[bptoo]

Did I mention YEAH BABY!!!

I got home from work, checked in with my wife, all the normal stuff. The phone rings...It's a company in San Jose called Boston Scientific. I had sent in a resume a few weeks ago for the position of Document Control Specialist II. That's a level below what I'm qualified for, but in this job market I'll take what I can get. The lady I spoke with described the position (I have all the needed qualifications) and asked if I would be interested in interviewing with them. I could hardly contain myself...

Some of you may be asking why I'm so excited over this. Well, almost three years ago the company I was working for went under. It was my dream job, excellent pay, corner office with windows, a great group of people to work with. My life has gone steadily downhill jobwise since then. As Willow can attest to, I am a workaholic. In the time since losing that job, I've had one interview despite sending out more resumes than I can count. I found a job as a contract laborer about 2 1/2 months after the other company folded, but it's been a nightmare. The only saving grace about this job is that I have been able to pay my bills. I get no medical insurance (fortunately my wife does), no pay for holidays, no vacation accrual, no 401k, nada. Just a paycheck. The man who is my direct supervisor treats me like dirt...on good days. I think I've made the point.

The lady I spoke with said that all the major players that I would be talking to are on business trips next week, so my interview is set for Feb 9th. This will give me 9 whole days to work myself into a frenzy, get my anxiety to an all time high, convince myself that I don't stand a chance, etc, etc, etc.

So what I need from all of you is lots of good thoughts, prayers if you pray, rub the rabbit's feet, touch the buddah's belly, do your thing with the magic crystals, toss a coin in a fountain, anything you can do will help.

There are 10 others in the running for this job. Odds are I won't get it, but I'm cautiously optimistic that this is a good sign that the job market is starting to strengthen. There have been several openings in my fields lately.

I gotta stay focused. I can do this job, I just need to convince them of that...

Hugs to my gang,
bp

"You might as well learn to like yourself; you have an awful lot of time to spend with you."

[Fuzzybear]

This job sounds really great bp, I hope you get it and I know you will do a terrific job!!!!! I will keep sending positive thoughts across the ocean! (special strong swimmer thoughts ..)..

Love,
Fuzzy xxxx

[inkblot]

Wow, congrat's BP and hugs to YOU!!! I sure hope you get this job and it works out the greatest for you! You're getting me in to a frenzy just thinking about it--I'm so happy and excited for and with you!

Much love and happieness,
inkblot

[SundaysChild]

Like the Little Engine would say "I think I can... I think I can... I think I can..." you keep saying that to yourself while the rest of us do what we do when we wish the best for someone so dear as you.



"It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived."

[dexter]

bptoo - FOLLOW YOUR BLISS

You can get this job. You may have better odds than the other candidates because you have skills and experience beyond what is needed. You're fully qualitified for this job with some extra knowledge that will be to their advantage and give you room for growth within the company... to everyone's advantage.

Think positive!

And GOOD LUCK!

-- The world is what we make of it --
-- Dave
-- <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.idexter.com>http://www.idexter.com</A>

[Peanut61]

Congrats, BP - This is very exciting news. Keep us posted. Warmest regards, Peanut

<font color=blue>HI FROM PEANUT</font color=blue>

[PlanningtoLive]

I'm so happy for you, Bp. I know you can do this job, just make them realize what an asset you will be to their company.

I can relate to the workaholic title - I do the same thing. Hopefully the market is getting better.

You can and will succeed - I'll be keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you...........xoxoxox

[DocJohn]

Congratulations on the great news and I wish you all the best in your interview. As long as you keep an optimistic attitude, I believe that anything is possible... Good luck!

[heatherm]

Yeah baby is right!!!!!!!

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Bp}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

I am so excited for you!!!!!! I am touching the Buddha's belly....rubbing the rabbit's foot.....dropping every coin in my purse and robbing the kids piggy banks to put in the fountain!!!!

Let us know how it goes!!! I am almost out of my seat here!

Love you hun and I know you will do so well!


Heather

[LadyDragus]

woohoo yippeee. and Yahoo..

I am so so so happy for you Bptoo..

OH will rub my rabbits foot and the budda's bellie I will have to find one to rub for you, but I will.. i will pray for this job for you. I so hope you can get it..YOu are such a wonderful person. and if you go into that interveiw thinkgin postive thougts no one can be better than you.. but you...

<font color=purple>The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost.
- G.K. Chesterton
<font color=purple>

[bptoo]

Thanks everyone! Like I said, even if this doesn't pan out, I feel very positive that this is a good sign that the market is starting to make a comeback. It's been in such horrible shape for such a long time. California used to be the place to work if you wanted to make serious money, especially the Silicon Valley. Now most of the buildings there are empty, it's really very sad.

I've started doing my homework. I've been to the company website and started to research their product line, study the company history, find out who the major players are and what they do there. It really impresses a potential employer if you can ask questions and talk intelligently about the company during the interview. They also use a DC (Doc Control) software called Agile Anwhere. I used to be an Administrator and Super User for that software. They use a version 8.0, and my experience stops ay version 7.0. So I contacted a friend at Agile, and he's going to send me all the new info on the new version so I can talk like I know what I'm doing .

Funny thing, I went to look to see which suit I wanted to ear for the interview, and since I went on this weight loss kick, I found that neither of my suits fit me now . So, I either have to get one altered, or bite the bullet and buy a new one.

I'm sorry gang, I'm super wired over this whole thing. Hopefully I'll mellow out before the interview gets here. If I start getting on your nerves, just tell me to shut the H*** up! I won't get offended, I promise.

