What a bummer...

I was so excited when I heard my phone ring and the caller ID showed an 808 number. I thought to myself, "Yay, someone is calling me about my resume I submitted". I even answer it saying, "This is Natalie *****". That was sort of unnecessary but I figured it sounds more professional. I couldn't hear the lady very well that was talking on the other end, I sort of missed the whole introduction of who the company was and didn't get to really key in till she said, "Are you still looking for a job". Then alas I heard her and said, "Yes, yes I am". She asked me to tell her a little about myself and why I think I would be good for the job. Or this is what I thought I heard. I'm either going more deaf by the hour or the connection was pretty bad, both are a great possibility. I went on about how I am a teacher and that I have a lot of qualities and experience that can transfer over to the office workplace. She sort of kept quiet so I suppose that meant... "keep sharing". In attempting to "sale myself" I mentioned how I was a kindergarten teacher and that in itself shows the ability to be able to multi-task. She said that she would like to set up an an interview for the following day at 11:45 at their office. I asked if this was in Pearl City because I first thought maybe this position was the State Farm Insurance position I applied for and she politely said it was located in Honolulu. At this point I realized it was the Foster Care Agency position that I had applied for because I hadn't really submitted any resumes because I haven't been able to find that many positions that I feel would suit me well. I was excited because this job deals with children and I could still make a difference in their lives in a different way. As she started to give me the directions I scrambled to try to find blank paper and was unsuccessful and ended up writing the directions on the white frame of the closest newspaper, she said I would be receiving an e-mail from them later that day. I was so excited! I wrote up my cover letter and my reference page. Thinking about what I was going to wear and I knew that this job was going to pay enough for me to stay on track with my budget.
I checked my e-mail over and over that day waiting for the e-mail so that I could see if there was any extra information on how to arrive there since my chicken scratch on the newspaper was confusing even to me. I didn't seem to get an e-mail from the agency but I did get this e-mail from some insurance company saying how they are looking forward to meeting with me at our appointed interview time. I was so confused, I let Nathan look at it and asked him what he thought that meant because I KNEW I hadn't made an interview with them. I decided to call the number that called me earlier, it was after hours and as I expected it went to the company voicemail. Well, turns out the same company that e-mailed me was the same company that called me. Wow... how the heck did I just assume it was the foster care agency calling me. I suppose because I really had only put in for those 2 jobs and I think this company sort of called me after viewing my resume online and never even considered that an option. I started to feel uneasy about the interview because I had no idea what this company REALLY did. My boyfriend told me to go anyways to just check it out. I couldn't help but be disappointed but I figured I'd try it out. That morning I woke up and decided to Google more about this company. I type in "I worked for American Income" just to see if anything popped up. Well, it did and the first result was "American Income: a fraud?". I thought to myself, "GRRREAT!". I read a lot of comments of people that had tried the company and others that were thanking the people that let them know to not waste their time going to the interview where they only try to get you to join this company who actually IS a Fortune 500 company but its based on a pyramid sort of scheme, so it's based on making more people join and who knows having to invest money to take their test. Anyways, I had heard enough... this was obviously a waste of my time, gas, and energy. I told Nathan I wasn't going to go because it was a bogus company. He text me back saying I should go anyways but just not to buy anything if they wanted to sell me anything. GOSH... I didn't see the sense in it. He probably just wanted me to get out of the house and give me something to do. Well, I really didn't want to go but oh well... I decided to do it anyways.
So, I started to get ready and really putting more effort into looking nice for my driver's licence picture. So, I get ready and type in the address in my GPS system where it takes me straight over there without any problems. Well there was a problem, but not one that my GPS system could help me with. Parking... oh my goodness this is one of the things that can be very annoying about Hawaii... the lack of parking. I hardly ever have to deal with this issue because I have covered reserved parking for my apartment, I brag about this because sadly some apartments say that parking is not included. But the day of this interview I am in this unknown place with no parking spots left. I circled around so long and had to go around so many blocks to see if maybe I could walk to the office from a distance. But I couldn't even park far away, at this point I was irritated and decided to call the office to let them know I am unable to find parking and to see if they have any suggestions. Ring.. ring... voicemail picks up. OK, I'm sorry but if a company doesn't seem to have a receptionist than I don't want to work there. I left a message that I would be canceling my appointment due to the lack of parking. I really didn't care about this job so I was glad to finally get out of there.
I headed straight to retake my driver's written exam. I passed this time...phew. So, I have my Hawaiian driver's licence now which I think is cool except they took my Texas DL away.
So, no job yet...

