As I was stopped at a red light this morning I saw that sunrise in my rearview mirror. I thought that picture was pretty cool.
Also, I got my employee id card today. It gets me in to the building, and into my area at work. I deal with a lot of sensitive information so they keep it locked up. I have 24 hour access and am authorized to drive state cars! Pretty cool!
I found out more of what I’m going to be doing…and I’m pretty excited about the scope of it all. It’s awesome that I’m trusted to do so much!
Have a great week friends!
Met the Nebraska Governor and the first lady today. He wished me luck on my first day of work!
They had an open house at the Nebraska Governor’s Mansion for all state employees to have cookies and tea and to tour the mansion. It was pretty cool!
First day at work outfit! (BTW, this is the 3rd first day of work I’ve had in 4 weeks! 😉 )
I’m excited and nervous! I’ll give you a full report tonight friends! Wish me luck!
Wednesday afternoon I got a call from the State of Nebraska offering me the job as a Public Information Officer for the Department of Health and Human Services!!
I know that likely doesn’t sound like something most people would want or like, but as someone with her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and 10.5 years in TV News, it is a very logical next step when you get out of the news to go into PR or Communications for a company or corporation. State jobs have amazing benefits, 12 holidays a year (including Arbor Day because that holiday was started here!) and pretty awesome pay and vacation time too. I was ecstatic!! I have been trying to get a job with the state for years now, so I was so happy.
The Marketing gig I started Monday? That SUCKED. I was a glorified proofreader. And I felt creatively stifled. I went in Thursday morning and put in my notice…after only 3 days of work! They were cool about it and I went home after about an hour!
This is where things start to get interesting:
I decided I do a little Christmas shopping and headed towards the Outlet Mall about 40 minutes away.
On the way there I got a phone call from the News Director of the TV Station I interviewed with last week in Buffalo, New York. He wanted to “catch up” with me.
He said, “Melissa, it has to be obvious that I like you and want you to work here. What will it take to get you to Buffalo?” (if only a man was saying that to me in the context of wanting to be in a relationship with me!!!)
I told him that I had taken the marketing gig, and hated it. And that I’d been offered the job with the state and I really love it And he said, “I don’t think you’ve ever been told this, but you have it. You are sharp, smart, you are talented, you are not just a producer, you are management, an EP (Executive Producer), and eventually a News Director. You have some much potential to be so great in this business.”
Well, crap! I told him he just made my decision harder. He was working really hard to sell me on it. I still don’t think they can meet the money I want, and that’s a big deal to me.
He told me that no matter what, if in 2, 3, or 5 years I wanted to get back into the Biz, to just call him and no matter where he was he would get me a job at his station–he thought that highly of me and I was that good.
YOU GUYS. I have never been so flattered and humbled. This whole unemployment thing has sucked, but man, this was a good way to see that I am in demand in different fields!
He told me to think about it and to call him tomorrow. My answer will still be no-I’m going with the state job. But, wow, is it nice to be wanted!!
Then while shopping I hit EVERY BARGAIN! I got a Kate Spade IPad case for $20 (regularly $75). I got a skirt and sweater at J. Crew for $21 total for both! (with 40% off and another 20% from a scratch off ticket that would be for 0-20% off! WIN!) I bought a Christmas gift that was regularly $25 on sale for $3. I think I need to go buy a lottery ticket!! 😉
I really feel that the following things are true:
If I hadn’t lost my job, I never would have known what wonderful opportunities lie out there for me. I honestly was just holding myself back at my previous job. Now? Now I’ve had 2 job offers for amazing positions in 2 days, I have been offered 3 full-time jobs, and there may be a 4th coming next week. I feel awesome. Thanks for believing in me, and all of your words of encouragement friends! I couldn’t have survived without your support!
#AdventuresWithMelissa
That is my hashtag to cover a multitude of adventuring in my life. A whirlwind trip to Buffalo, New York in 24 hours? That’s an adventure. A 9 hour long job interview for a TV News Producer Job? Totally an adventure. Two job interviews in 26 hours for two very different positions where I’m told I’m a finalist for both jobs? Yep, nailed it. Just another adventure!
So, you wanna know how my trip went to Buffalo? Here are the highlights:
I sent that snapchat to a friend to show his friend who was sassing me when I landed in Buffalo. I had been up since 3:45 am, but my hair was a champ and I was a ball of nervous energy.
After cabbing it to the TV Station, I had lunch with the News Director, who then handed me off to the Assistant News Director. I met some producers, anchors, and reporters and got a tour of the station.
I proceeded to have mini-interviews with the Assignment Editor, the Operations Director, The General Manager, and the aforementioned News Director and Assistant News Director. It was a lot of me talking about myself, my experience and why I got out of news and might want to get back into it.
I sat with a couple of producers and watched a newscast or two. But the biggest thing I came away with? I don’t want to get back into the business.
