Ch-ch-ch-changes

Where the creative juices flow... or falter...while I wait for change.

Since last week, I have definitely been faced with quite a bit of impending changes. On Saturday, I had an interview for a retail sales associate position at the local mall, and then on Monday, had another interview in Boston for a manuscript assistant position at a medical journal. On top of that, as mentioned in a previous post, I got accepted to another grad school. Clearly, within a few weeks, definitely a few months and even in the next year, things are going to be a lot different and certainly, my daily life will be changing.

With the prospect of grad school on the horizon, I have been viewing my job search in a different way. Primarily, the goal is to save as much money as possible in a short amount of time to prevent grad school from being an overwhelming financial burden. At the same time, ideally, it would be great to find a job that would be in line with my career goals. However, after so much inactivity over the past few months of post-college life, I don't know if I can really afford (pun intended) to wait around for that stepping stone position. Could this be a bad decision in terms of starting my career and gaining more experience? Maybe. But in a day and age where money rules all, I'm at the point where I need to get things moving a little faster so that I can start saving for grad school and become more financially independent.

As much as I love to contemplate these potential changes from the comfort of my own desk, I'm ready for something to do. I've accepted the retail position in the mean time in hopes that I can start saving money for all of the things I'd like to do in the future -- continue my education, travel, perhaps buy a car... But I haven't given up all hope in finding that "stepping stone" position, much like the manuscript assistant position I applied for and am waiting to hear about. Though I realize that I might end up in over my head if I do get offered the manuscript assistant job after having already accepted the retail job, I feel like it's something that I have to do. I have only been waiting for all of these changes to happen, without experiencing any of it. I wake up and do pretty much the same thing every day except maybe in a different sequence, hoping that today will be the day I get offered a job and am set on the path to career enlightenment. That is unlikely to happen. Instead, I am trying to be more pro-active in pursuing change. And if I get caught in that pickle with two jobs? Honestly, I suppose that is not the worst position I could be in at this point. Like I've said before, it's nice to have options and even nicer to finally be receiving a paycheck.

Seven Layers of Delicious-ness

It's been a while since I've posted about my adventures in the kitchen, so I thought that the best way to get back into things would be to start with something easy. Seriously -- this recipe is one of the easiest I've tackled, and even better? This recipe produces a treat so tasty, you'll wish it wasn't so easy because you'll surely make about five pans of these beauties.

What delicious item is on the agenda for today's baking post? So glad you asked -- that would be the notoriously sweet and probably heart-attacking inducing seven layer bars. If you haven't heard of these bars before, then you're in for a treat (pun intended.) Each ingredient essentially makes up a layer of the bar and let me assure anyone reading this who considers himself/herself domestically impaired (like I consider myself to be), even you can make this.

From allrecipes.com:

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup butterscotch chips
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 1/3 cups shredded coconut

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).

Place butter in 13 x 9 inch pan and melt in oven. Swirl to coat bottom and sides with butter.

Spread crumbs evenly over bottom of pan. Layer chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and nuts over crumbs. Pour condensed milk over nuts. Sprinkle coconut over condensed milk.

Bake until edges are golden brown, about 25 minutes. Let cool

As you can probably tell by comparing the above recipe to the picture of ingredients, I do not have all seven layers (except for the butter, I did have that, it just wasn't pictured.) Certainly a recipe such as this lends itself to a bit of modification depending on your own preferences or allergies. I decided to swap out the butterscotch chips for caramel morsels and ditch the nuts (not a fan of the crazies nor walnuts). Basically, you could get out of control with these if you wanted and put whatever you found in the baking aisle into the pan. Let your imagination run wild and keep the baked goods coming!

Now, I don't know about you, but I like any recipe that essentially requires minimal measuring. And I'll admit right now, I did not measure anything. Honestly, all you really have to do is make sure you butter the pan, and then layer each ingredient completely, covering the entirety of the pan and the previous layer. I did just that and did not concern myself with things such as tablespoons, teaspoons or measuring cups.

