Got a Job!!

Well, it took me 3 and a half months and about 1000 resumes, but I finally got myself some work. In hindsight, had I thought about it, I would have saved the paper I sent to countless potential employers and just focused on what I know: work. I thought my 20 years in the navy, coupled with the fact that I have a college degree and supervisory experience would get me a foot in the door and well on my way to my next career. I thought that I was qualified for some sort of management, even at the entry level. Boy, was I wrong. Maybe I tried too hard, maybe I truly don't have what employers are looking for or maybe I simply put together a lousy resume'. Since I was 16 years old and looking for work I have never, ever had trouble finding a job. I was a young, strong kid that showed up when I was supposed to and worked like I was supposed to and I wasn't afraid to get my hands dirty doing hard work. I drove a forklift, stocked shelves, waxed and buffed floors, cleaned toilets, pumped gas and bagged groceries. I didn't mind. I delivered pizzas and tended bar (after beginning as a barback) and had a ton of fun doing it. So, what happened? Why can't I find a career?

Well, I was getting absolutely no responses to my applications, and I was beginning to get a bit scared. I found a temporary job helping out at a contracting firm. It was ok, I made $12/ hour, but I knew that I was going to continue to look for more meaningful work. I learned a lot about the construction industry, but was under no false pretenses that I would be able to make a career of it- the guys I worked with had all been doing it for 20+ years. I simply don't have the time to invest 20 years into something to build up a business. I need to make myself a career right now. Anyway, work fell off and I was sent home for a few weeks, so I really began hitting all the job sites for potential work. Nothing.

OK, so I picked up a job tutoring a couple hours per week, but it surely wasn't enough to pay the bills. In fact, as of this writing, I haven't gotten my first paycheck even though I've been tutoring for a month. I should get the first check in a day or 2. Still, things were starting to weigh heavily on my mind and I was becoming a little bit worried. Finally I got a call to come into Dominoes Pizza for and 'interview.' Yep, I had to interview for the delivery driver job! OK, so the manager had every intention of hiring me (I guess) and the job was technically mine to lose, so I was on my best behavior, tried to be as personable as possible (harder than you might think, for me) and answered all the questions respectfully and honestly. So he hired me. Wow, what a relief! As silly as that may sound, I couldn't believe how much relief I felt when I got the job! Thank the Lord above! As hard as it may be to believe, I am looking forward to delivering pizza! It may not be the be-all-end-all, but I will be bringing a little money into the house. Who knows where this one might end? Management? I don't know, maybe later. Right now, I'm happy to be contributing to the household.

The day after I found out that I had the job, I got a call from another job that wanted to interview me. Another part time job making $11 or so per hour, about 15 hours a week. Again, I doubt that this one will lead to a new and rewarding career, but I am glad to be getting the call. Maybe it will work out- I'll find out Monday when I get the final interview. I also got another call on a job I applied for to be a home survey taker for a research company called Westat. I had to do a 'reading' on the telephone and I guess that the company decided that my voice was acceptable (they probably accept everyone that wants to do it...) and they are going to give me a chance... in a couple months when a position opens up. Still, once I have three jobs (4, if you count the tutoring) I should be bringing in quite a bit of money. So, things are looking up, even if I don't have the job I thought I was going to get. But all is well. When things aren't going your way, go with what you know. That's what I am doing. I know how to work. I know how to be on time. I'm not afraid of getting dirty.

Well, here it is, almost March and I still haven't found a job. I do not want any one to feel sorry for me, but you cannot convince me that I don't have something to offer an employer! What in the heck is going on? Surely, somebody needs a pizza delivery driver!! OK, so I am starting to lose some of my positive outlook. I can contain it for a while longer, but my patience is waning more rapidly than I thought it would. I went to a job fair today and contacted a few prospective employers, but, as usual, all the employers there were more concerned with applicants that have some technical background. So much for Human Resources... So much for my degree. I am now thinking about going back to school to learn a little but about computers- the technical side. I contacted one school who has a program that will be largely covered by my GI Bill. I would only have to come up with a couple hundred dollars out of pocket to take the course. Of course, I have to have a job before I can consider any more schooling. I cannot afford to spend any money on anything outside the household and my immediate expenses. Once I find a job- any job- I should be able to budget a few bucks to get started. I am getting a little bit scared, and so is my wife. I feel like the our country is on the verge of total collapse. Never before in my life have I not been able to find work almost immediately. This is frightening. Tomorrow, I am going to pound the pavement to see if there are any employers that do not conduct interviews online. Maybe a restaurant??? I don't know. I do know that this sucks! I am young enough to do hard work, and I am mature enough to show up and actually work every day. I am racking my brain to come up with a method of earning a living. Thus far, my blogs haven't earned much (none, in fact). I thought I would try this blogging thing as a means to write. I enjoy writing, I enjoy debate. I simply need some traffic. Maybe people will show up, maybe they won't. Alt least I know that I am trying something new. We'll see.

