As you can see, I'm back. I don't know for how long or if this is a one-time thing, but I have so much to talk about right now. I hardly know where to start.
Well, the main topic is that I have a new job. I've just recently been hired as a regular full-time employee at the company I've been temping at for the last three and a half years. It was really hard getting in and I feel so happy and fortunate that I was finally able to make it happen. See, I don't yet have any degrees, but I'm smart and I've been in the finance industry since 1997 so I felt like my experience more than makes up for my lack of actual degree. I'm just glad they finally agree.
My recent success does come with one or two caveats though. See, about 6 months ago I had had it. I was sick of putting in my application and resume when a spot opened up and not even getting so much as an interview. My confidence was at an all time low and even though I liked the company I was ready to walk. I decided to have a lunch with a co-worker who was well respected on the floor and who was a friend who I know recognized the hard work I did and how smart I am. I asked her what I was doing wrong and how could I change my luck. She told me straight out that I had to come out of my shell and really start talking to other people and having lunches with the team managers and specialists so that they could get to know me. Now, this was a scary proposition for me because I'm quite shy and I also have an almost paralyzing fear or rejection, but I trusted her and decided to give her advice a shot. She, being one of the greatest people ever, helped me even further by making a list of all the people I need to invite to lunch.
This was around October or November and I decided to put the plan into effect in the new year as a resolution. In the meantime, I spent the rest of 2014 laying the ground work by cleaning up my act and dressing the part more. Little by little I started to build up my wardrobe and stopped going to work looking like a temp. I even started wearing make-up which sucked at first because it meant getting up a little earlier to do it. I also started going out of my way to be friendly, even just to say "good morning" to everyone or at the very least smiling. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but to me it was because prior to this I spent a lot of time walking around with my head down trying to stay invisible. Now I had to do the opposite and try to get everyone to notice me.
Well, I did it and started inviting people to lunch. I'm pretty sure the first one, with the manager of the Mutual Funds team was a debacle. I was awkward and stupid and didn't know how to even begin to make a good impression on her. She was very nice and kind though and helped me along as much as she could. After that, it got a little bit easier until finally I had, had all the lunches with all of the managers and many of the specialists. I let them know about all of my banking experience, by customer service/call center background, all of the projects I had been on etc. I think some of them might have been a little impressed or, at the very least, surprised that I had all of this going for me and they never knew about it. I also had a meeting AND a lunch with my current manager, Jim, to make sure he was on my side and respected and appreciated my hard work. I told him that I wanted to be on the Account Services team and I asked him if I could count on his support. Honestly, I wasn't sure what his response would be, but as it turned out, he appreciated my work very much and was behind me 100%. He even gave me some tips and advice and was pleasantly surprised that I was networking with people on the floor.
Well, after many lunches and much networking I was able to land an interview and they also had me take a PSI test. This test is supposed to gauge how able a person would be to pass the FINRA Series 6 test to get licensed because having that license is mandatory on our floor. I took the test and I ended up getting 8 out of 10 on the verbal and 10 out of 10 on the math, averaging out to a total score of 9 out of 10 which apparently is excellent (I beg to differ as 8 out of 10 sounds not all that great to me, but I'm usually too hard on myself). I also, apparently nailed both the phone and in-person interviews and was offered a position. I was, and am, so excited!
The only thing that makes me feel a little bad is that I get the feeling that Jim is somewhat disappointed that I'm going to Account Services instead of his team (Cashiering). I wish this wasn't the case because I very much like him and, believe me, I would LOVE for him to continue to be my manager, but I started this entire process wanting to join the Account Services team. I did for a while consider trying to get on Cashiering, but in the end, when asked during my interview which team I would prefer I said Account Services. There are a few reasons why. I just feel that there are many woman on the AS team I admire and would love to work with, such as Ann, Lynn, and Courtney. Also, the work on Cashiering is close to banking, which at first, seemed like the perfect fit since I have a banking background, but then I felt that there was a reason that I haven't been applying to banks for the past three years so I was afraid that after the initial flush of being trained and getting up to speed it might not be as challenging as I would like it to be. I was afraid that by picking Cashiering I'd be playing it too safe. I really was split for a while which team to choose, but in the end I just had to go with my gut. I just really, really hope that Jim knows that my reasons are not personal and that I like and respect him so much. I'm so appreciative to him for his support and encouragement. I've tried to let him know all of this, but I just hope he really knows and believes it.
Anyway, who's to say what the future holds? One day I may decide to switch teams and go back home. Anything is possible.
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