The Quest
 

I held a different thread hostage for several posts and I would like to move the discussion to here.

I lost my job in December, and now The Quest for financial validation of my professional contribution to the success of some local business has begun. Like every other great quest, the Hero will be embark on a journey or effort in pursuit of a goal, often lengthy, ambitious, or fervent (thank you wiktionary).

Before I go any further, I wish to thank (in order of posting):

Sundae Girl
glatt
Undertoad
jinx
Brianna
dar512
Griff
Marichiko
Happy Monkey
Clodfobble
Beestie
wolf
xoxoxoBruce
justmehere99
limey
Brett's Honey
Cyclefrance
mrnoodle
warch
zippyt
Elspode
LabRat
and especially staceyv for finally, mercifully, taking the spotlight off me. Your support immediately following this very unexpected and frankly unwelcome news was a godsend to me. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

This thread has been gestating quite a while, and now it's here. I have made many posts to it in my mind, held many conversations with all of you, in my mind (you're all wonderfully compliant, polite, and supportive in these conversations :p ). But it's time to "get real", or as real as this internet thing gets.

So it has begun. And the first step of that beginning is thank you all.

Onward!

Yessir, onward! But you know, your previous posts and support and stories were what earned you that level of support back. You got what you gave, in this case. (Doesn't happen in every case.)

What did you do and what do you want to do?

Opportunities like this can take you to some interesting and exciting places.

Lest you think I am facing this quest alone in real life, I assure you I am not. I am blessed to have the caring support of a few very good friends out here in 3D land, and their contributions have proved invaluable.

In no conscious order, Steve C, Walid F, David C, Dave M, Howie K, Tim H, Mark G, ... wow, the list really does go on and on now that I try to enumerate them.

Some highlights, while I can recall them.

I was given a couple of binders of good information from a dear friend who was laid off from a local bank. The bank's program included professional third party outplacement, and the material he gave me was their documentation of the whole "get back on the horse" process. It includes many (manymany) steps. It is very thorough, and I'm about 25% the way through it. I'm filling out all the worksheets as though I'm in the self study version of their program. It has been very enlightening.

Another friend, mrnoodle, very generously assisted me in the proofing and editing of my resume. He is as professional as he is brutal. I wouldn't want him as my personal trainer--I'd collapse. Thankfully, I don't get winded as easily when I'm only exercising my yap (or my typing skills). That led to another problem, actually, and he coldly and efficiently solved it. My longish resume now has *no* surplus verbiage (is that redundantly repititious, I wonder?) Regardless, thanks to him, I now have something to distribute with confidence. I feel my resume looks very professional, and I expect it will be recieved and percieved that way too.

Many folks, trying to be helpful, offer suggestions for where to apply (at their own company, mostly) or where to look for openings. Most of these suggestions were pretty good, especially the ones that were job posting sites, a'la Monster.com. Monster.com *is* the king of these kinds of affairs, and I've gotten a couple of nibbles from that source. Also worthwhile are: nwjobs.com, dice.com, **new** craigslist.com, and to a lesser degree, usajobs.com, and jobdango.com.

I'm a computer professional, and I'm looking for a job in technology. This is a good location for that search, and the prospects are promising. I'll post some of the openings I've set my sights on.

I am touched. Thank you for the very kind remarks. :blush:

Quite! But right now my need for a stable cash flow far outweighs my desire for new challenges and experiences. I hear the wild calling, but am commited to deferring the satisfaction of answering that call in favor of supporting my family. Let me be clear--this is in no concievable way a burden to me. The thing I want the most is the welfare of my family. That satisfies me. But someday, that need will be satisfied with far less 9 to 5 effort from me and some of those hours will be spent returning that call.

I am a generalist. Jack of all trades (technological), master of none. The Lone Ranger. Actually, this is quite appropriate to my most recent position. I was the whole IT department. It wasn't that I couldn't do the work, I just didn't like working alone and it caught up with me, so to speak. Look, y'all know how much I talk. I am in love with the sound of my own voice, and it sounds even sweeter when reflected off of others. I really do like some company, professional company (you. there in the gutter. out. now.)