Bipartisanship and finding a new job

So, our new president has decided to have a press conference in which he will entertain questions form stalwart institutions such as the Huffington Post.

Mr. Obama glided through the questions without making any obvious news. Then, he
turned to Mr. Stein, 26, who last month became the White House correspondent for
his publication.
“Are you willing to rule out — right here and now — any
prosecution of Bush administration officials?” Mr. Stein said, asking whether
Mr. Obama intended to endorse an investigation by a so-called Truth and
Reconciliation Committee.

I can only imagine what might have happened to George W bush had he decided to field a question from Rush Limbaugh or TownHall.com. We would never had heard the end of it. Yet he allows a question from the same website that allowed its viewers to celebrate the death of Tony Snow. I hope it isn't a sign of things to come. Now, don't get me wrong, I respect the president and I hope and pray that he does a wonderful job, but this seems to show a lack of judgement. I do not, however, like the direction that he seems to be taking these last few days. It seems that our dear leader is taking the low road when it comes to placing blame. He said that we were not going to continue the failed policies of the last eight years. He said during his campaign (which was run as brilliantly as a presidential campaign can be run) that he did not want to resort to the politics of fear, yet as he is experiencing- perhaps for the first time in his political career- resistance to his plans, he stoops to the exact form of political rhetoric that he lambasted the Bush administration for using.

President Barack Obama warned on Thursday that failure to act on an
economic recovery package could plunge the nation into a long-lasting recession
that might prove irreversible, a fresh call to a recalcitrant Congress to move
quickly. Yahoo
News
“A failure to act, and act now, will turn crisis into a catastrophe
and guarantee a longer recession, a less robust recovery, and a more uncertain
future,” Obama said in his prepared remarks. Breitbart

So now we are forced to make a decision: either pull the trigger on this monstrosity of a stimulus package, or refuse to throw good money after bad. I am of the opinion that this economic stimulus package is not going to be good for the economy. It won't be as bad as the last one, in which we have no idea where the money went, but I still do not believe that this black hole of economic ideas is going to fair any better than the crazy spending habits the last administration. But for the president to resort to fear in order to bring us all online is ridiculous.

Again, I hope and pray that this stimulus plan actually works, I could certainly use a job right now, but I have my doubts. I see no possible way for this great country to spend its way out of debt. We print more and more money resulting in inflation, and the problem still doesn't go away. What's the next plan? Spend $2 trillion? $3Trillion? When is enough going to finally be enough? The tough economic times are getting tougher by the day. I am not even working at my construction job because people are a little hesitant to put money into this economy. Many people are holding on to their paychecks. What is the tourism trade here in Virginia Beach going to look like this spring and summer? Scary times abound.

On the other hand, there are thousands of jobs being advertised on the internet. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of thousand of job seekers going after them. I am registered on at least 10 job sites, including Monster and CareerBuilder (just to name a couple), and get job alerts every day. I do my duty and apply to the ones that I think I am somewhat qualified for and wait for the phone to ring, which it never does...
Until today.

I am excited that I have a job interview. I have a feeling that I am going to overplay my hand when I actually sit down with the interviewer, if I do not do my homework on the company. I only voice this fear because I don't want to be disappointed if I don't do well. I hope this isn't the case. I plan on preparing this afternoon for the questions and how to make myself the best candidate for the job. Perhaps this is only the tip of the iceburg and I will begin to get more interviews as the days go by. I think I may be on the verge of better days. I think this because I have updated my profile in what may be the most important job search website that I am associated with. The Virginia State employment Commission has a very good site and they also have very good job counselors, 2 of which are veteran preferred counselors. My counselor showed me a few mistakes that I had made on my profile and she showed me how to makeit look better for the employers. She also told me to come by anytime for some coaching... maybe I'll go ask her about this one. I cannot let myself get discouraged. I know that I am going to find the right job at the right time.

So, now that I have a truck and still no word on whether or not I will be working tomorrow, I decided that I wanted to write a little bit about some of the benefits the navy has for its retirees.

