice: Also a pets conditional house, I called the realtor to see if our pets would be accepted. She didn't answer, so I left her a voice mail. She did return my call, but she said she had to find out from the owner whether or not we could have our pets. My realtor followed up with her via email on Monday, but she said she was still waiting to hear back. Long story short, I didn't find out about the pets until Tuesday. By then, I had already applied for three other properties. I applied for this one too at that point, but it was too late in a sense, and I really ended up wasting $75.00.
I got a hold of the realtor for my #3 choice right away, and she told me the pets were no problem because the owner was only opposed to big dogs, so I applied for that house. There was no application fee unless my application was accepted, so I figured I had nothing to lose. My realtor followed up with the home's realtor on Monday. She said she was reviewing the applications, but there might be a problem because the owner didn't want so many pets in the house. Really? That's not what you told me. I emailed her to let her know we had been approved for and accepted another property. She didn't even have the common courtesy to acknowledge my email. So much for professionalism.
My numbers 4 and 5 choices were a toss up. Although about equal in square footage, the way one was laid out, it seemed much smaller. It, however, was in a nicer area. That was a pets conditional house, whereas the other was pet friendly. I called the contact person for the "little" house on Saturday. I got her voice mail, so I left her a message saying I needed to know if our pets would be accepted. Sunday, I realized that there was a listing agent who was different from the contact person. I called her Sunday and ran into the same voice mail scenario. The listing agent called me Monday and emailed me an application. Again, there was no application fee, so I went ahead and submitted the application. I got a call from the contact person, who was going to be the new listing agent, Wednesday, but we had accepted a house already.
In the midst of all of this is the other choice 4/5 house. I sent in an application on Monday morning. Tuesday morning, the agent called for one more document, which he said if I could get him, we should be good to go. I emailed it right away, and within an hour, I had an email saying we had been approved. We did need to put the security deposit down to hold the house. Well, with the way things were going, I wasn't going to take a chance waiting on the other houses, only to find out we didn't get approved. We accepted the house and put the deposit down. The whole process took less than 48 hours.
Note to realtors/property managers: Get your shit together because efficiency gets homes rented! The house we accepted was tied for last place on our list, but the ease of the rental process is what got us to rent it. The efficient way in which the realty company handled the process also gives me confidence that renting from them will be a good experience.
Note to potential renters: Get yourself a real estate agent. They have the most current information about what is on the market, and they can streamline your search. They can set up an agenda for showings that makes the best use of your time, and they also have expertise regarding different areas, a definite benefit to you.
Now that we have a house, I will begin the process of setting up utilities, etc., etc. This post is certainly long enough, so I'll save the next steps for the next post.
A friend of mine from school and I reconnected on Facebook in the not-too-distant past. My friend relocated to Charlotte several years ago, and I noticed he often shared posts from a realtor in that area. I assumed the realtor was whom helped him find his house, so I sent my friend a message. He confirmed my assumption and said his realtor had been very helpful. I, in turn, called the realtor to see if he handled rentals. While he normally deals in sales, he said he would be happy to help out. And boy, did he ever help!
He began by setting up a couple of searches on the MLS listings for me, so I could see what was available. A couple of days before I was to go to Charlotte, I emailed him the list of properties we were interested in. He set up all the appointments for the Saturday I would be in town.
I did as much research as I could on the properties before hand, maybe even too much research. I had so much paperwork with me, I could barely keep track of it all! Perhaps because I made my list right before the first of the month, houses kept getting rented out from under me. By the time we left my hotel Saturday morning, my list of 10 possible houses was down to six! Out of the six, I felt five were real possibilities. One was just a little too rough looking. It's funny because as Mr. Weezy and I looked through the MLS listings, we would come up with names for houses based on something we identified with the house. For instance, the house that didn't pass muster we called the "dog" house because in two pictures on the MLS listing, we could see a dog outside looking into the sliding glass doors. The chewed up blinds in the house were evidence that the dog had, in fact, been living there ...
My realtor and I finished up our tour mid-afternoon, and I immediately began calling people to find out how I could apply for the rentals. I had a ton more paperwork with me that had all kinds of banking and pay information, and I also had it all saved electronically on a flash drive, so I could get the application process going. Here is how the process went:
My #1 home choice, which I had been absolutely salivating over since I saw the pictures of it, was the first place I called. The note under pets on the listing sheet said conditional. When I called the realtor and told him we had two small dogs and a cat, he told me they wouldn't take cats. Well, dumbass, why didn't you put that in your listing? It would have saved my realtor and me time and a wasted trip to see the house, and it would have saved you the time you just spent talking to me.
On to my #2 choice: Also a pets conditional house, I called the realtor to see if our pets would be accepted. She didn't answer, so I left her a voice mail. She did return my call, but she said she had to find out from the owner whether or not we could have our pets. My realtor followed up with her via email on Monday, but she said she was still waiting to hear back. Long story short, I didn't find out about the pets until Tuesday. By then, I had already applied for three other properties. I applied for this one too at that point, but it was too late in a sense, and I really ended up wasting $75.00.
I got a hold of the realtor for my #3 choice right away, and she told me the pets were no problem because the owner was only opposed to big dogs, so I applied for that house. There was no application fee unless my application was accepted, so I figured I had nothing to lose. My realtor followed up with the home's realtor on Monday. She said she was reviewing the applications, but there might be a problem because the owner didn't want so many pets in the house. Really? That's not what you told me. I emailed her to let her know we had been approved for and accepted another property. She didn't even have the common courtesy to acknowledge my email. So much for professionalism.
My numbers 4 and 5 choices were a toss up. Although about equal in square footage, the way one was laid out, it seemed much smaller. It, however, was in a nicer area. That was a pets conditional house, whereas the other was pet friendly. I called the contact person for the "little" house on Saturday. I got her voice mail, so I left her a message saying I needed to know if our pets would be accepted. Sunday, I realized that there was a listing agent who was different from the contact person. I called her Sunday and ran into the same voice mail scenario. The listing agent called me Monday and emailed me an application. Again, there was no application fee, so I went ahead and submitted the application. I got a call from the contact person, who was going to be the new listing agent, Wednesday, but we had accepted a house already.
In the midst of all of this is the other choice 4/5 house. I sent in an application on Monday morning. Tuesday morning, the agent called for one more document, which he said if I could get him, we should be good to go. I emailed it right away, and within an hour, I had an email saying we had been approved. We did need to put the security deposit down to hold the house. Well, with the way things were going, I wasn't going to take a chance waiting on the other houses, only to find out we didn't get approved. We accepted the house and put the deposit down. The whole process took less than 48 hours.
Note to realtors/property managers: Get your shit together because efficiency gets homes rented! The house we accepted was tied for last place on our list, but the ease of the rental process is what got us to rent it. The efficient way in which the realty company handled the process also gives me confidence that renting from them will be a good experience.
Note to potential renters: Get yourself a real estate agent. They have the most current information about what is on the market, and they can streamline your search. They can set up an agenda for showings that makes the best use of your time, and they also have expertise regarding different areas, a definite benefit to you.
Now that we have a house, I will begin the process of setting up utilities, etc., etc. This post is certainly long enough, so I'll save the next steps for the next post.
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