I switch jobs a lot…
Author: Jes
First a start off by saying HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone. I know this year is a year of changes and positivity for me. I had a rough/awesome December, (my Nanny passed away Dec 20th) and I am looking forward to the new year!
Back in December a woman that my mom works with started talking to her about a company called Syncreon. It’s an automotive parts supplier for GM located in good ol’ Oshawa Ontario. Now, I didn’t really need a new job, but I thought I would check out their website nonetheless. I was working for a plastic injection molding company as an Office Administrator, but I wore many more hats than just the job I was hired for. I ended up being responsible for shipping/receiving, purchasing, customer service, inventory management, payroll, attendance, and don’t forget the ever constant battle of fighting with my head office in Ottawa to pay their bills so I could make sure we had resin to make our products.
So as I was checking out the Syncreon website, I noticed they had a posting for a Material Planner and Logistics Analyst position. I had majority of the qualifications, but not much knowledge of the software that General Motors uses for their commodities. I figured they would never even call me for an interview, so what did I really have to lose by applying? I fixed up my resume and sent it in.
Here’s the shocking part. Within 2 (two) days of me sending in my resume, I received a phone call from Syncreon’s HR Manager asking me to come in for an interview on Thursday December 16th. I obviously agreed to come to the interview, hung up the phone, and panicked. What was I going to say to my current job to get to the interview at Syncreon? I came up with a clever excuse, and on December 16th, I made my way to my interview.
I was interviewed by 2 (two) people. The Head of Materials, and the HR Manager. Both seem like very nice people from what I have met of them. My interview was probably half an hour long, and consisted of various typical interview questions. By the end, I felt very confident and pleased with how everything went. Still, I didn’t believe they would have any reason to want to hire me, considering there are other people out there who know more about inside GM. The only experience I have with GM is from 2003 – 2005 when I built engines as a TPT in college. So I guess you can imagine my further shock when they called me the NEXT DAY and offered me the position, at a generous salary. As if I could turn them down!
They asked me to start as soon as I could, which in reality I had to wait until January 10th so I could give my then employer notice, and offered me $12,000 a year more than what I had been previously making. I was very excited, but I also felt HORRIBLE about taking a new job. Part of me felt like I owed it to my old employer to stay and continue my every day life with them. I talked it over with my best boy and he helped me to not feel so horrible about leaving. When I looked at the big picture, my old employer had told me before that they could replace me if I ever decided to walk out, the day I walk out, I was severely underpaid for the amount of work I was required to do, and I wasn’t even really appreciated. I’ll talk about that in another post…
Any way, as of January 10th, 2011 I am officially a full-time salaried employee with Syncreon Automotive. I work shift work, which is actually alright. I’m still Monday to Friday, and I have holidays off as well. I’m off for 2 weeks in July for GMs normal shut down, plus we may do a 2 week lay-off for GM to do some re-tooling as they start to launch the 2012 Buick Regal. All in all, everything so far is positive!
read comments (0)Winning in the US of A
Author: Jes
If there’s one thing that you have to understand about me from the beginning, it’s that I’m a Hanson fan. Yes, a Hanson fan. That’s right, I said it. I know you’re moaning in your chair wondering how I can adore those ‘three girls’ from Tulsa, Oklahoma that blew up the charts back in the late 90′s, but for me it’s simple. Isaac, Taylor, and Zac Hanson have been my favourite since ’97. I’ll be the first person to be honest and admit that they’re not a band most people are proud of liking. I get that. MMMBop is kind of embarrassing but a secret favourite amongst more people than you can imagine. Hanson lost majority of their media attention and fan base when they were dropped from their label and picked up by Island Def Jam. Def Jam is a hip-hop label, not a place for a boy band. Needless to say Hanson eventually broke free from Def Jam and created their own label; 3CG (3 Car Garage Records).
I haven’t been to a Hanson concert since Dec 2007, so when my friend told me the new tour dates were posted I was really excited. That excitement lasted about 2 minutes. I noticed Hanson hadn’t posted any dates in Canada, other than in Vancouver, BC towards the end of August or something. Minor devastation set in. Hahaha I’m kidding, I wasn’t super upset. Said friend mentioned we should meet up at the show in Buffalo, NY, and I was instantly on board. Guess who got to tag along with me? That’s right, the boyfriend. My new mission to make sure he was 100% on board was to try and convert him into a Hanson fan. I’m kidding, he was up for it the second I mentioned it. We’re kind of crazy about the whole road trip idea. So planning set in motion. Club Infinity, Red Roof Inn, 3 tickets to the concert. What could possibly be better than this??
….eep
Author: Jes
Okay, so I’m awful already.
I remember going on and on to Rob that I wanted my own blog or my own website. I had things I wanted to write about, thing I wanted to say, or just somewhere to bitch where other people could maybe possibly agree with that I’m saying. But alas I’ve already fallen behind on updating, (seeing as this my second post), and I’ve done a million things since. I have 2 weddings to write about, Fiesta Week, my birthday, camping, toronto zoo, new jobs… so much is going on!
I took a week off work between one job into a new one, so I’ll have time to get some stuff uploaded and inform everyone of the wonderful life of Jes. (It’s not that interesting). Plus I want to get my blog set up so it’s not stuck with the basic wordpress links they put in my page. I’ll figure it all out eventually. Bear with me!
Ode to Car Pooling
Author: Jes
This is my first entry, and I thought I would tell a story of an incident that happened to me a week or so ago now. I used to drive a co-worker to work with me. I say used to, because this event was the straw that broke the camels back.
To start, I hate waiting for people. I’m a normally very punctual person, so when I say I am on my way to get you to take us to work, be ready. On this Tuesday morning, my co-worker decided to text me to pick her up at the Metro, as she walked there to get herself lunch. Okay, I have no problem with picking her up at the Metro, since it’s before her house, but at least ask me, and not tell me. Also, be ready when I get to the Metro.
I show up to pick her up, and end up waiting 7 or so minutes for her to finsh her shopping and go through cash. Already I’m slightly annoyed, it’s 8:15am, we start work @ 8:30. She’s wearing black leggings. Let me also tell you that the day prior, I had picked my cat up from his hotel visit at my boyfriends house, and I let him sit in the front seat.
My co-worker hates animals. She noticed she had gotten some cat hair on her leggings, and started complaining about it on the drive to work. We are also almost late, and I’m becoming more and more annoyed. I pull into the parking lot where I park every day, and because I am so annoyed and rattled I accidentally backed into one of the white pole fence thing that borders the parking area. Now I’m super mad. I’m not saying my car is worth a ton of money, nor is it anything to brag about, but it’s my car.
I parked and my co-worker got out of the car before I did. She walked around the back, and looked at my bumper, then began trying to wipe the cat hair off her pants. I ask her if it’s bad, as I’m getting out, and she exclaims’Yes! It’s everywhere!’ I quickly realize she didn’t care about my car, and was wiping the cat hair off! I told her I meant my car, and her response was, ‘oh it’s fine.’ Well, I don’t know about anybody else, but I don’t think this constitutes as ‘fine’.
And that was the last day I carpooled.