At the last job, I ran all the technology. If it had a blinky light and a power cord, it was my responsibility. I don't mind that work, the variety can be very stimulating. I especially like helping people. Solving problems. I get a charge out of fixing stuff. And I like to talk about it, often while it's being worked out. Not in a showoff kind of way, but more in the "hey, this is cool, check this out" or "Hey! It's all ball bearings nowadays. Now you prepare that Fetzer valve with some 3-in-1 oil and some gauze pads. And I'm gonna need 'bout ten quarts of anti-freeze, preferably Prestone. No, no make that Quaker State." (thanks Fletch!) kind of way.

So I can do mostly all the stuff, I prefer a position that has contact with others, both users and teammates. Oh, and a boss that knows what he's doing. That's not too much to ask, is it?

Actually, wolf, I recently had an interview here. They have some rockstar gear, and (yay!) more than one person on staff supporting and maintaining the technology. One of the informal tests was to leave me in the lobby for 10 to 15 minutes so I could get a chance to be with the clientele. I did, no biggie, and the first question was, How would you handle being around people like that? No problem. I have my own personal space that can be invaded, like everyone else, but I'm a big boy now and I can take care of myself. Plus, I'm mature enough to consider the source and not make more (or less) of any given interaction. Fine, I don't mind working in a place where some of the people in the building have mental problems.

Actually, I think if that was a problem, the universe of potential employers would shrink dramatically, perhaps to a singularity. I've already decided I don't like to work alone--bring on the characters.

OK, so your habit of training people, walking them through the problems/solutions while you solved them, with maybe an extra effort to make everyone self sufficient while you were in LA, led management to decide they didn’t need you anymore? :neutral:

wow. totally missed the announcement that you were sacked. that sucks in december.

two things to remember:

talent can go anywhere

the cream always rises to the top

everything else is details.

good luck

Here, Jim. :(

BigV , Dude I do the same thing , train the least able to do the most , AND understand what they are doing and WHY !!! I have left the suits and ties standing in the middle of production areas befor , JUST so I was comfedent that their workers were compatant at running a new process, THEN I would go meet with the folks that spent all the money .

Have you thought about teaching classes , or joining a training company that gives training on speficic equipment or software ???

Hey, BigV!

Have you considered working for the Feds? Like for example, here's something off USAJOBS.

Sounds like a fun job and the pay's good, too. They had a bunch of others in the Seattle area, also.

Good luck!

Lemme tell you. For years, I went from one job to another trying to figure out what I wanted to do. Scoured the net for ads. Send resume's online. Deafening silence. One Sunday, my wife asks if I checked the paper (Wash Post). I rolled my eyes and told her that nobody advertises in the paper that isn't already on the net so I checked the ads just to humor her. Found ad. Job description was perfect. Sent resume. Got call same day. Had job 3 days later. 6 years later, I'm still there. Blind ass luck but it came from not assuming anything and looking under every rock and being patient (I'd been looking for a good long while).

So the point is that you never know where that perfect job is. Could be down the street or right under your nose. Patience. Diligence. Basically, you are hiring yourself to find a job for yourself. Treat yourself as you would someone you were paying to find a job for you.

Keep at it BigV! I'm with those who say if you like people and talking things through then don't ignore the training type jobs ...
Anyway, best of British to you!

I had a thought BigV , if you are hurting for cash there is all ways the geek squad http://www.geeksquad.com/ ,

One thing though , if you go that rout we HAVE to have a pic of you stylin in front of your geek mobile !!!

Thank you!!

I followed that link, and I am in the middle of a rather laborious login/registration/application process.

As part of that process, I found a couple of interesting questions. The first one made me laugh out loud (yes, I know there's a smilie now. Hush.) The question, and I paraphrase, but only a little, asked "Do you have one year of specialized training OR a PhD in the area of interest?"

Ah, *snicker*, I'd like experience for $100, Alex. 1yr=PhD? Ooooookay. I hope it gets easier from here. :rolleyes:

Later, there was a good question, an essay question. Here is the question and my answer. All editing, proofing and content criticisms are invited. Constructive ones will be considered, humorous ones will be laughed at and I'll disregard the bs ones. Here it is: (yes, they end it with a question mark, not my typo.)
Good question!

Thank you!!

I do look good in a white shirt and black slacks--they set of my plastic pocket protector fah-bulously!

