Cordelia's Mom, Still

Office Dynamics (Still Waiting, Darn It)

Posted on July 20, 2016 by cordeliasmom2012

It was foolish, I know. I may be unemployed in just a couple of weeks and should be watching every penny.

This morning, I had my car inspected (passed – yay!), and then invited Cordelia to lunch (my treat). Cordelia was unavailable so I had the afternoon free. My route home from the dealership takes me past Premier Wine & Spirits (humongous store), and somehow my car just decided to turn into that lot.

If I’m going to be unemployed, I won’t be able to afford wine. I’m currently employed and just paid off my credit card, and I have money in savings. Maybe I should stock up NOW while I still can.

Of course.

And naturally, once unemployed – and having already applied to every friggin’ employer within 50 miles of home – I will have all that time on my hands.

Hence, books.

Hopefully, it won’t come to that.

But I’m still waiting. Great interviews last week, no offers yet this week. My boss still thinks I will be receiving an offer from his golfing buddy, Attorney X (“It just takes time,” he said, “it doesn’t happen overnight.” Well, dammit, it should! How long does it take to recognize expertise?)

In desperation, I left a message for Attorney Z on Monday, simply asking him to call (I swear that’s all I said in that message. and I was careful to keep the begging sound out of my voice!). He still has not returned the call. I think I might have scared him off. Damn.

I had an optimistic phone interview 5 minutes ago – until the salary question came up. Minimum wage for a hard-working real estate paralegal with 18 years experience? I think not.

Although it could come to that. I can just see my salary requirements dropping dramatically a month or so from now.

Meanwhile, I wait.

Thank you for sharing my pain. For all our sakes, I hope it ends soon.

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I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com

__________

Image by Cordeia’s Mom

Posted in That's Life | Tagged books, job hunting, Premier Wine & Spirits, unemployment, wine, working | 37 Comments

Office Dynamics (The Hunt Continues)

Posted on July 14, 2016 by cordeliasmom2012

Has it really been only a week (click here)? It seems like ten years!

On Monday, the boss came into my office and told me definitely that his new firm has no place for me. He then proceeded to rant about the existing files and how I should work overtime to finish them up. To which I replied, “Um, you just terminated me. I’ll do what I can, but I’m not working overtime.” What’s he going to do, fire me? I wish.

I tried calling Attorney Y to follow up on my candidacy, but got no answer. In a bit of a panic, I called the guy who was supposed to become my second part-time employer (according to Attorney Y). Said second part-time employer (the attorney who had passed my resume to Attorney Y) politely told me he had not heard a thing about this from Attorney Y, and in fact, barely had enough work to keep his own staff busy. He finished up with, “I’m going next door right now and talk to him.” Somehow, I don’t think the conversation went well. The second part-time employer did commiserate with me and said he would continue to try to help me find something.

On Tuesday, my agency recruiter called to advise she might have a firm interested and would set up an interview “if I want.” Um, wasn’t that why I went to see her to begin with? While the salary will be within reason, the firm is downtown – and also happens to be a firm I interviewed with about 18 years ago, and I didn’t like it then. But what the heck, I don’t want to be unemployed, so I agreed to let the recruiter contact them on my behalf. To date, I have not heard back.

Come Wednesday, I was feeling a little depressed because all I had on the horizon was the upcoming interview with Attorney X (by now, five people had warned me against working for the lunatic).

Imagine my surprise when my cell phone rang, and the caller was an attorney I know from closings at the County Clerk’s Office, stating he had my resume and could I come talk to him? Hell, yeah. I took an early lunch and drove out to the burbs. (Let’s call this gentleman Attorney Z, and hope I get a job before I have to start at the beginning of the alphabet.)

Best interview ever! An expanding firm with need of someone with my experience to act as an “anchor” (in the attorney’s words). A very relaxed office atmosphere despite the busy client calendar. I would have staff to do the scut work, and the attorney and his partner would do all the closings. We dickered a bit on 5-days a week vs. 4 days, and exactly what the salary would be (pretty damn close to what I’m making now!). Extremely heavy work load, but with staff to assist me, I believe it’s do-able. And only 15 minutes from home! The attorney said he would speak with his partner and get back to me. He stressed that he was impressed by my extensive experience in buy-sell. The last thing Attorney Z said to me before I left was, “This could work! Thanks so much for coming in!”