Job hunting

I'm not going to lie, I admit I was taking it easy since I arrived in Hawaii. Getting a job was on my list of "things to do" but it was something I was going to get around to doing after I accomplished my priority of taking my much deserved break. I would say that the break is over now unfortunately and it is time to start looking for a job. I started thinking and realized that basically every job I have had was because of a connection I had. I never had to turn in a resume or get in my car and go from place to place. This inexperience of acquiring a job makes it that much more difficult. I can't even hop in my car and drive around to areas I think might have openings because well... I'm in Hawaii and I don't know the area well.

I've posted my resume on a few websites that employers browse through (hope so at least). I've sent off a few resumes so hopefully I will get a nibble. It's difficult to get a job that pays enough to make sure all my bills are paid every month. It's even harder finding a job that wants people with 2+ years experience working in an office setting. I obviously have no office experience and I'm having a hard time selling myself with my elementary education degree. I say I'm having a hard time, but I just started these past couple of says so maybe I'm being too hard on myself because I haven't heard from an employer yet. Anyways, I hope someone sees my potential and can give me an opportunity at proving that my skills as a teacher can transfer to an office job as well. So keep me in your prayers that I find a good job.

Feel 16 yrs old all over again...

I am having flashbacks of my driver's ed days in high school. Ask anyone who was privileged enough to drive with me during my driver's ed class and they will tell you that they were probably scared for their life! I wouldn't blame them I was probably the only one who went to driver's ed who had no idea how to actually drive. Everyone knows how to drive when they take the class, they just take it to get their licence. But somehow my parents didn't know this and sent me off clueless to these courses. Of all the cars that were on the lineup to drive for the sessions, I get stuck with the only VAN. I panicked when I heard my name knowing that I was going to drive this huge vehicle. I brushed it off and figured I would be OK to learn in a bigger vehicle and then transition to a smaller one. There were 2 other students who were lucky like me and got stuck with this van. The instructor takes us to a neighborhood to drive and then it comes to my turn. The two other students in the van already knew how to drive, they didn't ask any questions just listened to the instructor on where to go. So yeah... it was my turn and I sit in the driver's seat with a lot of anxiety. I looked at the instructor and said, "I don't know how to drive". And he said, "That's what we are here for, so you can learn". OK this man didn't understand what I was saying... like I didn't know which one was the gas and which one was the brake much less knew anything else. So, someone else took over the wheel and drove me to a parking lot where I had to drive around in a parking lot. Driver's Ed was quite terrifying for me and all those that were in the van with me. My instructor had to use the brake on his side at least one time that I know of and that was because he had to SLAM on them or else I would hit a parked car because I accidentally stepped on the gas instead of the brakes while trying to park. Then the next day, my instructor had me reverse behind a moving train. The other 2 students in the back were literally praying for their life and believe it or not there is still more driving ed stories. Oh the good ol' days... but back to my point.

In a couple of months my driver's license was going to expire and I needed to get a Hawaiian one. I hopped in my car, turned on my GPS system that led me to where I needed to renew my licence. I made sure to look nice, I even straightened my hair so that I would have a nice picture. I get there expecting to just pose and go. But oh no... they made me take a written exam. So yeah... this is where I felt like a 16 yr old all over again. I had to go in this room filled with young teens. I start to get really nervous because some of the questions were phrased in a confusing way and some of these signals they were referring to (which no picture was provided) I had never even seen in Texas. I turn in my form and genuinely nervous that I fail. They call me up... yup I failed. Hmmm back to feeling 16 again... I failed my first driver's test, go figure haha. So I looked over all the questions again and my answers so that next Friday I can pass. Then I'll have a Hawaiian licence which for some weird reason I think is cool.

Oh and may I add that my GPS system has saved my life. I purchased one here because Hawaiian highways and streets are not like in Texas... it can get complicated. I get lost in my own hometown so... yeah Nathan said I didn't have much of a choice but to purchase one and it has been the best investment EVER!