It’s been a full month and a week since my last blog.
During that time, I repeated steps 1 thru 6 from my previous post on how to find a job.
Feels like I was stuck in the loop for the longest time.
Search. Apply. Follow-up. Repeat.
Got a few interviews, but nothing to report much.
Then, when my hopes seemed slim, something strange happened…
Constant dead ends
I was waiting and hoping to hear back from Company A. I had a first interview with them, and as usual, felt very optimistic on the position and the company. When I left the interview, I was told there would be a second interview with the president and HR. After 2 weeks without hearing from them, even after making a follow up, I have accepted that I was not selected and they had moved on hiring someone else.
This scenario kept repeating itself it seemed. We’ll get back to Company A in a while.
Anyway, moving on, I kept looking for work.
Connecting with an old friend.
Last summer during my search for investors, a family member had mentioned an old friend of ours from high school might be interested in helping me out with my flipping houses ideas. For the purpose of this blog, we’re gonna call him Bob.
Bob started his own business as a Property management consultant, building multi-residential and commercial buildings. This was news to me, and very interesting. I did not hesitate to call him.
Our conversation didn’t go as plan. Bob did not feel right in investing in my business, so we ended our conversation with the “catching up after high school” conversation.
Although there was no deal between us, it felt good talking to him again.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, as I am looking for work, I decided to send my CV with a cover letter explaining that I could be a good asset to Bob’s company.
He invited me for a one on one meeting to see how I could be of his service.
See, Bob invests in building new construction only. And I have many years in the Structural building industries such as project coordinating and detailing.
But little did I know, Bob’s company is not big enough to hire he’s own general contracting team yet. He prefers to hire someone to do the job.
In conclusion, we agreed I couldn’t help him.
Before I left, he did mentioned that he’s General Contractor that he deals with (we’re gonna called them Company B) where looking to hire someone like me and I should seriously send my CV to them. Bob’s favorite Project Manager had retired and left the Company B, and said
“It would be real nice to have a confident connection again if you’d be there. I can put a good word for you.”
Company A VS Company B
Even before Bob mentioned Company B to me, I did debated on applying there. Local, Small, growing fast and well known in the area. I had heard they where looking to hire, and I did qualify.
Why haven’t I applied yet?
Well, I didn’t hear very good reviews from friends of previous employees.
The landscaper at our cottage said a friend of he’s quit due to a burnout at Company B.
My father-in-law, how’s a crane operator, worked on a few of their sites, and wasn’t always respected by their site-supervisors.
My neighbor next door, an electrician, can never say bad things about anyone. His only comment about Company B, was that they get the job done. He said that with a crooked smile. And didn’t want to comment more. He made me read between the lines, if you know what I mean.
Hard to debate on Friends of Friends, so I decide to apply in hopes of getting at least an interview, and find out myself.
A few days after applying at Company B, Company A reached out for a second interview.
I wanted all of my options on the table, so I accepted Company A’s invitation, and followed-up with Company B stating if they were interested for an interview to let me know as I didn’t want to miss out on my options.
I was very direct and honest with Company B, without revealing Company A’s name.
It worked. Well, sort of.
Company B only had time to meet with me the following week.
Psychology games
I finaly had my second interview with Company A! Yeah me!
There I was sitting across the Owner of the company along with the HR representative.
Everything was going well. They ask about my past work. Typical.
I also like to ask the same question to them. Without me mentioning it, Company B comes up in the conversation. Both of them, at some point in their career, were employees at Company B. Nothing much was said about the Company, only minor comments followed by an awkward and uncomfortable laughter on their end.
Two past employee of Company B sitting across me.
Where the rumors true?
What happened they left, What made them leave?
I was in an interview for Company A, not Company B, but I wanted to know more about Company B form a ex-employee. How to turn the conversation around to know more?
I used a little psychology game on them…but needed to wait for the perfect question.
The perfect question did come up, and I used it to my advantage.
“what has been your biggest challenge in your career?”
I know something was up with Company B where employees weren’t’ treated right, or pushed to the point of entering burnouts, or even maybe being bullied. So I shared my bullied story, hoping they would share theirs.
“Good question! I was unfortunately bullied in my work place, and I had to convince HR of what was happening, not only to me but also to some of my co-workers”
Added some details and finally ended my story with “I didn’t feel like it was my place anymore at my previous work because of the bullying, so I quit. And here I am”
Well gosh-darn-it it worked like a charmed. They both opened up about Company B and related my story to theirs. Both said they also experience similar things. Being pushed to the point of walking away. And the beauty is, they were both talking about the same company, Company B.
I knew what I wanted. I just needed to nail this second interview.
The next day, Company A, called me to come in again in order to offer me the position along with an Employment Letter. Everything I had asked for, the salary, the vacation and the starting date was on this letter.
I played “hesitation” a little. But deep down I was already celebrating. I signed the letter!
I called Company B to cancel my interview, stating that I had accepted a work proposal. They replied back, “…if it doesn’t work out, come and see us.”
My door is still open.
Mix feelings
Monday. My first day back to a JOB. That 8 to 4:30, work schedule, 5 times a week. Working to make someone else money.
My freedom of waking up when I’m ready is gone. My freedom of stepping outside when I’m ready is gone. My freedom of planning an appointment whenever available is gone.
But the money will be good. That weekly check coming in will be a releif. The stress of not knowing if money is gonna come in is gone. The knowing I will be able to pay my bills has returned.
They are many ups and downs in having a “job”.
My plan B has been accomplished.
Know I want to return to Plan A, by financing my own flips.
All I need now is time.
Time to get my credit score back up again.
Time to catch up on my debts.
Time to recharge and try again.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC6ZfIF-R9k&t=640s
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