Somewhere along the interview I realized I’m over it. I’m done with TV News. It’s a nice thing to be able to realize.
The News Director took me out for Wings, (because Buffalo!) and asked me, bottom line, what would it take to get me to Buffalo. That second picture is near my hotel, the Buffalo Theatre district.
I told him that I know my worth, I know what my experience is worth, and I know that I’m not just a producer, I’m management. I also told him that I know what the cost of living difference is between Nebraska and Buffalo. (Hint: it’s a decent amount!)
So I named a number that was totally fair, and he said that the job paid $15k less, but that they could go to corporate and see what they could do, because I was worth it. He told me I was a finalist for the job, and I told him that I had another offer on the table. We discussed things and he said they would be in touch in the middle of the month.
So there’s that.
I sent that Snapchat to the same friend, because I was showing him my King Size Bed, ALL TO MYSELF! Bliss.
Tuesday I flew back and got in to Lincoln around 10:30am. I had an interview at the University of Nebraska-Omaha at 2:30pm for a job as the Membership Director for the University’s Classical Radio Station. I was exhausted and cursing myself for setting up the interview.
AND THEN I WENT TO THE INTERVIEW and it was AWESOME!!!
The Station manager LOVED me. HE said so, he remarked how I was such a great interview, how I was so personable, how conversational I was, etc. I ate that up! 😉 (oh, you want to compliment me? YES PLEASE!)
I asked him to describe his perfect person for this position and he said, “Well, you. Someone who is vivacious, outgoing, can talk to people, has a great personality, can make connections, can make the big ‘asks’ for money, someone who is funny, and smart, just like you.”
<<INSERT HEART EYE EMOJI HERE>>
You don’t know how hard it was for me not to toss my hair, and grin like a fool. Well, maybe, I DID grin like a fool!! He told me that I was a finalist for the job, one of the 3, and that he would let me know in two weeks.
So I sent that final photo to my friend after the interview because with everything that has gone in the past 2 months, to be told by two interviews in two different fields that I’m a finalist for the job? I feel like a million bucks!!
Today, I start the job at the Marketing Company. I should hear from the State Job this week, and from UNO next week, and from Buffalo the week after. I’m not taking the Buffalo job. I’m burnt out of news. But is nice to be wanted. I thought that last photo was a pretty perfect way to look at this chapter of my life, As always, I’ll keep you posted about my latest Adventures!! 😉
I had an interview Thursday, and was offered the job Tuesday morning. I will be an account coordinator for a Marketing Company that works with Non-Profits. It was pretty much a perfect mix of my background experience: TV News for 10.5 years, and non-profit work for about 2.5.
BUT…here’s the thing: a former co-worker who went to a TV station in Buffalo, New York was home a few weeks ago and told me to send my resume to her News Director. Last Monday I had a phone interview with him, then another with his Assistant News Director. Friday he called to tell me they want to fly me out there for an interview in 2 weeks. I accepted (because I didn’t have a job yet, and who am I to turn anything down?) So they bought me a flight for November 23-24. Buffalo is a top 60 News market that acts like a top 25. Lincoln is Market 105. So there’s that.
I spoke with my former anchor who is a dear friend and he told me to go ahead and go. I need to see for myself if I’m 100% sure I don’t want to get back into news. I’m fairly confident I don’t: the hours and pay suck. I hate working nights and weekends, and I’m pretty much over severe weather events. But having a market that size interested in me without seeing any of my writing of shows? That feels awesome.
AND THEN after I accepted the job, a job that I applied for YESTERDAY with the Red Cross called me for an interview for tomorrow. And the first interview that I had a couple of weeks ago for that 30 hour a week job? They want me to do a writing assignment for them by Friday. What the Wha???
After working for so long in TV News and then because I was head-hunted for my previous position, I really didn’t know how long it took to get a job in the “real world.”
I was unemployed for a month. 4 weeks. I’m pretty ecstatic about that. I was so scared about the whole situation and money and everything. But thanks for my video editing, @victoriafindslife and my temp job with her company (which is pretty awesome btw!) and my severance and PTO pay out, I’m doin’ just fine! An HR rep for one place I interviewed said it can take about 3 months start to finish to actually get someone hired. That’s insane! I start the new gig on November 30th due to my commitment with Victoria and the trip to Buffalo. So that’s awesome too.
Wanna know the ironic thing? I was offered the job the morning that I SHOULD have left for Chicago for the annual conference with my old job. Timing, huh?
I know that I am incredibly blessed. I want to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers. Thank you for checking in on me and sending me notes and texts and messages. You guys are the BEST!! You can believe that I’m saying extra prayers, grateful for this opportunity!
I’ve been asked about how the new job is going. And I realized that I haven’t told you guys how the past two weeks have been going, my bad!
New Job is great. I’m the Membership Director for a National Non-Profit that supports honors students at colleges and universities around the country. Its a big job, but I’m pretty excited about it.