For all of you who think that we get full medical benefits for life, let me tell you that you are incorrect. We have to decide on an HMO type of plan; either Tricare Standrd or Tricare Prime. They both have their advantages and disadvantages, but they are both relatively inexpensive. Our Tricare Prime costs us $400 or so per year. So, all things considered, our insurance, while not free, is quite inexpensive. Yes there are co-pays and tons of rules and qualifications, blah, blah, blah, but what plan isn't complicated?

I will be able to get my prescriptions free or at a greatly reduced price, though. that may be quite valuable as I grow older and get more broken.

A benefit that I don't use nearly as often as I should is the commissary privilege. This is where military folk buy their groceries and sundries. There is no sales tax added (just a small surcharge to help pay the employees) and products are often cheaper than even Wally World (though, not always). I recommend the commissary for anyone that is buying bulk groceries and meat. Milk is less expensive there, too, but the commissary is usually too far to drive for a gallon of milk. The price is offset by the distance. Like I said, buying in bulk or enough for the entire month makes the commissary a good deal.

Another benefit that I have as a retiree is the use of the gym on base. Unfortunately for me, I am several miles from the nearest base, So unless I get a job on or near the base, the gym is not cost effective for me, even though it is free. Navy gymnasiums have come a very long way since I joined in 1989. They have always had decent weight room and exercise equipment, but in the 90's, they seemed to go through some transformation. The navy had a long tradition of fat, drunken and often slovenly appearances (something we struggle to overcome still). Sometime in the nineties, fitness was determined to be a quality of life issue and the facilities began to get much better. Upgraded equipment was added, programs were offered to help people with their weight, diet and exercise programs and even aerobics classes were offered for active duty, retired and dependents at little or no cost. Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) was infused with more money to facilitate these programs. Quality of life pushed its way to the forefront of navy life and everyone attached to the navy felt the benefits. The benefits of a strong MWR program are too numerous to count, but sailors are encouraged to request any type of program addition they feel is important. Not everything is approved, of course, but the fact that you can fill out a request is testament to their dedication to the quality of life of sailors and their families.

A very important feature of navy retirees is the ability to insure a portion of your retired pay for a surviving spouse or family member. This benefit is called the Survivor Benefit Program (commonly referred to as SBP). It works like this:

You select an amount that you want to protect for your spouse (or qualifying child) and pay 6.5% of that amount for the insurance (I don't know if it is technically 'insurance' or not, but that's the way I picture it). Say you want to protect $2000 of your retired pay, should you expire before your spouse. It would cost you 6.5%, or $130 per month for this protection. If you die before your spouse, then they (the spouse ) are awarded 55% of the amount you insured. In this case, $1100/ month. Now, this sounds good, and it is in many circumstances: you find out that you have a terminal illness shortly before your retirement date, you are uninsurable otherwise (cancer survivor, etc), you are already approaching retirement age (60-65), just to name a few.

I have another plan that deserves some explanation. Realistically, most of us retirees are going to be finding another job when we leave the service. In many cases, we might be making less money than we did in the service, so our expenses are a great concern to us. I had thought that I would get $1000 worth of SBP for $65/ month. However, when I started looking a little more closely at the numbers, I realized that if I died before Sherry, she would get a whopping $550/ month! That adds up to $6600/ year. Not much in the greater scheme of things. So I decided that I would get a $250,000 term life insurance policy for only $43/ month. This is a 20 year policy, so I actually have some work to do before that 20 year term is up, the ultimate goal to be self insured at retirement. The payout for the insurance policy is $250,000, as I stated. That amount, correctly maintained in a good mutual fund, would net her- at a 4% per year withdrawal rate- $10,000 per year and would last her as long as she was alive. Some experts say that 8% is sustainable, but I think 4% is more conservative and more realistic. So, for $22 less per month, she would get an extra $3600 per year! For me, it was a no brainer. As I said, there are those who need SBP, and they should take advantage of it. However, in my case (everyone has to make this decision on their own) it was more cost effective to go term insurance. With the current economy, these numbers may not be accurate, and my heart goes out to those who are reaching retirement age this year, but for me, I have faith in the marketplace, and NO faith in the social security system to remain in place long enough for me to benefit, so I have to plan to take care of myself.

Anyone need their garage cleaned out?

