Update on life in general
So, don't really know if I had mentioned this already. Since the beginning of the month, I've been working at an accounting firm. I've been working half days in the file room and the other half at the reception desk.
Allow me to explain what we do in the file room. We put away files and binders on the check in shelves. We put loose papers into the proper files. We make new tax files or audit binders as requested and we box up and send off old ones to the storage company. That's pretty much it. When the shelves and in basket have been cleared and there are no boxes to send away and no new files to be made, we have no more work to do. Now, for one person, this is probably enough to work to get through the day. Maybe. But since we've had three in there the past three weeks, well, we're finding that there just isn't anything that needs to be done after about 8:30 except the stray files that come in throughout the day. SO, I had been told after there was no more work to do that I could sit and read my book. In my opinion, sitting there reading a novel is blatantly "unprofessional" looking and it's quite obvious that someone reading a book isn't really working and isn't busy. So instead, I figured that reading stuff online doesn't look quite so obvious. I was reading news on MSN, mind you. That's it. Not surfing pony boards. Not writing in my journal (though I wanted to). Nothing but MSN and Newsweek stories. I thought all was ok until on Friday when I was told that headquarters had called complaining that the internet was on the computer I used all day. It actually was, but it spent any time that work came in minimized on my desktop. I wasn't reading news at the expense of work piling up. Any work that came in, any project given to me and I would do it right away. But anyhow, one of the partners, who is always nice to my face, complained to someone else that every time he passes me, I'm reading the internet (which is not true, by the way). Apparently it's easier to bitch and moan about me "never working" than it is to come in and say something like "Hey, you don't look too busy in there. Here's a project that you can do for me!" I would gladly take his projects and do them the best I could. But anyhow, I'm pretty upset at that stuff happening. But from now on, I'm gonna do EXACTLY what I've been told to do when I have no work: read my book. "Unprofessional" or not. And it's not like I don't ask other people for any projects they may have for me. It's just that no one has much to do themselves, let alone has enough to give me something to do on top of that. This time in tax world is slow and there really isn't a whole lot of work that needs done.
The receptionist position is better. Calls aren't constant, but they're steady enough that you can't go more than a half hour without getting at least one. Plus there are guests to greet, labels to type, packages to ship, mail to sort and give out, etc. I got a few hours of really weak training on my very first day there, but they pretty much threw me in the deep end after that and haven't really been there to teach since. I think I've been doing a damn good job at it. Several clients and my own actual employer have told me that I sound very friendly and professional on the phone. Also, several partners have told me that they've received compliments for me from their clients. So I KNOW that I'm looking good as the receptionist.
I think what "they" fail to realize here is just that I'm a temp, plain and simple. I am not allowed to do a lot of the big jobs that they actually do need extra hands for due to confidentiality and different rules that apply to employees not actually employed by the firm. I don't know what jobs I can fall back on when the ones I've been explicitly given have been completed. I don't have a set role or even an actual boss.
Bottom line: guess I'll know if I'm doing a good job here in the next few weeks. My assignment is supposed to be up in about two weeks. That will also be the last week for their existing receptionist. They are looking to hire full time for that position. They are already looking to hire a File Clerk. I faxed the ad for that one. But while I do like the file room job itself, I don't actually want that job full time. Plus, one of the things the file clerk does is being a runner (the current full timer does this presently) and part of the job requirements is that you have a reliable vehicle of your own. Even if I wanted to be the runner (which I don't), I don't even know when my car will actually be fixed and "reliable" again. I don't know if they are going to want to hire me full time to be in the receptionist position. If they do, I'll probably accept because I'm sure they pay the staff better than the temps (and that pay already isn't too bad) and it's a pretty easy job that I can basically stand to go to every day. Of course, if they decide not to hire me on full time, I won't shed any tears. My assignment is up after the ninth and my temp agency placed me in a job in one day last time. I'm not at all worried that they couldn't find me another assignment somewhere else very quickly.
And I think the hubby has finally found something as well. He eventually broke down and signed on at a temp agency. It looks like he'll be writing up technical documents or something administrative like that; but I told him that it would be better for him to get paid between ten and fifteen dollars an hour to do a data entry or administrative assistant job rather than working his ass off at McDonald's for $5.15 or retail for six....
So even if I do end up waiting a few days for an assignment after this one ends, we should be fine financially.
We are saving money to repair our car and to move to New Hampshire. It's looking pretty good that we'll be out of here right as September starts. August thirty-first is when our lease will be up. We're hoping we'll be able to rent a big truck, fit all our stuff in it and tow our car up there at that time. I'm thinking we should just go up there, get into a month-to-month lease at some apartment or townhouse and stay there until we find jobs and a house to rent where we really will want to live. Then, after we repair our credit, we can start thinking about buying a plot of land and getting ready to have our very own house built. It's gonna be awesome.
It's tough having to save up money. We've been saving a bit by not buying alcohol. Never really realized how much we actually do drink until we're not and I'm really seeing how quickly a bottle of liquor is emptied in this house. It would be obscene if we actually drank every evening.... o_O
Anyhow, I'm in the mood for some Sims now. My sims have an AWESOME house and all the best stuff. :P
Talk again soon.