First three (four?) layers: pan coated with butter, then layered with graham crackers, chocolate and caramel.

Top off aforementioned layers with condensed milk.

Sprinkle coconut all over the top before putting into the oven.

When searching for a recipe, I saw that other people had played with the sequence of layers to get a different kind of tasty experience, but I decided to stick with the general idea of the recipe I used. I layered it in the following order (from bottom to top): graham cracker crumbs, chocolate, caramel, condensed milk and then coconut. Personally, I think that the coconut is best on top because when it comes out of the oven, it's golden and crispy, and makes it look like you actually put some thought into it as opposed to just haphazardly throwing stuff on top of each other (which is what I did. I had witnesses.)

To make the graham cracker crumbs, I first started out by manually crushing them. With my mom and aunt suspiciously watching, they suggested just throwing them in the blender -- much better idea (this is why I need to be supervised.) The rest of it was probably the easiest thing I've ever done. I'd say it took maybe five minutes to throw everything else on there before putting the pan in the oven, with the exception of opening the can of condensed milk because I am not that handy with a manual can opener (oops.)

Once out of the oven, these babies were heavenly. I've heard this cookie also referred to as a "Magic Bar," and I can vouch for the magical nature of these cookie bars as they are loaded with pretty much everything that makes for something sweet, crispy and delicious. Now, I'll be honest, I was a bit skeptical as to why the condensed milk was included in the recipe. What do people actually used condensed milk for? What is condensed milk? What makes it condensed? I'm assuming that if I actually knew anything about the culinary field, I'd have a technical answer for you. Instead, I'm just going to attach a link to Wikipedia and hope that the answer there is sufficient enough: Condensed Milk: The Milk, The Myth, The Legend.

And there you have it folks: the easiest recipe I have made to date and one of the sweetest. Just toss a bunch ingredients together in a pan, put it in the oven for 25 minutes, and out emerges your mouth's new best friend for life. I still am curious about all of that condensed milk, but take it from me, whatever it does: it works. So if you're going to ditch one of the layers, make sure it's not that one (and don't forget the butter, or else you'll have a bit of trouble removing said magical treats from the pan.)

Now, please excuse me while I eat the rest of the seven layer bars left in my house.

Keeping Things Rolling

After the traumatic interview I experienced a few days ago, I have been trying my best to stay positive about my job search. Clearly, when you're already feeling a bit down from the lack of interviews and job opportunities, an interview from hell isn't what you need to boost your productivity and optimism. However, I did get a boost of hope later that evening while enduring the post-traumatic shock from my interview. I checked my email and saw that I had been accepted to another grad school! My spirits were lifted and the doom and gloom I had experienced earlier was mitigated at the prospect of heading back to school in the fall and working towards my master's in journalism. Oh happy day! There was a light at the end of the tunnel and I wouldn't have to settle for becoming a pig in lipstick solicitor face-to-face "marketer."

In a way, a weight was lifted. Not only was I accepted to a second grad school, but now I had options. I could go to grad school in the fall at one of two universities (I'm still waiting to hear back from a few) or I could continue my job search for a full-time position or I could modify my search to fit into my grad school scheme. I'll admit though, I haven't been as determinedly and feverishly scouring job sites and search engines as I should be if I do want a full-time job. However, if you've been reading my blog religiously (which, of course you are, how silly of me to assume you might not be), then you'd know that I have sent in seemingly endless amounts of applications to various companies for various positions. Alas! That must have paid off, because not only do I have one interview -- I have two! Take that ridiculous pig in lipstick "marketers!"

