I accepted the offer from my former employer to return to work for them full time. I still haven’t heard back from that one company where I had 2 interviews, but at this point, I don’t expect to (yeah … watch … I’ll get a call from them this afternooon. That would be just my luck.).

I will be starting tomorrow. I really hope this was the right decision. I really hope I don’t regret going back. Hopefully things work out.

But … I’m going to keep my eyes peeled for other opportunities just in case the *bleep* hits the fan again. I’m also going to keep working with C# to try to learn that. I actually haven’t done anything with that since the day I installed everything. I just haven’t been in the mood.

Mood: relieved   The Net

As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve been talking to my former employer about possibly doing contract work for them. I got an email from them earlier this afternoon offering me my old position back … full time work with benefits AND a $1/hr raise. I was NOT expecting that. I guess they really were happy with my work and want me back.

I told them I’d let them know by the end of the day tomorrow or Wednesday morning. I DO need some time to think about this. After all, I am waiting to hear back from that one company. But honestly … I am leaning towards accepting their offer … slightly.

I guess that shooting I star I saw on Wednesday nite when I was at the dog park with Barb really WAS a good omen.

Mood: chipper   Inside Nextel Cup

As you could probably tell, I didn’t have a good weekend. I was letting the stress about my job search get to me. I’m been trying to stay positive, but it’s been really hard. Especially because of finances … or should I say lack thereof. And then the end of yesterday’s race didn’t help any … LOL.

When I had my second interview last week, he said that they would have a decision by the end of the week or early this week. That they’d be calling the candidate that they chose and sending letters to the others who weren’t chosen. So … since I’m such a frickin’ pessimist, I was expecting to get the mail today and find a letter saying they gave the position to someone else. THEN I realize that there is no mail today since it’s Columbus Day. I know that I shouldn’t be so negative … but it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks …

As I’ve mentioned in a few past posts, I’ve been talking to my former employer about doing contract work for them. I talked to them briefly this morning on the phone. They’re just about ready to start working on the project.

I was in the process of writing up an email to send them (again) when I got a phone call. Almost a month ago, I had applied for a position at another company here in town. I filled out an application on their website and submitted my resume. It was a company where a former co-worker now works. That’s how I found out about the position. The job listing had a closing date of 2 weeks ago. I had kinda forgotten about it and just figured I wasn’t qualified enough for the position. It had mentioned perl and ASP.NET. Well … that phone call was for the company asking if I could come in for an interview … Of course I said yes. So … I have an interview on Thursday afternoon. Just when I thought I was out of options.

What I have to remind myself is that I have good experience. I have good skills. Some company would be lucky to have me. Espeically with my eagerness to learn new technologies and my ability to pick them up fairly quickly. I think I need to print that out and paper my apartment walls with it. LOL

Mood: hopeful   CNN Headline News

As I mentioned this past Monday, I was offered a postion but turned it down. It wasn’t the right opportunity for me. Accepting it would have prevented me from pursuing the opportunity that I feel IS right for me.

Now, because of that, my unemployment payments will be stopped “until they determine how the refusal of the opportunity affects my benefits”. I am SO SCREWED now. As things were WITH the unemployment payments, I was having issues paying my bills. Now I’m completely screwed. If this other opportunity falls through, I just don’t know what I’m going to do. No other company is gonna hire me ‘cuz they’re gonna be able to tell from my resume that I’m looking for work in another field and probably won’t stick around if I find it. Unless I can get some temp data entry work, I am so screwed. I just don’t know what to do. I just don’t know …

I should hear from the company I had a second interview with on Tuesday by the end of this week or early next week. I’m really hoping I’ll be offered the position, but I really don’t know at this point. I’m not sure how many other people are vying for the same position. If they do offer it, then the following won’t be an issue.

I mentioned previously that my former employer has contacted me regarding doing contract work for them. We’ve been emailing back and forth … me asking questions, him answering.

I’ve never done contract work before, so I don’t know what kinds of questions to ask or what to be concerned with. I do know that I would be responsible for:

1. paying my own taxes
2. taking care of my own health insurance
3. parking costs for working downtown

I did a quick search for information about doing contract work and taking care of taxes. I found this tidbit of information:

Life As a Contract Worker

Avoid Pitfalls

You’re smart to be concerned because there could be many pitfalls. First, are you really a contract worker or an employee? There are many “tests” for this but if you work on their premises during hours set by them ( e.g., at least four hours each day or whatever) and use their equipment (computer, copier, etc.), you’re an employee and should be paid as such (they pick up the employer’s share of payroll taxes). Also, don’t overlook the “hidden” costs of working transportation, clothing, meals, gifts, etc.

According to this … I would still be considered an employee since I would be going in to their office during normal business hours and using their computer (the one I used when I was there full-time).

I REALLY wish I knew an accountant. I’m not sure who I could talk to to find out for sure. And I don’t have money to talk to an actual perfessional person (hell … right now I don’t have money for food and it’s really tight for bills … unemployment money just doesn’t cover much).

Does anyone out there know anything about this or know anyone who does? I want to be fully informed before I agree to anything. And if the way things are would still qualify me as an “employee”, I don’t wanna get stuck paying taxes as a contractor when legally I don’t have to. I just don’t know. Guess I need to do more Google-ing.

