Job hunting and corporate America

As if finding a job in a bum economy wasn't bad enough, enter corporate America. Recently, while searching through job listings through an online source, if came across a job that is fitting. While the job requires my background, it is a different line of work than what I am used to. I have been in construction for nearly 10 years. This new job, while still "construction" oriented, is in a hardware store. A "Corporate America" hardware store.
I am a master electrician in Colorado. Not a great achievement, but for my age when I reached that rank, it was. So as I applied to a big box hardware store for a job as their electrical professional, I assumed it would be an easy gig to get. Little did I know, just how much there really is to obtaining a position in "Corporate America."
First there was the online application. That was pretty standard as far as a job application is concerned. Then came the interview. This is where things began to get weird, to me at least. I went to the location for the interview, met with the HR manager. I proceeded with a regular job interview, or so I thought.
When I was finished with the HR manager, she took me to a computer. There I was instructed to complete what seemed like a physcological evaluation. 36 pages of questions, over and over. Pretty much the same question was asked, with different wording, several times. When I was finished with that bs, I was interviewed by another woman.
The second woman, seemed to be a manager of some sort. She was very cordial, and fairly open with me. That interview was based mostly on my past jobs, and relevant experience to the position that I was being considered for. When she was finished with me, she escorted me back to the HR manager.
Once back in the HR manager's office, I was then given a pre-employment drug screen, orally. That's new to me, an oral drug test. She then made me sign my life away, in regards to the drug test, and explained the remaining process. I didn't know that there was a remaining process. I thought I was done. Hell no!
I was then informed, that upon the results of my drug test, (should I pass). I will by the way. That there would be yet another interview. This time by the store manager. Should I manage to get through the entire interview process, I might actually have a job again. A job that I might enjoy a little more than some other jobs in the past.
You see, this job is in a store. The same store, everyday. Heated, and air conditioned. Where, I am used to being outside in the cold, Colorado winters. As well as indoors, during the hot, arid, Colorado desert summers. This job is the Electrical Department Manager, in a big box type hardware/home improvement store. I won't tell you which one, but there really are only 2 of that nature nationwide. I think that I will like it, if I manage to get through all the red tape.

Hello 2010!

Happy New Year everyone! I find it amusing how this day each year, or each new year, as it is referred to, people set goals for themselves. That isn't the amusing part however, because setting goals and reaching them is a key to success. What is amusing is that people often set goals, or "resolutions" that often get lost in time. However well intentioned a new years resolution may be, they are rarely written down, or repeated on a daily basis. This is how they often end up in Limbo!
I have a new years resolution of my own this year. This year it is a goal that is different than any others that I have ever set. This year, I would like to become "organized!" What is different about the resolution this year, is that it is a resolution for my whole family, instead of just myself. This is a resolution that can be quantitatively measured. The ability to measure a goal, is a very important aspect of setting goals. There is no point in setting a goal that you can't measure your progress of.
Each day, I set about to go through a "junk" drawer, or box that has been laying around for years. My ultimate goal really, is to be able to park two cars in my garage. There are many benefits to this goal, which offers meaning to the resolution. The first and foremost of course, is that Stephanie and I will each have a warm car to get into each cold winter morning. No more needing to warm cars, or brush off snow in the morning.
Other benefits include the simple fact that because we are young and still do not own our home, we will eventually move again. Being organized will improve our moving efficiency, and reduce the stress involved in the painstaking process. Another plus to organization is that we can rid ourselves of items that we no longer use, or clothes that we no longer fit into or wear. By donating these items to a local charity, rather than having a 'yard sale' we benefit with a tax right off that is larger than the cash we would otherwise receive at a 'yard sale'. The charity then benefits also, by having items they can sell to raise money for their goals.
This last benefit that I will mention today, is the one that is really the most important to me. This is really the abstract benefit, that most definitly can be measured, but isn't always apparent. Being organized with our home and belongings will reduce the time spent hunting for things when we need them, eliminate clutter about the house. Both of those items being reduced will reduce time spent cleaning, and mulling around wondering what to do with something. Once everything has a home, and everything is in its home, I will have more time to spend with my family, friends, and myself. Generally in that order by priority.
Having recently moved to a new location many miles from my last home, now is the perfect time to get organized. While unpacking our things, finding homes for the stuff that we want to keep. Finding something to do with the things that we don't want to keep. Furthermore, re-evaluating hobbies too!
In closing, there are many ways that I would like to spend my time. Looking around my house at a cluttered mess is definitly not one of them. So this new year, I resolve to get organized, and spend my precious spare time doing the things that I LIKE to do. Hunting, fishing, blogging, and spending time with my family.