Allow me to explain what we do in the file room. We put away files and binders on the check in shelves. We put loose papers into the proper files. We make new tax files or audit binders as requested and we box up and send off old ones to the storage company. That's pretty much it. When the shelves and in basket have been cleared and there are no boxes to send away and no new files to be made, we have no more work to do. Now, for one person, this is probably enough to work to get through the day. Maybe. But since we've had three in there the past three weeks, well, we're finding that there just isn't anything that needs to be done after about 8:30 except the stray files that come in throughout the day. SO, I had been told after there was no more work to do that I could sit and read my book. In my opinion, sitting there reading a novel is blatantly "unprofessional" looking and it's quite obvious that someone reading a book isn't really working and isn't busy. So instead, I figured that reading stuff online doesn't look quite so obvious. I was reading news on MSN, mind you. That's it. Not surfing pony boards. Not writing in my journal (though I wanted to). Nothing but MSN and Newsweek stories. I thought all was ok until on Friday when I was told that headquarters had called complaining that the internet was on the computer I used all day. It actually was, but it spent any time that work came in minimized on my desktop. I wasn't reading news at the expense of work piling up. Any work that came in, any project given to me and I would do it right away. But anyhow, one of the partners, who is always nice to my face, complained to someone else that every time he passes me, I'm reading the internet (which is not true, by the way). Apparently it's easier to bitch and moan about me "never working" than it is to come in and say something like "Hey, you don't look too busy in there. Here's a project that you can do for me!" I would gladly take his projects and do them the best I could. But anyhow, I'm pretty upset at that stuff happening. But from now on, I'm gonna do EXACTLY what I've been told to do when I have no work: read my book. "Unprofessional" or not. And it's not like I don't ask other people for any projects they may have for me. It's just that no one has much to do themselves, let alone has enough to give me something to do on top of that. This time in tax world is slow and there really isn't a whole lot of work that needs done.
The receptionist position is better. Calls aren't constant, but they're steady enough that you can't go more than a half hour without getting at least one. Plus there are guests to greet, labels to type, packages to ship, mail to sort and give out, etc. I got a few hours of really weak training on my very first day there, but they pretty much threw me in the deep end after that and haven't really been there to teach since. I think I've been doing a damn good job at it. Several clients and my own actual employer have told me that I sound very friendly and professional on the phone. Also, several partners have told me that they've received compliments for me from their clients. So I KNOW that I'm looking good as the receptionist.
I think what "they" fail to realize here is just that I'm a temp, plain and simple. I am not allowed to do a lot of the big jobs that they actually do need extra hands for due to confidentiality and different rules that apply to employees not actually employed by the firm. I don't know what jobs I can fall back on when the ones I've been explicitly given have been completed. I don't have a set role or even an actual boss.
Bottom line: guess I'll know if I'm doing a good job here in the next few weeks. My assignment is supposed to be up in about two weeks. That will also be the last week for their existing receptionist. They are looking to hire full time for that position. They are already looking to hire a File Clerk. I faxed the ad for that one. But while I do like the file room job itself, I don't actually want that job full time. Plus, one of the things the file clerk does is being a runner (the current full timer does this presently) and part of the job requirements is that you have a reliable vehicle of your own. Even if I wanted to be the runner (which I don't), I don't even know when my car will actually be fixed and "reliable" again. I don't know if they are going to want to hire me full time to be in the receptionist position. If they do, I'll probably accept because I'm sure they pay the staff better than the temps (and that pay already isn't too bad) and it's a pretty easy job that I can basically stand to go to every day. Of course, if they decide not to hire me on full time, I won't shed any tears. My assignment is up after the ninth and my temp agency placed me in a job in one day last time. I'm not at all worried that they couldn't find me another assignment somewhere else very quickly.
And I think the hubby has finally found something as well. He eventually broke down and signed on at a temp agency. It looks like he'll be writing up technical documents or something administrative like that; but I told him that it would be better for him to get paid between ten and fifteen dollars an hour to do a data entry or administrative assistant job rather than working his ass off at McDonald's for $5.15 or retail for six....
So even if I do end up waiting a few days for an assignment after this one ends, we should be fine financially.
We are saving money to repair our car and to move to New Hampshire. It's looking pretty good that we'll be out of here right as September starts. August thirty-first is when our lease will be up. We're hoping we'll be able to rent a big truck, fit all our stuff in it and tow our car up there at that time. I'm thinking we should just go up there, get into a month-to-month lease at some apartment or townhouse and stay there until we find jobs and a house to rent where we really will want to live. Then, after we repair our credit, we can start thinking about buying a plot of land and getting ready to have our very own house built. It's gonna be awesome.
It's tough having to save up money. We've been saving a bit by not buying alcohol. Never really realized how much we actually do drink until we're not and I'm really seeing how quickly a bottle of liquor is emptied in this house. It would be obscene if we actually drank every evening.... o_O
Anyhow, I'm in the mood for some Sims now. My sims have an AWESOME house and all the best stuff. :P
Talk again soon.