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Mood: confused   ATWT

As I mentioned in my last post (point #1), I was offered a postion at a company here in town on Thursday. I just called them and turned down the offer. I REALLY hope that it wasn’t a mistake. I do have reasoning for what I did.

As I also mentioned in my last post (point #3), I have a second interview with the first company I had interviewed with tomorrow morning. This is the main reason that I turned down that job offer. If I had accepted that position, I couldn’t have went ahead with the other company. Or if I did and was offered a position, then I’d have to tell the other company that I was offered a position elsewhere that I would rather have. And that wouldn’t be polite or proper to do.

The company that had offered me a position isn’t a web design company. I would just be working on the company’s website. The company that I have the second interview with is a web design company. That’s one of the main reasons why I would rather be there.

But … what if after my second interview, the company doesn’t offer me the position. What if they give it to another candidate? That is what has me worried and scared. I don’t know what I would do then. I don’t really have any other web design/programming options after that. There just isn’t anything here in Fargo. And I don’t want to relocate.

I’m really scared that I screwed up. But I had to take a chance. I want this other job. And there’s no way I could have pursued it if I had taken that offer. I just have to think positive. I did NOT screw up. I did what was the best for me. I will be okay. Everything will work out. It has to …

Mood: worried   Froggy 99.9FM

I thought I’d give all 2 of you who read this blog (LOL) an update on my job search. There have been a few developments …

1. Yesterday, I was offered a position at the company I interviewed with on Tuesday. I’m thinking about it. I told him I would give them an answer on Monday. The biggest thing about this one is the pay cut I would be taking if I took the position. The pay rate is $2.50 less than what I was making when I left my last employer.
2. The opportunity to go back to my last employer fell through … at least for now. They’re still negotiating, but won’t have anything sorted out this week.
3. I got a response from the first company I interviewed with (2 weeks ago). They want me to come in for a second interview. He asked for times when I was available. I said this afternoon and again Monday … preferable in the morning. I haven’t heard back yet as to a time for this second interview.

So … I’ve got some options out there. I’m really glad I have an opportunity to have a second interview with the first company I interviewed with. I really liked that place. I’m not sure how many other candidates there are for the position there. I kinda wish I knew.

I guess I’ve got things to think about over the weekend. What to do about the job offer when I have another opportunity out there, but that I’m not sure of. Having a second interview is good … but it’s still not a sure thing.

Man … I hate life altering decisions … LOL.

Mood: unsure   Froggy 99.9FM

I’m one of those silly people who read my horoscope. I don’t believe them, but I do like reading them and hoping they pan out. On my Google homepage, I have 2 horoscopes. I really like one of them (from CaliforniaPsychics.com) today, especially the highlighted part. Maybe this will be one horoscope that actually comes true.

Scorpio
October 24 - November 21
You should be able to make enormous strides when it comes to smoothing over some financial issues today. And some positive developments regarding a career or family matter could leave you feeling a little relieved right now as well. Just try to throw any doubts or fears aside and enjoy yourself a bit today.

Mood: hopeful   Froggy 99.9FM

As I mentioned yesterday, I had an interview this afternoon. I wasn’t sure what to think going into it since it was for an aviation company and not a web design company. But it seems like it would be a good opportunity. The only thing I’m concered about there is that it would entail learning new programming languages. I guess they use a lot of perl there, and the database is Postgres. I just don’t know. I do like learning new things, but I’m most comfortable programming in php.

And last nite, I got an email from my former employer asking if I would be interested in doing contract work for them. I AM interested, but I’m concerned about my availability. Right now, everything is up in the air. And I hate that. I have interviewed for 4 positions now. I *should* hopefully hear back from them this week. At least I hope I do. If I was offered one of the positions (and accepted), then I wouldn’t be available for many hours to do the contract work. And I don’t want to leave them in a bind (by starting something that I can’t finish). I emailed him back to let him know this. I got a subsequent email from saying there is a possibility that they *might* have full-time work available again. It depends on how negotiations go. If they do have full-time work available again, I would be willing to go back. As long as my pay rate was at least the same as before. AND as long as I wasn’t offered a better opportunity (i.e. more money) elsewhere.

I guess I should be in good spirits. I do have several opportunities. I just hate this not knowing. And I REALLY hate not having an income right now. Hopefully everything will be sorted out by the end of the month or at least during the first week or 2 of October. I really want things to get back to some semblance of normal soon.

Mood: anxious   FoodTV

I know what it is that I want. I know where I want to live. I know what I want to do for my career. What scares me is that I don’t know if I can have what I want.

I want to stay here in Fargo. I know that. Yeah … I might complain about the weather during the winter and complain that there’s nothing to do at times. But all in all, I like Fargo. My friends (what few I have) are here. My family is near here. It’s not too big and it’s not too small. It’s just right … for me.

And I want to stay working in web development. I really enjoy doing that. Yeah … it’s something that started as a hobby, but it’s more than that now. I really like turning an idea from a client into something out there on the web that can help their company grow. I like working with the code. Yeah … I might not have any education in the field, but I have 2 years of very good experience at the company I was just at. Not to mention all of the other experience I’ve gained working on my own sites and the Avalanche site. That should count for something.

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Mood: listless   GH