I balked at the part of the online application process that asked for my SSN. :(

I consider my privacy precious and finite* and every time I give away some of it, that part is gone forever. Sometimes that part is connected to the entirety of the rest, and it could be *all* gone. :shock: This coyness is real oldskool I know, and likely a barrier to deeper and wider market penetration by my employment credentials and availability. I struggle with each application with this balance.

Hmm. Maybe I'll just screw my courage up and enter the SSN. Worries me though.





*A new thread on this subject is coming soon.

I agree on the SSn thing , I DON'T like giveing it out , BUT it shows that you are an american citizen , etc,,,,
Hey it has gotten me thru security checks going on to Gubment instalations more than once .

I was thinking about this because you were saying you enjoyed talking to folks and helping them thru tech problems , you say you are a puter wrangler so I assume you can blank a HD and reload soft ware and install printers , etc,,,
You could put an add in the local Penny shopper paper stateing that you can do this much and you would get atleast some calls , and work out of your house .

Besides you could work and look for a job at the same time .

Just my 2 cents ,

Good luck and keep us in the loop .

Whoa BigV, What LJ said. I have avoided that generic thread for some resaon. Anyway, I can't believe they'd do that to you, of all people.

I'm a firm believer in improving one's lot through fateful changes in employment. As the pop star sings it:

"every new begining is some other new begining's end". So there you go.

But as for YOUR job search: I cannot overestimate the importance of reading and following the exercises in the book "what color is your parachute".

Get the most recent edition at the library or buy it. Read it and do the excercises in it. It is more helpful than a barrel of mothers–in–law.

Truth.


This also freaks me out, because I had projected upon you, in my mind, the status of poster child for responsible, stable employed person.

A lot of the dad's in Inchling's playgroup "do something with computers" (according to their wives, ha ha) A few do IT, anyway, they are routinely training Patel to do their jobs and then being sacked because they are unwilling to live in bombay and be paid .27 an hour and be greatful for it. Then they tell me that they are thinking of becoming carpenters.

I'm not sure what this means.

Keep the faith.

:headshake

If they choose carpentry they were not IT people to begin with. True IT people would choose either electrical or plumbing.

This is done. Well, I have a copy (2006) from the library today, and am reading it now. Wowza. Thank you.
Hey, I'm still a poster child. I just have a new poster: "If it can happen to me, it can happen to you."

I moonlight on this poster too: "They don't have to have a reason, and it can come at any time. Be Prepared."

Yeah, brother!

It is all black here.

I'm at the nadir of my search at this point. It could certainly get worse from here, as my creditor's next billing cycle comes up dry. :(

I have nothing.

I've been slogging through the openings on Microsoft's site. 1004 positions matching my job agent's search results. I've applied to about 15 out of the first 40 so far. 1000+ jobs?! I'll read through them all and submit my resume for all the ones I wouldn't be ashamed to interview for. Some of them are definitely out of my league.

Which brings me to another question for the folks here. I have a couple of bare spots on my resume, especially in the area of Unix/Linux administration. I would welcome any suggestions that would give me a chance to improve that deficiency. I have a spare machine downstairs I could cobble together for hands on practice. I have extensive experience administering other systems so the basic concepts are already in place. Am I dreaming that to think that the bulk of the new information will be in the area of new tools and new terms to accomplish already known tasks? Or is it so alien that I'm better off starting with "See Tux run. Run, Tux, Run."?

I have another related subject I would like your input on. I have found myself several times reading the specs for a job and seeing much overlap, and then seeing a line like: "Requires xyz". Then I pass. I count myself out, don't apply. For those postings where the list of stuff I don't have is long, I think this is the right response. But for those where the mismatch is small, I have a harder time doing that.

What are your thoughts? How much of a mismatch between job posting requirements and your own experience would you tolerate and still apply? Applying to all is not practical, since I don't want to spam a given employer, and there's a real loss of credibility if I submit 1000 applications, where some of them are obvious mismatches. Plus, that's 1000 applications I have to track with follow ups, etc. What say you?

It is always possible that the lack in your skillset could be easily filled once you had the job. Not every position advertised gets filled with someone who exactly meets or exceeds the need. From my own perspective in hiring, I would rather hire someone who knew most of what I needed, but had a great attitude and willingness to learn new stuff than some dipshit who knew the drill, but was otherwise a waste of flesh.