Maybe there was something to that whole "all you need to get a date is another one" mantra that Carrie Bradshaw suggested on Sex and the City...Because here I am with an interview on Saturday and Monday for two completely different positions. On Saturday morning, I have an interview with a store at the mall for a sales associate position. Late Monday morning, I'll be treking into Boston for an interview with a medical organization for a position as a manuscript assistant. Getting accepted in grad school sort of got the ball rolling giving me a serious, viable and awesome option for future plans, and now, with two interviews, I don't have to necessarily "settle." Sure, the potential positions might not be what I'm looking for and I may choose to turn them down, but the fact that I can choose to turn something down as opposed to being forced to accept a position out of desperation... Well, that, my friends, is quite the luxury for a recent jobless college graduate like myself.

Did That Just Happen?

Sorry for my brief absence, I was busy with a few things, which, when compared to my current unemployed status, means that I finally had something to do. However, to make up for lost time, I have quite a doozy of a story for you -- in fact, some may call it even a horror story. So sit back in your chair, grab a nice beverage, maybe a candy bar and certainly be ready to laugh or cry at my expense (I basically did both).

Earlier this week, I had an interview for a marketing company that I had minimal knowledge about. The preliminary interview was on Monday and lasted about 15-20 minutes. Basically, I told my interviewer about me and my skills and he gave me a brief rundown about what they did as a company. He explained that they were an outsourced marketing company called upon by big, prestigious corporations and organizations to do face-to-face marketing. I took this to mean that the marketing I would be engaging in would be directly with or to that corporation, maybe in a presentation setting, and thought it sounded intriguing. Later that day, after the preliminary interview was but a distant memory from that afternoon, I got a phone call saying they wanted me to come in for a second interview, which would be a day-long shadowing interview where I would see what they do and be simultaneously evaluated for the potential position. Of course, I thought this sounded like a good idea. Everyone wants that second interview -- that "second date" if you will. They liked me and I wanted to learn more, so I said yes.

I came in the next day curious to see what would be in store for me that day. I figured I'd be hanging out in the office with one of the bosses -- as they had seemed to imply I would be doing -- and learn a bit more about their business. From my 15-20 minute preliminary interview, I didn't have too much to go on. I thought I knew what to expect.

By now, from my lovely story-telling ability, I'm sure you know that this is the point in my narrative where things go wrong. I clearly did not know what to expect. The only thing I knew is that the administrative assistant had warned me to wear comfortable shoes the previous day on the phone. At the time, I took this as strange -- if I'm supposed to be in professional attire and hanging around a business all day, why would I be advised to wear flats? Would I be pulling an anti-Planet Fitness: picking things up and putting them down? Would I be required to compete with other job applicants in a gauntlet filled with physical and intellectual challenges, one challenge of which would entail a 5K?

I found out that essentially, face-to-face marketing was just a glorified way of calling yourself a solicitor. That company and my interviewers would probably argue to the death that they are not solicitors in any way -- but basically, when you go door-to-door to different businesses talking about a particular product, you're looking to sell something to them, and that makes you a solicitor.

Maybe if more people were English majors they might actually know
definitions to words and perhaps, check a thesaurus.
Face-to-face marketing is just another synonym for solicitor.

Listen, you can put lipstick on a pig, but in the end, it's still a pig, right? Exactly. The woman I shadowed for the day seemed to think that they were engaging in some sort of revolutionary marketing technique. Sorry, honey, face-to-face marketing is the pig in lipstick in this situation. You're still a solicitor.

Upon realizing this is what I would be doing all day. I decided I would just be polite (I was on an interview after all), make it through the day, go home and write it off as just an unfortunate misunderstanding. IF ONLY it was that easy.

Yes, I was polite and enthusiastic when chatting with my interviewer. However, she told me that I wasn't supposed to do any of the talking when she was "marketing" other than to make small talk if I saw fit. Of course, I did my usual "hello," "nice to meet you" and "thank you" spiel, because I am polite person and I was taught to have manners, but most of the time, I just kept my mouth shut and watched in horror as my interviewer "marketed" her product (AKA was pushy and persistent) which was some sort of credit card thing (I'm going to leave it vague and ambiguous to protect the identity of said ridiculous "marketing" company).

