A conference "from the other side".

So yeah, I am unemployed. If you know me, you know this about me. And I am bored. So today I volunteered at a conference.

It was funny being a volunteer. Some assumptions that I made (like that I would be monitoring the same room all day, instead of moving around) were wrong.

Also-why not just give me the packet (with the speaker info and session description I need to announce) for each room I'll be taking care of in the morning, instead of having to hook up between every session to get the info? It probably wasn't ready first thing this AM, and I definitely understand that.

Just a couple of things for me to think about the next time I am planning a meeting or conference. Heck, if I am lucky enough to have room monitors for every session at the next conference I plan, I'll consider that a victory.

Setting: today, conference and trade show.

OK, I am going to have to start this off by saying that even though I would prefer to wear pajamas ALL THE TIME over getting dressed up and stuff, that I really don't think jeans are appropriate attire for a conference/trade show unless they are part of your "booth uniform". What am I, 100 years old? I guess so.

So today at this trade show, the City of Arlington, TX (where Cowboys Stadium is located) has REAL Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders at their booth. Both were named Ashley, and they were so sweet. And would you believe that some meeting/association professionals (women of a certain age, I am told) COMPLAINED about that? Hello? Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders? A Texas institution! What is wrong with these people? They are clearly not my people. They are the ones that I am waiting for to die or retire so that I can have a job. Old biddies. Yeah, I'm not as young and hot as them but their simple presence doesn't offend me. As I said to somebody at the booth that told me about it, "Bend over, remove stick."

I also met a lady today who moved down here from Minnesota about 2.5 years ago. She told me it took her a year to find a job. Seriously, the association people in this town die in their jobs. On the bright side, I'm halfway there! Ha.

And even though some of the small cities in TX (read: not Houston, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, or San Antonio area type cities) had really cool booths, I know I'm going to be really sad if I get a job with a state association where I have to plan all of my meetings in Texas.

That's all for now.

Thank you for your interest.

Dear Kristine,

We wanted to follow up with you on the status of your application for the position of XXXXX. While we were impressed with your qualifications, we have decided to
pursue other candidates who appear to be a closer match for the position.

Please feel free to apply for other open positions that you are interested in.

Thank you for your application and best wishes for a successful and bright future.

Best Regards,
XXXXX company

Yeah, bulls### people.  I can read a job description.  I fit the qualifications SO WELL and you didn't even interview me.  So, just bite me.  

That's all for today.  

Holy job rejection.

OK, so the other week when I was in Boston I had a phone interview that I thought went really well, and that I'd hear back the next week on moving forward in the process.

The next week (which was last week), I hear nothing. So, Friday morning I e-mail HR.

No Response.

Friday afternoon I see the job re-posted on a major industry job board.

Um, OK.

Finally, TODAY I get an e-mail back that the position was re-posted (duh) and that nobody that was interviewed is still under consideration for the position, and that letters will be sent out stating that.

Um, OK. Let's not E-MAIL candidates. Because e-mail is fast and free. Let's send them a LETTER. But before we do that, let's RE-POST this job on a major industry job board so that they can feel like they were stabbed in the heart when they see the posting!

Sounds great to me!

The fact that this all happened with the university I graduated from makes it sting even more.

FML.

Held hostage at the nail salon.

Oh, my word. Just earlier today I was talking to my dear friend Julia about how I think of getting a pedicure as an errand, instead of "Yay! A pedi!". And then I was held hostage at the salon for TWO HOURS.

I arrived and signed in at 4:15. 4:30 came around and the three people working at the salon were still working on the same three people they were when I walked in. They were all getting acrylics. I got up and said I'd come back tomorrow, because really, no BFD, I don't need a pedi like RIGHT NOW or anything.

But they were like "Oh, no-we're almost done, blah blah." So I stay. And they put me in a pedicure chair soon after.

And I sat. And sat. And sat. It was hard to be totally peeved, because I was reading magazines and all, but I was a prune by the time they actually got to me.

When it was all said and done, I left the place at 6:20. Geez. That WAS a chore.

Question-why do they never want to cut my toenails? Are claws in style now? Yes, I know I have short nail beds and that when my nails are nicely trimmed, they are SHORT. And I am ok with that. I prefer it over having the nail pass my skin. WTF?

I thought that since I am already annoyed...

That I would post about annoying travel experiences.

1) Please listen to the flight attendant's advice of putting your small shit UNDERNEATH THE SEAT IN FRONT OF YOU.

2) Same applies for your coat-please do what the nice people say and DO NOT PUT IN THE OVERHEAD BINS UNTIL ALL BAGS HAVE BEEN STOWED.

3) Especially on an airline like Southwest, which allows you two checked bags for free, consider CHECKING YOUR BAG.

4) Baggage claim-please do not STAND RIGHT UP AT THE BELT. Especially at an airport like AUS that seems to only ever use two carousels at a time out of the available six.

5) Some of you are just TOO STUPID TO SELECT YOUR OWN SEAT. So, if you are a family that needs to sit together, whatever....PAY FOR EARLY CHECK-IN so that you can get into group A, LIKE I DID.

6) Also, if you are one of the LAST PEOPLE ON THE PLANE on an open-seating flight (like on SWA), don't walk past the open middle seats. You just walked past YOUR seat.

Thanks for flying.