Apply. All they can do is say no...or yes.

Its funny because Unix/Linux admin is the only non-bare spot on my resume, and I was wondering whether I'm unemployable.

Actually, BigV, I'd suggest installing FreeBSD and buying one of these books. However, you should realize that it will take some time to come up to speed. Especially if you have no prior experience with Unix.

Thanks guys, I'll scan the library for the books for the time being.

**News flash**

My one interviewer, so far, sent me a nice message today saying that they were offering the job to another candidate.

*sigh*

In my reply to her message, I thanked her for actually telling me (it's not a given... the silence can be deafening), and I asked her if she'd consider two more questions.

1 -- How can I do better in an interview?

2 -- Having seen me and my resume, does she have any friends/colleagues/competitors with computers that need tending? And if not now, then maybe in the future.

Interestingly, the first time the lady contacted me and arranged the interview, I had a call from a headhunter at an agency. The call turned into a 25 minute phone interview. I was feeling preeeety good. But obviously the face to face interview didn't result in a job offer (yet). And interestingly, the lady who said all those nice things on the telephone never called back like she said she would. Oh well.

[cue Twilight Zone music]

After sending the reply described above, my phone rang. A recruiter. Asking (interviewing) me questions about this and that. Nice guy, Pete M, but kind of out of his depth in a technical sense. As he read from his script of questions, my answers prompted some explanations for him--"Uh, what is a VPN?" or "Layer 2 and Layer 3?" I managed to impress him enough, I guess, since he said he was going to email me a formal application.

HOLY COW!

It's really there, in my inbox. Well. This is a pleasant change from the previous trajectory. Ok, it's basically the same set of questions in the phone call and a request for my resume in Word format. Cool.

Here's the "interview". What do you think? Haven't sent it yet, but I will in about 10 minutes.

Don't take that as rejection. It's equally and possibly more likely that they have an incompetent HR department that doesn't follow up with applicants. This tells you that the company is poorly managed, and you wouldn't want to work there anyway.

Hi BigV - just a few things - in no particular order and as I am at work at the moment hitting a quiet few mins (that may change in an instant) I may break off and take up later (also apologise for any crap spelling as not checking usual typing errors - two finger typist and I watch the keyboard and not the screen).

Anyway. First off the essay a few items back - the one thing that sprang immediately to mind was 'process of elimination' - in any problem situation it pays to eliminate the more obvious causes before going for the more obscure. I'm sure you had it covered reading between the lines, but it didn't hit me in the face the way it could have.

Another tip. I've had a few redundancies in my time - 5 and counting. I've tried change of industry/skills but this has so far never produced the result I wanted - the learning curve has been too steep and I have been shelving too much experience that eventually got me back in work once I realised this.

It seems to get harder the older you get. Trying the regular routes for me didn't work - but them I am at an age when most companies are thinking early retirement for my age as opposed to permanent position. So ad trawling turns out for me to be pure masochism without the pleasure bit.

This time around I tried something different. Not sure if it would apply to your field =, but on the surface I don't see why not. I saw an opening to offer a short-term cover service in my specialist field. It's quite difficult for the firms in the area I know best to get over absence through holidays and sickness when it happens,. So I bypassed the general employment agencies, made a relationship with those that sdealt with my specialist field and also set up a website and mail shot for the companies I kenw where i could be of service/. A bit slow to start, but I eventually hit good witha 3 week assignment when som guy went on his honeymoon followed by a return session when another guy took two weeks off. I made sure they gave me written feedback (gave them a simple form) which then stood me in good stead for the next assignement, 3 days a week for 6 weeks about two months later. More feedback - another 4 week assigmeent followed almost staright away - now I was getting a reputation. Then another three week one and then a 6 month local contract that turned into permanent employment.

Thing is that now, if it happens again that I lose my job - I will have no hesitation going the same route.

The only other point I want to make is that what ever happens do something to keep yourself sane. Worst thing is banging the head away at the same thing when there is no result/ I took a job driving a van for a guy I know who has a home delivery laundry anddry cleaing buisness - evening work so it left the dfays free, paid a little cash and kept me active and communiacting with people in general. I also helped out a pal in an antiques shop and also did my own bit of ebay antique trading as well - just to be active and to keep the adrenaline flowing.