There is still so much to learn. And we’re getting a brand new membership database next month, so I have to learn the old AND the new! Stress!
Things are ever-evolving at work and so there are new things being thrown at me and new responsibilities. It’s exciting. They really seem to value me, and my skill set.
It is COMPLETELY outside of my wheelhouse of what I went to school to do; TV News Producing. However, I feel like I have the skills to be awesome at it.
I work 7am to 4pm. Some pretty sweet hours. HOWEVER, they are hard to make work for someone who likes to run outside before work in the morning. Currently, it is much too dark at 5am so I’m running on the treadmill. It’s not ideal, but it will do.
And speaking of that, who am I? I willingly set my alarm to get me up at 4:50am so I’m on the treadmill by 5:10ish (because, let’s be honest, I hit the snooze and have to wake up before I can bang out 3+ miles in the morning!)
I’ve been running outside some in the afternoons too (when it’s not fires-of-hades hot outside) which it currently is.
On that note, I got a Fitbit this week. I did the Flex and I love it. I like the silent alarms, and I am OBSESSED with tracking and getting my steps in. I talked on the phone with my friend Andrew for 45 minutes the other night. I paced the entire house while we spoke and managed to get another mile in! My roomie came home in the midst of that and was concerned that I was nervous about who I was talking to! Nope, just trying to be more active.
I’ve hit my 10,000 goal so far each day this week. I even go for walks at lunch and pace around the office. (We’re located in one of the Residence Halls on The University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus). So I see a lot of students all day long.
I don’t want to jinx it, but the steps and watching what I eat seems to be working; as I am down 4 pounds! Ideally, I’d like to lose 11 more, but I will be happy if I can get 6 more off. Baby steps.
Big weekend ahead; dinner for my ex-coworker who is leaving The Ocho today, pool time and a hair cut tomorrow, and then tennis with my bestie on Sunday. Busy, busy.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON STARTS NEXT WEEK!!!!! I love my Huskers! Go Big Red!!
Wednesday things:
Day 3 of my new job. There is still so much to learn! I’m working 7am-4pm. Those hours are rough when you are used to 8:45am-5:45pm and getting to run before work in the mornings! It is dark outside when I’m up at 5:30am so I’ve been running after work; which I HATE, but I’m dealing.
There are some amazing perks; the salary, the iPad, A LOT less stress than working in TV News, opportunities for continuing education, extended time off, and flexible boss. And I’m on back on my College campus (The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, GO HUSKERS!!)
I had to pickup my parking pass today. The office is near Memorial Stadium so I took a walk there to grab it before lunch. It was a gorgeous day!! Football season is right around the corner.
We have an annual Conference (I work for a non-profit that supports Honors students and faculty around the world) in Denver in November. We booked our flights today–I’ll be in Denver November 1st-9th. Any area Tumblrs–I’d love to meet up at some point! Message me!
I resisted Froyo tonight. The struggle you guys! They had $4 all you can fill (no matter how much it weighed) cups. I love my Froyo place. I resisted it. It’s a first step, right?
That being said, I’m unhappy with my body right now. I’m still up 5-7lbs. I feel squishy. So I’m trying new things. Will report back soon,
If you read all of this, then High Fives for you!!!
New job excitement!
I had a great first day…they had me come in at noon, did a few things with the new system, got a university ID, they sent me an edible arrangement of fruit, then they gave me my own iPad Mini (!) and went to get a parking permit at 3:45pm! Less than 4hours AND I get paid for the whole day? Awesome! This pic was taken on my brand new iPad!
Thanks for all the well wishes! I’m really excited about this new position!
Monday marks the start of my last week at The Ocho. Nearly 11 years of every sort of emotion you could have, I’ve experienced there. I’ve met so many amazing people and been given some fabulous opportunities that I wouldn’t have gotten unless I worked there. I’m feeling all the feels right now!
I’ve been reflecting on my tenure there a lot over the past few weeks. And I know I’ve seen a lot of it with rose-colored glasses. This quote has come up for me a lot lately–in my job and past relationships especially. Things haven’t always been the best there. That’s why I’m moving on it. But it has been such amazing experience. One that has helped to shape and form me into the woman I am today.
My identity has been wrapped up in being a TV News Producer. It’s who I am. It (can) sound(s) impressive. I’ve been actually using my College degree since before I graduated from college! What a concept!
But. It is time to move on. To forge a new path. One that pays better. Will allow me to travel, to retire, and to experience new things. One that lets me use a different part of my degree.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t mourn the past, while looking ahead to (what I hope is) a bright future. If a new chapter is about to begin, it’s nearly time to turn the page.
Until then, I plan to savor each moment of this week. File the memories away. Because life is unexpected, and sometimes you just need to slow down to take it all in.
Time, please slow down a little this week. That’d be great.
Runnin' Down a Dream 