As the end of the day approached, I did a little victory dance in my head. Thank God -- I was almost done and I could go home, sit on the couch with my dog watching bad reality television, and go to bed. However, as you might imagine, some of my interviewer's "marketing" techniques did not exactly go over well with some of the people she was "marketing" to. We had been going into small businesses all day around one particular town, and her annoying, rude, amateur interesting "marketing" techniques must have pushed someone's buttons. Needless to say, at our last location, we were confronted by the town's police officers.

YUP -- you heard me correctly. POLICE OFFICERS. Someone had called the cops on us. Apparently, my ignorant, thoughtless lovely interviewer and her company did not even think nor consider to check the town's laws to see if she could "market" there. Soliciting was illegal, but no one had even cared to look into that because they apparently don't consider themselves to be soliciting.

While being questioned by the police, I did what any law abiding citizen would do. Basically told them everything my interviewer had done all day, how I wasn't even an employee of the company and how I wasn't actually doing any of the "marketing" and just tagging along. I was like "here's every single bit of information I have on my pig in lipstick interviewer and her company: phone number, address, blood type..." The police officer had said to me that the company seemed shady and my interviewer's "marketing" techniques regarding the "credit card thing" seemed even shadier, which had prompted the cops being called on us in the first place. I was a mix of emotions, but to start, I was mostly: livid, infuriated, and upset. The officers told us that we could actually be arrested because it was illegal to do what "we" were doing. I thought the officers were extremely nice and they offered to let me hang at the station while someone came to pick me up if I didn't feel comfortable going back with my pig in lipstick interviewer, but I figured since we were going back to the office anyway, it would just be quicker to go back with her. The officer tried to crack a joke, saying that he knew the economy was tough and it was difficult to find a job, and I, in the midst of my tears, told him, "Well, yeah, not taking this job. Interview from hell."

As you can imagine, the ride home was extremely awkward turtle. My interviewer tried to apologize, and even claimed that the cops would not even hear her out when she tried to explain what she was selling to them. I told her that was because they didn't want her to sell to them; they just wanted to get a clear picture of what was going on. Her comments only confirmed what I had decided that morning: she was an idiot. I tried to be as polite as possible on the ride home, but when she asked me if I could see myself in a position with her company, I told her no: this position was not what I expected nor wanted. She kept blabbing all the way home about how face-to-face "marketing" was the best type, but I just ignored her and was trying to think about how my parents would react to this lovely ordeal.

Finally, we were back at the office parking lot. I still was supposed to go back up to the office for a few final things, but I told her "NO WAY." No, actually, I told her that after what had just happened (AKA almost getting arrested), I didn't want to go back to the office and just wanted to go home. SEE YA.

I drove home amazed at what had just happened to me. I, Angela, -- little miss goody-goody with her 3.9 and penchant for being the third wheel when hanging out with her mom and dad and a college career as an RA -- could have been arrested today because of my pig in lipstick interviewer and the company. My parents were just as infuriated as I was. I had been duped! And I had my first official interview horror story. Needless to say, I was not happy about my job search and its prospects at that point. However, I survived to tell the tale and subsequently self-medicated with Girl Scout cookies, a Klondike bar and some leftover chocolate cheesecake.



Friday Updates

Just wanted to post a brief update to give a sense of closure to this week. I have been feverishly applying and searching for jobs to no avail recently, but with a helpful suggestion from a fellow job hunter, I applied to this one company and have a preliminary interview on Monday. As you can imagine, I am very excited. When you're applying to job after job, it can be disheartening when you receive no response and no call for an interview. Getting that initial interview is so key, because then that's when you finally get to prove why you're fit for the job and show your potential employer all of your star qualities that exist outside of that 8 x 11 inch piece of paper. Every time I get an interview, I am extremely hopeful and this time is no different, as I feel that all I need is a chance. A resume really doesn't entirely do justice to someone's capabilities or potential, so while I feel like I'm pretty good on paper, I think I am even better in person. Hopefully that will prove true on Monday, so wish me luck and hopefully I will have some more news then!