Thanks again for being there for me just like you always are. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have y'all to turn to. Hope I never have to find out.

Love to all,
Greg

"You might as well learn to like yourself; you have an awful lot of time to spend with you."

[dexter]

bptoo keep thinking positively, I think you have a great chance at this job but your optimistic and realistic outlook on other opportunities will only benefit you in the long run.

I've never used Agile software but at the screen printing shop where i was working most of our customers used Agile for document control. I think that having experience and talent with Agile will be a huge benefit for you to emphasize. I base this on the fact that almost NONE of our customers were using the software properly. At our shop we kept our own informal database of current versions of customer artwork and I can't tell you how many times we were sent artwork files direct from the customers that were obsolete versions. Luckily we checked with the customers and we usually had the proper file already on hand. It was a great service benefit that we provided. But isnt' that exactly what the Agile system was supposed to take care of for them??? It was very frustrating sometimes because we would have to argue with some buyer to convince them that what they were ordering was incorrect. Of course on occassion we would just have to print the incorrect file, ship it, and let the customer figure it out for themselves. But we tried to pride ourselves on getting the correct stuff out the first time.

I remember one customer who did not have an Agile system in place, we took care of their document versions (just for the stuff we printed, mostly labels for equipment, so they still had to keep all of the other documentation in order.) About a year ago they told us they were putting in an Agile system. I anticipated the possiblity of their work becoming a headache, and sure enough we started having to carefully watch the work we did from them for incorrect information from their system.

My point is that any sort of system like that is only as good as the people using it... the people admistering it and the users supplying the data. If this is a skill you have it will be of great benefit to them! (Make sure they know that!!!)

Again, good luck!

-- The world is what we make of it --
-- Dave
-- <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.idexter.com>http://www.idexter.com</A>

[darkeyes]

Congrats!!
Don't under estimate your chances, don't sell yourself short!
It is good not to set your hopes too high, but don't defeat yourself in this possible opportunity, it may happen, it is time, eh?
You know how things go up and down, it just may be the "up" time, so keep "good thoughts", positive energy can influence things you know.
I am sending you some "positive energy" over to the west coast, my friend, and will keep it flowing.
I am sending you my hearfelt good wishes for lots of love and luck

DE

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON

[(JD)]

It sure is good to have hope for you.! Remember, since you are "over qualified" they will need to be sure you will stay, and not be bored. It sounds like having worked under the conditions you have (state them correctly you will) they can believe you will! Good luck!

...I can misspeak like the best of us

[Rapunzel]

This is good news! I am happy for you, and confident that you are qualified and have a good chance of actually getting the job. I know ath you can do this!

[mj14]

Hmmm.....

www.woohoo.com ???

Seriously, beep, congratulations on the interview. I have all the faith in the world in you.

*hugs*
Jo

[bptoo]

or.... www.hugsloveandkisses.com

Thanks. I'm going to do my best and see what happens. It's just a good feeling to actually have an interview. I was beginning to think that the job postings were somebody's idea of a bad joke...

Love ya,
bp

"You might as well learn to like yourself; you have an awful lot of time to spend with you."

[Willow]

Wow! WOWWWWW! WOWWWWWWWWIEEEEEEE! Congrats BP!!! You are gonna make it... and San Jose sounds like a great place to live. Ya know... sometimes stepping into something below your ability helps during an adjustment period and then when they realize your ability you can be promoted more quickly. That happened to me at my present job. Unfortunately, it hasn't meant all that much more money, but oh well. I needed to start small to build confidence. Keep us up to date. When is the interview?

HUGGGGGGGSSSSSSS
You workaholic you!

[bptoo]

Ooohhh, she's excited too!!! We workaholics think alike, don't we Willow !

My interviews (emphasis on the viewsssssss) start at 9am next Monday morning. I have 6 of them scheduled to last 45 minutes each, except for the last one which is with the head honcho (don't worry, I know his real name) set for an hour. I've just filled my Zyprexa AND my Klonopin, and I'm hoping that between them and really doing a LOT of homework on this, I'll be about as ready as I can get. My theory about doing a job has always been that you do whatever needs to be done. I don't believe in the "It's not in my job description" stuff. If I need to push a broom to work my way up, just tell me where you keep it.

Or, as my almost 14 year old son said to me yesterday after thrashing me at a Playstation game, "Dad, do you remember what you used to tell me in Little League all the time? It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game. But winning IS a lot more fun..." He's going a long way in the business world. You guys would really like Brandon, he is SO his Father's son.

Can you believe it's February already? And a leap year, that's a very good sign

Love ya Willow,
bp

"You might as well learn to like yourself; you have an awful lot of time to spend with you."

[Willow]

Love ya too BP...
Last time I had multiple interviews... actually I had a panel interview... I had a panic attack. Glad you have the meds to help. I wasn't on meds yet at the time. Whew... I'll be praying for you. I have flutterbys just thinking about it!

[yokus]

Hey that's great bp!!!!! I'm really happy for you.

[angel04]

Ah, you know how much luck grabbin stuff I'll do between now and then hun. Everything I can think of. I'll even start up some wiccan chanting if it will help although I'm going to have to get a book out of this library I'm sitting in to teach me how to do just that. hehe
Anyway, you know I'll be thinking of you and I know you'll do great in the interview and subsequent corporation-required hoops you'll have to jump through.
I'm happy for you. Try to keep your opinion of yourself high cuz we all think the world of you so you should too.
love and luck
Angel

"man's belief that he is the only intelligent being has not done him good" JRR Tolkien