Needless to say, I went back to the office after lunch with a smile on my face.

After work on Wednesday, I drove back to the burbs to meet with the infamous Attorney X. As soon as I walked into the office, I felt intimidated – the reception area looked like something out of a movie.

Attorney X is an old-school kind of guy, very much all business, but I liked him, especially when the salary question came up. I told him my current salary and that I would need insurance, but that I could add onto my husband’s policy for a reasonable amount. The attorney replied, “Would you have any objection to us just paying you more?” I actually lost my ability to speak for a moment as I contemplated why any sane person would ever say no to that question. Attorney X agreed to 4 days a week so long as he got to pick which day and that it was always the same day of the week, but that it would never be Monday or Friday as those are busy real estate days. So, let’s see – same money as I’m making now, same 4-day work week? I’m down with that.

At Attorney X’s firm, I would be doing exactly what I do now – handle buy/sell files from start to finish, with no staff; I would have to do all my own copying, document preparation, and attend closings in at least two counties. But the case load, while heavy, would be a third of what Attorney Z requires.

Attorney X walked me to the elevator after the interview and expressed concern about the left turn onto busy Sheridan Drive during rush hour. I was touched, and reassured him that I’m not a timid driver (stop snickering, people!).

Today (Thursday), I decided that since I bought all those nice new clothes for a job that didn’t materialize, I might as well start wearing them so that I would be interview-ready at all times (plus, I hate to waste money).

After lunch, my boss came in to announce that now the firm wouldn’t officially disband until August 12, and I could stay if I hadn’t found another job. I told him I might not be staying past the end of July. (And I’m still not working overtime, although I didn’t say that).

Shortly after, my boss came to me and happily exclaimed, “You’re going to work for [Attorney X]?” Say what? I am? How could he know before I even got an offer? Well, of course, since he and Attorney X are golfing buddies, Attorney X had just called my boss for the nitty gritty on me! And apparently, an offer may soon appear.

But damn, I’d really rather work for Attorney Z. Hopefully, he’ll call.

Meanwhile, I have resumes flying all over the city and most of the suburbs, and it seems I have a whole string of new friends helping me search.

And now I wait – again. I can’t imagine being unemployed for weeks or months. It would drive me bonkers!

Stay tuned. Unless the fates are really against me, I should have some good news for the next post!

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I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitters pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com.

__________

Image by Cordelia’s Mom

Posted in That's Life | Tagged employment, job hunting, law firms, unemployment, working | 38 Comments

Bitter-Sweet: The Liebster Award (Re-Blog)

Posted on July 13, 2016 by cordeliasmom2012

I’ve learned that another blogger wishes to nominate me for the Liebster Award, not knowing I had already been nominated and had to decline. When I re-read this post this morning, it made me laugh (and lord, do I need laughter right now!). Maybe you’ll find it amusing, too. Happy Hump Day to everyone!

Cordelia's Mom, Still

Recently, I’ve seen a lot of bloggers nominated for the Liebster Award. Since one of the requirements for all of the blogger awards is that the newest nominee then go on to nominate a number of other bloggers, each time I would come across an acceptance post by a new nominee, I would excitedly check to see if I was among the that blogger’s nominations. Alas, ’twas not to be.

And I was beginning to feel unappreciated and diminished. Heck, those other nominations had blogs no better than mine – why wasn’t I being chosen? Why was I still standing alone on the sideline, with eyes screaming “Pick me! Pick m-e-e-e-e-!“?

Then along came Kim Scaravelli of Stuff My Dog Taught Me. This morning, she included me among her nominations for the coveted Liebster Award.

And guess what? I don’t qualify.

What, you say? How is…

View original post 931 more words

Posted in Awards, Humor, Re-Blogs, That's Life | Tagged blogging, Liebster Award | 5 Comments

Office Dynamics (The Hunt Begins)

Posted on July 10, 2016 by cordeliasmom2012

The first of our employees has left. Sure, we’ve had people leave, some recently, but this was the first person who left due to dissolution of the firm.