OK, so today I bought a used pickup truck. I needed a reliable truck to (hopefully) generate some income. How am I going to do that? Hmmmmm. Well, I know that I can rake leaves. I also know how to mow grass and paint and hammer a nail. I have put in windows, tiled floors, organized rooms and done some demo work (that's demolition, not demonstration). I am still putting in job applications all over the place, but I can no longer afford to wait for my ship to come in. I have to swim out and meet it. I may never be rich and famous, but I hope to be able to pay the bills and put food on the table.

I had to sell both my Escort and my full-sized pickup in order to do this. I also put a couple of my meager paychecks aside in savings in order to make this happen. I like talking about my vehicles, especially the Escort. The pickup was your garden variety Ford F150. 1988, with a straight 6 cylinder engine. They stopped making this engine several years ago. My belief is that it was too good a motor to continue to make them. A big, strong 6 cylinder engine with as much displacement as many modern day V8's, and more torque than many engines. This engine just never quit and could tow pretty much anything you chained to it. It was too big for me, though. I decided to get rid of it, because I knew that I wasn't going to be making as much money as I used to (at least for a while) and the truck simply used too much fuel to drive everyday. My thought was to get rid of both of the vehicles and buy one, thus saving us a few dollars per month on insurance.

The Escort I was a lot more attached to, emotionally. I bought it 4 years ago when I first got my orders to go to Richmond. I had just bought a home and my wife works here, and really enjoys her job, and my step-son had gone to school his whole life right here with the same kids. It's all he knew. Therefore, I decided that I could drive to Richmond everyday and I needed a car that got decent mileage in which to make the daily commute. I bought the car from the original owner, who had upgraded to a new Toyota. I paid her $500 for the Escort and immediately spent about $300 more getting it tuned up, new brakes and generally making sure it was road-worthy. I began driving it to Richmond everyday- about 100 miles each way- and spent a huge amount of time in it (thank God for Sirius and XM!). The car got about 36 miles per gallon on the interstate (going about 75-80 mph). The fuel tank was too small to make 2 trips to work, so I fueled up every day. After doing that for 7 months, the powers-that-be authorized us to move our office to Yorktown, VA (this was a mere 45 miles each way). Oh, happy day!!!! Well, after 6 months of that, I was nominated to go to Kuwait for 6 months (that's a story for another day). After being gone for 7 months, I thought I would be going back to my office, but the command had other ideas. So, from January of 2007 to November of 2008, I made the drive from Va Beach all the way to Petersburg, VA (85 miles each way). This trip, although shorter than the 100mile trip I was accustomed to making, took me the same amount of time to travel- 1:45 each direction. So, once again, I began spending 3+ hours each day driving my wonderful little car. I had an idea that one day I would want to sell the car, though, so I developed an Excel file to log my gas mileage every day. Because I travelled a 4 lane highway, and not an interstate, my mileage increased to almost 40mpg! I have it logged, if you don't believe me. (I have met others who drive a similar car that claim even better mileage). The Escort was not a beautiful car. I never tried to paint it, remove the surface rust, or even get any dents out of it. I simply put gas in it, changed the oil and rotated the tires regularly. In the four years I owned it I had a laundry list of mechanical things done to it: Tires (twice), new cylinder head (and a new radiator, belts, hoses and labor, totalling $1700), left side window glass (some wise guy decided to use them for target practice- never figured out who it was), windshield (twice), brakes (twice), throttle body sensor, oil pressure sensor, and, most recently, a timing belt (after 185,000 miles, I reckon it was about time to replace that little gem). I figure I invested about $3500 into that little machine over the years. I bet it saved me at least twice that in gas mileage. I had the idea that I would get top dollar for a car that got that great mileage, but I needed to get people to come look at it. I was getting no hits on my ad at $1500, so I lowered it to $1250. Again, no hits. $1000. Got some interest, but no real nibbles. Resubmitted the ad to read "I REALLY need to sell this car- $900" and the calls started. A young couple ended up buying it. They were realistic about the looks of a cheap car, and really appreciated the fact that I had taken such good care of the engine/ drive train. I showed them the fuel mileage log and offered to help replace the brake pads. They offered me $800 and I accepted it. Off they drove in my darling little car... :-(
But I am confident that they got a good car and will take good care of her....

So, now I had $1800 burning a hole in my pocket, so I knew I had to get another vehicle before I spent the money on something else. Afterall, my goal was to get a truck without generating any more debt. I looked at several small trucks online, and finally found one I could go look at just up the road. I saw this truck and immediately knew that I wanted it. I tried my best no to look too eager, but I think I failed miserably! I hate it when that happens! This is why I don't make a living playing poker. I had to take a few hundred out of savings to get the truck, but I am convinced that I got a good deal. Now the trick is going to be making a living with it. Wish me luck.