THat's about it for now - feel free to PM me if you want to know more or specifics.

all teh best
CF

One thing I meant to add - not sure if it applies in the States but here it is rife. All too often the employer will feel threatened by someone who looks to be older and more experienced, so unless your a perfect 'match' in the employer's eyes (and by employer I mean the very person you will be working for), then you will be on the rejection list before you can say 'go'.

The advantage of the temporary-cover route is that you just don't pose such a threat. You are only there for a limited time, you are not trying to find a permament role, so the threat issue never arises. That's human nature I suppose, and I wouldn't have believed this to be true if I hadn't been the evidence.

Just got a call from some outfit called Amazon.com...

Phone interview Monday, 06 Feb 2006, 1 pm PST. Expect to last 1 hour, may be coding samples required, have resume, pen and paper handy, etc.

Here's the Job Description:
My task now is to research as much a possible about the company, the job, and the tasks described as I can. I wish to be well prepared for this interview. Support is my long suit, but I'm stressing some about the coding quiz... What could that be about? Hi, help desk? I have a problem, and I want you to write a script to fix it... Ditto the Unix support questions.Any suggestions out there? Any help desk jockeys willing to give me clue? I'd sure appreciate it.

See, this is one of those times when I shot for the 80% I could do, and I'm twigged about the missing 20%. (breathe ya dope, breathe).

That's your update. We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

Don't sweat the coding. I bet you can find a coding sample on the net for whatever they can dream up. Sounds like a good opportunity to me. I'd jump on it. Just tell 'em you can code anything then worry about it later. There's plenty of backup to be had. To get a job like that, they need somebody smooooooooth and confident. Make it so.

Rock on V.

PS-You'll have a much better February than the searats. ;)

Dear Beestie, Griff:

Thank you for the enthusiastic support.

Griff: Look for a new thread in the Sports section soon, just for you. :haha:

Just tell them you know all that and goats too. :thumb:

What exactly does this mean? Three months of days, three months of nights? That would kill me.

Just tell them that you're friends with the person who keeps them in business.

(I can't bring myself to try to add up the totals of my yearly purchases. It's just damn scary. But I've been shopping with them since the beginning. If only I had thought to buy stock ...)

I bought six books from them one year and got a travel mug, you must have gotten a cappucino machine!

Big V, Mail, in a box that has Barnes and Noble written all over it, is virtually on its way to you. Once it leaves the kitchen counter.

In the meantime, thinking of you:

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far
To fight for the right
Without question of pause To be willing to march
Into hell for a heavenly cause
And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will be peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be better for this
That one man scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star!

[/at a loss for words...]

Thank you.

[at a loss for words...]

BigV

YES!!!!!

Umm.. so if you get the job, will you be able to see what I've been ordering?
I mean not that it's a problem.... I really don't care, I'm just wondering.

Hi V - good luck with the job. I'm not from anything that close to the software world although I spent a few years at Reuters working with developers designing a few products/product enhancements mainly contributing from the user look and feel angle.

I was told by a software guy I know who deals a lot with ordering software, that the 'intelligence' behind the Amazon customer enquiry interface permits it to change the price offer according to the buying habits of the customer, and it's the reverse of what a lot of people would think. If you only buy, say once every six months, then the price offered is lower than if you buy regularly - logic being that if you return to buy frequently you don't need a discount inducement - likelihood is that you aren't comparing prices with other suppliers when you buy regularly so you don't need to be enticed so much. I think the info should have some merit. Best check out for yourself first though if it is something you haven't heard before.

One other thing - and apologies well in advance if this is a naive and unnecessary comment, but I'd rather state something that may be in the 'bleeding obvious' category than leave it unsaid and kick myself later for not having done so! If you're deep diving into a process, at the basic level elimination is so important. Analysis of any sort of problem is an 'if' -then' series of observations and this one of the easiest methods to use for communicating reasoning - e.g. if this is happening , and if that is working OK and if that also is happening OK then it is likely that this other thing here is most likely causing/behind/something to do with the problem - analysis then moves on to 'if/then' the 'likely cause'

All the best - will be interested to learn how the interview went in diue course.

Thanks to popular demand...

The Amazon.com phone interview went ok. I did not get the job. They were very nice, and efficient, and actually did have some follow up with me (one of the candidates not selected). That alone sets them apart by a few notches.