What a cry fest it was! No crying at the goodbye luncheon – that went very well as everyone recounted their days at the firm (the bosses did not attend, so we could speak freely). But at the end of the day, tears abounded as our friend, a female attorney (who had been with the firm for more than 20 years), packed up her car with the last of her personal items.

A second employee, a secretary (with the firm 19 years), will be leaving at the end of next week. The rest of us are still scrambling.

Not everyone in our office has gotten along over the years, but now that we’re all in the same boat and facing a defined end to our employment, we’re pulling for and helping each other as much as possible. No one wants to see a co-worker unemployed on July 29.

At this point, many of you are thinking,

“That’s all well and good, CookieCakes, but how the hell are you doing in your own job hunt?”

Thank you for asking.

It was just before lunch on Friday, July 1 when the bomb was dropped on me. I had closings that afternoon at the County Clerk’s Office – while there, I began my networking, passing out a number of resumes and obtaining a number of leads. I was told by several people that Attorney X had an opening and pays well, but to stay away because he’s horrible to work for (hello, no one can be worse than my current boss – he’s a screamer and occasionally throws things!)

Upon returning to the office, I emailed some more resumes to attorneys I’ve worked with and then left for the long holiday weekend.

Arriving at work Tuesday morning, I found a return email from an attorney I admire, indicating that she would call me. I then received a call from an agency, with whom I set up an interview.

Next, I sent out a couple of more emails (including Attorney X), and within minutes, received a return email from Attorney X that simply said, “I want to talk to you. Call me.” I did, and set up an interview, which unfortunately won’t be until July 13 due to his busy schedule.

Meanwhile, my boss came to me in mid-morning and said he would be hearing from his new firm “today” with regards to my employment and salary package. I just smiled and replied something to the effect of “Whoever gets to me first.” I had already told him I need to see something in writing from the new firm before making a commitment.

My agency interview was set for Wednesday morning. As I drove into work that day, my cell phone rang – it was the attorney (let’s call him Attorney Y) who has just hired the secretary in our office, and he needs someone with real estate experience! He received my resume from another attorney. Our departing secretary had raved about how well her own interview went, and she is very excited about her upcoming new job. My phone conversation with Attorney Y went exceptionally well. How could I lose? I set up an interview for Friday morning.

The agency interview was a bust. Turns out I have way more contacts that the recruiter does – I had already directly contacted nearly every employer she suggested. So basically, I paid $5 in parking and wasted an entire lunch period. Oh, well, can’t win them all.

Late Wednesday, I received the call from the attorney who had emailed over the weekend. As it turns out, she only has an opening for a secretary in a field other than mine, and while she’d love to find a place for me, we agreed it simply wouldn’t work out at this time. But now she’s helping me look, too – ain’t networking wonderful? However, she cautioned me, “Just don’t go to Attorney X, he’s terrible.” Say what? A colleague is telling me he’s a lunatic? Ah well, I’m not cancelling the July 13 interview.

Friday morning came. My interview with Attorney Y was at 9:00 am. I got there early and drove around to acclimate myself to the neighborhood – a perfect location! Only a 20 minute drive on major roadways – eventually, I could probably start going home for lunch again.

The interview was fantastic. He saw no problem with me continuing my 4-day work week, and daily hours could be 9-5, 8:30-4:30, or whatever, so long as the work got done. Definitely someone I could work with and for, and enjoy it.

Then came the salary discussion.

Turns out Attorney Y only has need for a part-time real estate paralegal and therefore, could not come even close to my current salary requirements.

However – and it’s a big however – the attorney who had passed along my resume shares office space with Attorney Y and also needs a real estate paralegal. Perhaps, if I was willing, they could find some way to structure an arrangement whereby I would work for both of them? “If I was willing?” – hell yeah, bring it on!

It was left that Attorney Y would talk to his colleague over the weekend and get back to me on Monday (tomorrow).

And so I wait.

Meanwhile, when I got back to the office on Friday, I had a phone conversation with yet another attorney concerning a current deal. During the course of the conversation, I mentioned I was a little stressed because I’m in the middle of job hunting, and his immediate reaction was, “Email me!” Which, of course, I did.

By the end of Friday, still no official word from my boss’s new firm as to whether they want me.