Update on the Job Update

I applied to a few things over the past two days. A job with the Department Of Veteran Affairs in Seattle, a firm in Hillsboro, one in Newport, one in Downtown Portland, and the previously mentioned Harry & David job down in Medford. I applied to the Hillsboro firm because it is fairly close to here and because Bridget said so. I frankly am not excited about that firm at all. It might have showed on a subconscious level though. I forgot to change the date on my cover letter. When I apply to these jobs I usually rip off a previous cover letter for a similar position. The cover letter I adapted for the Hillsboro firm was from early January. The job wasn't posted until late January. They will instantly know what I did. Whether they care or not remains to be seen. Frankly I don't care about that firm anyway so whatever...

I think I wrote a killer letter to Harry & David, but I won't hear about that for a while. Big entities seem to take their own sweet time making decisions. I had to send it to a Human Resources Department which means it will take even longer. But still I am hopeful.

A friend in the ward called and asked for my resume. He passed it on to a firm in his building downtown. Apparently one of the partners in this firm was whining about the fact that he had much to do but didn't want to take the time to hire someone. My friend who is a partner in his large firm recommended me and gave him my resume. Sweet. Maybe something comes of it and maybe not. But still it is cool to have him think of me.

The Newport, Oregon firm was something I submitted materials to on a lark. I thought there was little hope that they would give me much of a look, and so I didn't even perform my normal research in to the firm. I didn't go to the firm's website or anything. I just quickly put a letter together and sent off my materials. I had to send my transcript along which is not something that I am overly proud of. I mean I am not entirely ashamed of it, but my last semester sucked. I can explain a significant portion of it because of my appendectomy right at finals time. But that wasn't in my cover letter. Usually if a transcript is asked for it means that they are looking for someone with stellar grades. I am mid-pack. Yet they called today to schedule an interview. Weird. I was way happy, but that is pretty quick turnaround. I only sent my materials yesterday.

So after the interview is scheduled (next Wednesday) I decided that it might be a good idea to get more info on the firm besides what was posted on the job description. At it turns out there is a guy there from BYU. And that guy is someone whose name seems really familiar...I googled him and found a picture of him. Yep, same guy I thought it was; I am 90% sure that he lived on the same floor as me in the dorms at BYU. Weird. So now I am wondering if I am getting the interview because he also recognized my name or because of the BYU connection. He is not the one interviewing me--he is not a partner there as far as I could tell, but there are only 7 attorneys in the office so he would have some influence for sure. I am pretty sure they wouldn't give me a courtesy interview if they weren't at least somewhat interested. Or maybe it is meant to be?

Bridget is not super excited. She isn't against Newport, but she is wary because it is such a small town--only 10,000 in Newport. But it is a really cool beach town. The Oregon Aquarium is located there, and it is a big draw for tourists. Well, at least things are moving the right way.