Job Search continued (plus a few thoughts)

So... I was ok with not getting that job. I had accepted that it wasn't going to happen. Then, my aunt (who works at the place I interviewed with) asked her friend in HR to look into it yesterday, and apparently they haven't made an official offer to anyone yet. So I really struggled last night with how to feel. Do I get my hopes up again? Do I get excited about all the possibilities that this job has to offer? Or do I continue my solemn acceptance that I wasn't quite good enough, but that something else will come along?

The one thing that I keep thinking is that God works in awesome ways. But, you have to put everything that you have in Him to reap the benefits of his grace and mercy. That's a pretty amazing concept. We have done nothing to deserve all that God has to offer us. All that we have to do is put our eyes on Him and live our lives through Him, and he will make us heirs to His throne. That's pretty awesome to me! I think that God shows us hard times NOT because He wants to make us suffer, but because He wants to show us that we can do nothing without Him. Alot of people forget about God when their lives are going good. And then when things start going wrong, they want to blame God. I have been guilty of this in the past. But what is so important to remember is that we need to thank God in the good times and the bad times. We need to realize that whatever we have on this Earth is no more and no less than what God provided for us.

But, I don't feel like God will give us things that we ask for in the perfect little packages that so many humans have come to expect in this day. My personal example is this- Any time I have prayed for patience and understanding, what do I get in my life? Not a beautiful peaceful day at the beach. Not my daughter being a perfect little 2 year old. No, I get stuck at every red light on the way to work, a grumpy co-worker that says his expense reports weren't done right, a 45-minute task to complete 5 minutes before I leave work, a crying kid on the way home, a broken fridge, and a husband that drank the last drop of wine without me the night before. What I'm saying is that when you pray for patience, God will give you opportunities to be patient. Kinda makes sense, huh? How could you ever work on anything if you are never put to the test? God is amazing, there is no doubt, BUT I seriously doubt that He would ever just change your personality over night to make you the most easy-going, relaxed person ever. But you wanna know what I think the coolest part about all of this is?

While He's giving you the opportunities to work on things you've asked for, God gives you all the tools you need to succeed. And it's very simple. All you need is Him. Everytime you feel like pulling your hair out over something, stop for a second and thank God for this day and ask Him to HELP YOU get through this moment. HE WILL!!!

So, that tangent was my thought process of what to think about this still potential job opportunity. I'm not going to stress about it. I do still really want that job, but if it doesn't happen- it's OK. God will provide. There will be other opportunities, maybe even better ones.

(My prayer)

God, please keep my patient as I wait to hear one way or the other about this job. I will set my eyes on You and know that even if this was not my time, it will be soon. Because I love You and I believe that You are a God that provides. I will not stress about the uncertain future of my current job, but I will feel blessed that I am able to provide for my family right now while so many people are not. I am thankful to You for the job offer I will receive even though I don't know right now what that job will be. You are an awesome God and I hope that I will bring glory and honor to You through everything I do in this job search. I want employers to see an extra spark in me that they can't quite put their finger on- but that spark will be You, God. Thank you for all my many blessings. I ask all of this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Job Search

Looking for a job sucks. Especially right now... Although the economy is getting a TAD better and companies are hiring more, there are SO MANY people out of jobs. The competition is huge right now in the job market.

I had an interview last week. I was very excited. After turning in approximately 174 resumes/applications (that's probably exaggerating a little bit- but you get the idea), I finally got a CALL BACK! I killed the initial interview. KILLED IT. The job description was pretty awesome, and the best part was- I was actually qualified for it! Then, this past Monday, I got a call for a second interview. Woop woop! Man, I was on cloud nine. This interview consisted of touring the labs and buildings at the place I would have been working. I met a whole bunch of people, and answered the same questions that I had answered in the first interview over and over again. I wasn't as confident leaving this follow-up interview as I was the first one. They said they would make a decision the next day and give the phone call whether I got the job or not. Well, 1 1/2 days have gone by and I haven't heard anything. Now, in this situation, I think that no news is better that bad news. At least, until I get that phone call, I can hold out a small hope that I might have still gotten the job. But wow, like I said, looking for a job SUCKS. This waiting crap is for the birds. Seriously.

As if the interview process isn't painful enough. Sitting in front of a room full of people answering questions about yourself and your experiences and strengths. I'm sure that there are people that love this process. You know those people I'm talking about- they talk literally just to hear their own voice. You can never have a real conversation with them because anytime you are talking, they are just waiting for you to shut up so they can tell you about the time that they saved their pet gerbil from getting run over by the garbage truck (or whatever their ridiculous story is at that moment- you get the point). I am not this type of person. This is not good when you are trying to "sell" yourself for a job. When I have 4 or 5 people looking at me while I'm trying to talk about creating spreadsheets or tracking metrics or our supply inventory process, I get all sweaty and start stammering. I prayed about this very hard before both of my interviews. Literally. I prayed for my sweat glands to shut off while I was in the interviews, and I prayed that my brain would be cleared and that God would place thoughts in my brain and through my mouth. I figured, he knows me better than I know myself, so letting me talk through me about myself would probably work. And it did, the first interview.

UGH! So, the point is, I'm wondering what was different from the first interview to the second. I answered basically the same questions. I prayed the same prayers. I smiled big and shook hands firmly. The thing that I keep thinking is that God has something else great planned for me. Even though this was a great opportunity, I don't really want a career in the government industry. I want to work with people, I want to help people.

So, we'll see. Maybe I'll get a call in the next couple days. I'm for sure not going to turn it down if I do get the job offer, but if I don't- I know I'll be ok. God provides in more ways that we can imagine. I will trust in Him and believe that He always does what is best for me and my family.

2 Corinthians 9:8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything; you may have an abundance for every good deed;

Matthew 6:25For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to to his life?

Philippians 4:6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

1 Peter 5:7Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.