Thursday, April 30, 2009

Hi Ho, Hi Ho













It's back to work I go...

Four and a half months of a break from work is nice.

Nice enough for me to want to get back in the game.

Back at the beginning of April I started poking around online and sent a few resumes out. I saw a posting one morning and sent my resume to a company that was looking for a receptionist from 1-5pm daily. I thought to myself "a marketing company- perfect (my degree) and part time work. Maybe I can answer phones and they can give me small marketing projects to work on at the same time. Part time will be great because I can still do the things like go to the gym, cook dinner, work on other things and have a good balance with work."

After my initial interview with HR, they had something different in mind for me.

Full time. And not being a receptionist.

Okay, its not that bad. But after I left KLAS back in December, I doubted that I would want to work full time again. It all has to do with that balance act of work and other things in life.

Four interviews and several phone calls later, I accepted an offer to work at One on One Marketing (an online marketing firm).

Full time. And not as a receptionist.

Actually they agreed to let me work from 10am-5pm (which I've learned is still considered full time since it's over 30 hours a week and I will be eligible for full time benefits). It's more than part time, but I think those extra hours in the morning will make a HUGE difference. And if 'full time' doesn't work out, they're flexible with me being moved to part time down the road.

I think this will be a good thing and it seems to be a good company- in fact, much like KLAS. It's young (the president is in his early 30's) and under 70 employees. They've got a half basketball court built into their office along with ping pong tournaments. And they are understanding of other family and obligations in life. In other words- work isn't everything to them either.

So, looking back on the past four and a half months of being a stay at home wife, here's some thoughts from back in December with what I wanted to do with my time while not working and what I now have to show for it:

-Learn my camera better and take more photos
I read through my camera manual, but didn't really ever take more photos

-Learn some photo editing software
I picked up tips on photo editing software, but have yet to purchase it.

-Invest in a sewing maching and make some cool stuff
Got one for Christmas, attended a quilting class and have made 2 (small) blankets. Kept a collection of e-newsletters for ideas on future projects.

-Learn how to play the piano
I had my first piano lesson today! Bartering piano lessons for babysitting is awesome!

-Make jam
Check! Three batches of it!

-Do some cooking and be more domestic
Double check! I've done more cooking in the past 4 months than in my entire life combined.

-Travel with Brant more on his trips
I'll miss the freedom of being able to do this the most

-Be a gym rat, including enrolling in a fitness bootcamp
Check! Loved bootcamp and still going strong on my own at the gym!

-Watch lots of Good Things Utah
Check! And bummed that we didn't get to sit in the live studio audience this week like we planned.

-Read lots of books
Yikes! I've only read one. And I'm not even all the way done! (Linsey, you put me to shame!)

-Organize my mission photos
They've organized by transfer... Shannon, are you going to help me on the rest?

-Figure out if I want to go to Grad school
Still in the works and definately still a thought in my mind. Actually, my thought was that going back to work will open more doors if I decide to do this.

All in all, I think it's been a productive 4.5 months.

And on this upcoming Monday- it's back to work I go!

Hi-ho!!

10 comments:

V said...

Whoa! Big news. Congratulations! It sounds like a great atmosphere. I really enjoyed the list you made of things you have been doing. Super cool.

Julie Barnes said...

Wow, back to work... it is awesome the company is flexible! That is great.. are they willing to let you work from home some days?

Lynnette said...

Good luck with the new job. My hubby worked for One on One when he first moved to Provo. I know he liked it there. :)

J+S said...

Congrats on the new job! I can't wait to hear all about it.

Shannon said...

You had a piano lesson???

Mom said...

I think Angels We Have Heart on High is on her list, now.

J+S said...

Kristen, about the lens...it truly has been eye opening. I couldn't figure out last year in Nicole's class why I could not achieve shallow depth of field...a 1.4 f stop does the trick! We found ours on ebay. It was slightly used, still in great condition, and about $40 cheaper than the brand new ones from the store. We have loved playing with it.

J+S said...

Oh, and congrats on the piano lesson! Are you going to continue?

Linsey said...

Congrats, and welcome back to the working world! Looks like you accomplished a lot of what you set out to do during your time off work.

Kristen & Aaron said...

Congrats! I'm excited you got the job! Keep me posted on everything...