Tag: work

So.. about that university job…

Yeah, I don’t have it any more.  I completed my 90 day probationary period, and they decided not to keep me.  Needless to say I was stunned.  The general consensus seems to be that there was some sort of personality conflict.  Certainly my boss never warmed to me at all.

So anyway, now I am back to looking for work again, and as you can imagine, I am just thrilled about it (not).  At least Kelly has had a lot of good interviews lately.  I am going to try to keep working on more certifications, and personal networking, and whatever else I can do to keep me busy and constructive.

-Geoff

Phew, that’s a relief.

It looks like the job hunt is picking back up for me.  I had an interview on May 27th that I thought went really well but I hadn’t heard back from them so I sort of assumed that nothing was to come of it.  Then yesterday they called and asked to see me next Monday for an interview with the President of the company.  That was cool.  Sort of out of the blue, but cool.

This was very much on the heels of last week when I applied for a job with the Federal Government (!) and the day after I applied I got a call from the singularly nicest individual I have ever worked with in all of the job interviews I have ever had.  Ever.  She arranged a phone interview for me for today.  I just finished with the phone interview/teleconference.  They actually told me in the interview that I had all the qualifications that they were looking for.  All of them.  That’s never happened to me before.

And, this job sounds like fun.  Well, fun in the sense that it would have me doing the analytical and people interactive stuff that I like to do.  Most people would probably hate it, but I’m weird that way.  Oh, and they told me in the interview that I’d hear by the end of the week about the next step.  Very exciting, I love a hard and fast deadline.

I’m going to go ahead and apply to some other things this afternoon and tomorrow anyway.  But I am hoping this one comes through.  Being a Federal employee would NOT suck.

~Kelly

More good news

As some of you may know, I teach part time at the Museum of Science here in Boston.  My excellent boss turned over the review of the St. John Passion concert to the PR department.  Apparently they like to have little blurbs about employees to publish.  They may be publishing something about the concert in an upcoming blurb somewhere.  Stay tuned!

~Kelly

The new job so far

Well, I figured I had better put something up about the new job, so here it is.

So far, I am really, really loving it. Despite having to wear a tie every day (usually a suit in my case) it is quite laid back and everyone is just so friendly. I share an office with my coworker who is also a security analyst, and that is actually a good thing because the room is fairly large and a lot of other people have cubicles. But because of the nature of our work we have to have an office with a door that locks. But we have a fair bit of freedom, and so I will be bringing some personal touches to my office. I will probably hold back from going hog wild just yet, because we are going to be moving into another building in a couple of months and I don’t want to have too much stuff to pack. But the school is really great, and I am getting to do the kind of work I have always wanted to do in IT. They are already talking about me doing some classes for new users at some point, and they are also going to help me get more certifications. I will probably have my EnCase Certified Examiner certificate before the end of the year, as well as my Security+ and possibly my Linux+. There are some other certifications they want me to get as well, and of course I want to eventually get the big kahuna, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional, or CISSP.

 

Anyway, my first day (yesterday) was spent just trying to get everything set up.  I have a desktop computer with 2 monitors, a laptop computer, a company cell phone (an iPhone), all sorts of software and permissions that have to be set up, plus keys, my school ID, my school employee ID, my access key card,  my parking permit, and all the normal HR stuff.  So far we have finally managed to get my laptop and desktop up and running but the SIM card for my iPhone seems to be missing and my voice mail for my office phone is still screwed up.  But despite all the expected craziness, I am having a great time.  The campus is surrounded by all sorts of interesting places – restaurants, stores, landmarks, you name it.  My boss took our “department” (there are only three of us) out to lunch yesterday and it was nice.  And so I will be spending a lot of time getting to know the university and all of its quirks and ins and outs.  But it is really exciting.  I have a lot to look forward to I think.  I am going to learn so much in this job, and it is going to be so much fun.

And just think… in a couple of years I may be able to start graduate school.  For free.

-Geoff

FINALLY! A JOB!!!

I just got word this morning that I am being hired as an IT Security Analyst by a prominent local university.  I cannot tell you how excited I am, for all sorts of reasons.  It will be good to be employed again, and the fact that I will be in a permanent position at a university (and that it pays more than what I made at my previous job)  just makes it all the better.  Right now it looks like my first day will be in mid-March.  They will be contacting me with more information and sending me my orientation packet soon.  The university HR department is going to conduct an orientation program at some point for new employees, and obviously I will be attending that.

-Geoff

My interview rocked!

I had my interview at Major Boston Area Music School yesterday and it went really well.  I’d be downright shocked if they don’t call me back for an interview with the higher-ups next week.  They’re looking to hire for 3/1 which would mean NO MORE COBRA PAYMENTS.  The man I interviewed with yesterday would be my boss and we got along well.  I was there for an hour and twenty minutes.  I think, based on what I observed, that they’ve narrowed it down to probably me and one other person.  But, that could be wishful thinking.

Anyway, keep your fingers crossed.  As soon as I know if I’ve got the next interview I’ll post here.

~Kelly

Latest goings on

Things seem to be moving along with the job search.  I had that interview on Friday and it seemed to go rather well.  Also, the university I really want to work for is checking my references and doing background checks, so I would say that looks like it is going well also.  Like I said, hopefully I will have an answer within the next few weeks.

Yesterday I was asked by a member of our church if I could help out with the Cub Scout Pack that is affiliated with our church.  I said that I would gladly help, and then we talked a bit about things that I might be able to help with.  He didn’t know that I was once an Eagle Scout, so when I told him that he was even more pleased.

Speaking of Eagle Scouts, I myself was quite pleased to see this recently, a young man who was an Eagle Scout testify against discrimination in Iowa.  It is actually quite moving, and the young man was a superb speaker.

-Geoff

Maybe they didn’t forget about me after all

That university that I was REALLY hoping would hire me?  Well, it looks like they may just do that after all.  They called me to sign some release forms so they can do my background checks, and they asked for some of my references so they can go ahead and talk to those people too.   It is my understanding that they only do this for the people that they have decided to hire, so that has got to be a good thing.  Who knows, maybe I will have a job offer within the next two or three weeks?  Wouldn’t that be awesome?

Wish me luck!

Geoff