I fumbled one of the questions, and on another, the shallowness of my linux experience prevented me from embarassing myself on a whole list of other questions. Turns out there are only eight (!) Windows Support people in the whole group, and the rest are linux oriented. Just don't have the chops to run with that crowd.

So, I have recently applied to several other organizations. Here's a subset of them:

Boeing
Nintendo
Real Networks
Alaska Airlines
Comsys

The list of possibilities of a search I set up at NWjobs.com produced over 900 hits, and I read through them all. I culled all but about 200 and I'm slogging through those now.

Screw Amazon, you don't want to move to South America, anyway. ;)
You'll sort out your new employer from the wannabes, soon enough.

[fanfare]

I got a job.

[/fanfare]

[prayers]

Thank you. All of you.

[/prayers]

BigV!!!! welcome back sucka! i've been worried about you. I've been kind of stalking you via your last log in date for awhile.

Soooo... tell us all about it.

Well...since you asked :grin:

I have been at my new position now for about two weeks. You know that song, Henry the Eighth? "Second Verse, same as the First!" Well, this position is just like the one I left. In fact, I reckon my experience there gave them confidence that I was the right pick for them. I am the Lone Ranger again, just ridin' a different range. I have a new actor in the role of Tonto wrangling the databases, just like before.

There's been considerable culture shock, adjusting to the new tribal customs (no company provided coffee. WTF?! Have to join the "coffee club". :rolleyes: What-evah.) My commute time/distance about tripled. Don't cry. It was 5 miles and 10 minutes before. I was...spoiled. But gas was south of $3/gal back then, too, so you can get a little misty if you wish. Work is fine, pay is fair (not so-so, equitable-ish).

I got the lead from craigslist of all places. I love the internet. Phone interview, then scheduled face interview (group interview, co-owners and Tonto vs me. It wasn't fair, but I took it easy on them.) Wait. Wait. Wait for fingernails to heal. Wait some more. Get phone call indicating an offer is in the mail. Leave town :smack: . Let them wait. Respond enthusiastically to offer. Counteroffer. Agree on counteroffer. Start next morning. :cue heavenly music: Breathe.

It is a small company, family owned, and they are at that difficult in between size where they have a lot of computers for a lot of people, and the attendant needs for the inevitable computer failures and frustrations to be resolved. In general, I have a distaste for those that make the money on their on the misery of others, but I have been able to justify my work by emphasizing the good I do. But I am thankful they have problems. So are my creditors.

Speaking of which--we've been melting the credit cards, folks. Ever charge your house payment? It's a bad habit, trust me. I can't wait to pay down that mountain of debt. One. Bite. At. A. Time. I am allergic to debt. Like other power tools, it can make some jobs easier, but you can get in trouble doubledamnquick, and some of those things *don't* grow back. I don't think there will be any permanent scarring, but my new quest is to make that number go down down down.

I'm so, so happy to be working again. Work doesn't define my existence, but I do like the validation of my professional worth and we all know money makes the world go round. It's good. 's good.

It's really good to see you back in the saddle BigV.

Unfortunately, I think for me, my career defines my existence too much. It's not about money, it's about love. I need to feel the love. Seriously.

Break a leg in your new gig, BigV.

Or one byte at a time. Wecome back. :D

That is good news man. I hope you can get through the debt with minimal pain. I've always been debt-phobic as well so I feel your stress.

Welcome Back, BigV! Man, I missed you!

Congrats on the job!

Hey BigV, I knew it was just a matter of time, before you got the new job. Sounds like a good fit for you.:thumb:

:) nice

cue Welcome Back Kotter song.

BigV!!! Hugs to you, and congrats. :) (we had no doubt you'd make it.)

Missed yah.

Yo, V! Welcome back and congratulations. I hear you about that big enough to have a lot of computer problems, small enough to not have the resources to fix them properly situation.

It's great to hear that things are working out for you again, BigV! I knew you had so much good karma earned after Katrina that something would be coming back to you. Congratulations! :)

Right on V!
I have a friend that also had some good luck finding employees via Craig's list.

'Grats BigV, good to have ya back.

Been away for a while, and this thread is one of the first things I check here ... congratulations on getting back into the world of work, BigV!