Well, today started out badly. I got up, got dressed and went to the jobsite that I worked at yesterday. I sat there for over anhour waiting for someone else to show up to get the day started- after all, this was supposed to be an 8 hour day for me. Nobody showed up by 8am, so I called and started home. When someone finally called me back, I learned that I was not needed until next Monday. Needless to say, I am home looking for work. I put in another application for a job that I felt I was qualified for, submitted my resume' after adjusting it to fit this particular job. Now the waiting game starts. Hopefully I hear something in a day or 2, but I think that I will call the company and ensure that my resume' is there. It can't hurt, and maybe it will get my name noticed... who knows? I do know that I need to find something that can ensure me a full time paycheck.

I am looking for a small truck. I hope to use it to generate income of some sort; gosh, raking leaves, removing clutter, anything. Of course, the problem is I only have a limited amount of money, generated through the sale of my full sized truck and my little daily driver. I hope to find something suitable in the next few days, but I refuse to go off half-cocked. That's how you get screwed.

It's funny, you know? I spent so much time thinking that I would be able to find meaningful work that I didn't worry too much about it when I was active duty. Makes me think about the ant and the grasshopper http://www.dltk-teach.com/fables/grasshopper/mstory.htm. Well, winter is here (figuratively, as well as physically) and I am running out of food. Oops.

So today I had to leave work early because I had another job to do. I had already cleared it with the owner of the company I work for, but I still got an earful from the guys (really, just one guy) at the site! Today I drove 30 miles in order to tutor several 4th and 5th grade kids in basic math. I saw the ad on the internet, thought I might be qualified, so I applied- and got the job! OK, so it's only two days a week and only one hour sessions, but it actually pays pretty good. I wanted to do it for more than the money, though. It is depressing enough not being able to find a job to suit my attributes (don't worry, I'm still keeping a positive outlook), so I though to myself, "why not?" I have done a little bit of instructing in the navy- not enough to be a master instructor, or anything, but enough to think that I know what I am doing. I had no idea what to expect, but went to the classroom and tried to figure out what I was supposed to do. Pretty soon the kids came in, I sat them at a table together and we started out with very simple fractions. I had a good time relating to the kids, and I think I connected with them. I was able to teach them a thing or two, and I believe they are somewhat motivated to learn. Who knows, maybe I'll find my career in the classroom???

I am tired of the negative feelings

After 20 years of naval service, I have been transferred to the 'fleet reserve.' Basically, this means that I am still attached tot he navy, but because I have reached my high year tenure without reaching the rank of E7, or Chief Petty Officer, I am only authorized to be on active duty for 20 years. (Yes, there are sometimes extenuating circumstances that allow E6's to stay longer than 20, but none of them apply to me.) I knew this day was coming for a long time. I knew that there would come a day that I was no longer wearing the uniform of the United States Navy, that I would have to find another way to make a living, that the security I've known for so long was coming to an end. I should have prepared. Well, I should have prepared better, anyway.

Instead of paying off my bills and finding a good job, I spent too much time thinking that I would be able to find something lucrative fairly quickly. Then along came the economy. Well, I have yet to find that elusive career, I have instead put out hundreds of applications- all via the Internet, because that's how it's done these days- with little or no feedback. I am working with a small contracting company for far less money than I feel I should be making. Far less money than I need to replace the income I no longer get from the navy. I find myself wondering what went wrong and I keep coming up with the same answer; it isn't all my fault.

I am a believer in God and Jesus Christ and I also believe that I am being tested. Maybe tested is the wrong wording here. I am supposed to learn something from all of this. I'm not yet aware of what it is that I'm supposed to learn. I have figured out that I can squeek by on my new income and my navy pension. It is going to take a lot longer to get ahead, and I am going to have to make some adjustments, but it's possible. My wife is being very understanding about it, so my support system is strong. I started to feel very badly for myself, but as I have learned from past mistakes, pitying yourself does no good. So I am dedicating myself to learning as much as I can about as many things as I can. Something will work. It has to. But until that something breaks, I'll contnue to do what I can, work as many hours as I am allowed to and cut my expenses wherever I can. Negative feelings BE GONE!! I am still strong and will continue to talk to God each and every night. Soon, I'll see the lessons.