The night before my first day of work, I was way too excited about the idea of finally starting up my job (after nearly a half year [if you can believe it - time has flown] of not working...!!!!!! talk about penny-pinching and getting sick of job hunting)...so excited, in fact, that I couldn't sleep................................at all...
I had to double my daily dose of B-vitamins...and reach for coffee (LOTS of coffee). haha ;)
Sadly, by the time 5 o'clock rolled around, I was certain I wouldn't be able to keep my eyes open long enough to sit through a professional networking lecture series on Music in the Valley at the local New Leaders meeting at the Seasons Performance Hall (which I was very bummed about - I had been looking forward to that for a month!!). Bummer. Rather than nodding off in front of my local peers, I went home, fixed dinner, and crashed at 7pm instead. ;(
I feel so much better today.
Work is going well so far! Second day under my belt. Right now they are training me on their software systems and data management protocols (yawn). The technology itself seems pretty intuitive for the most part - it's getting used to the new lingo that's been the biggest challenge yet (...picture filling out an application form you've never seen before, one that you have a basic idea of how it should flow - but about half the language on the page looks foreign to you, as though it's written in some latin or germanic-based words that you kinda get the jist of and/or has a bunch of "abbrv txt spk 4 P/C MODs, liab ins, pip, & other ins sys" that you have to guess what it stands for based on its relationship to the rest of the page, but some context is missing & recorded demo training voice guy has some weird accent that distracts you from the program every time he explains the "dee-fot" [default] buttons and "dec" page [all I can think of when I hear him say that is the liam show!...sad!! focus, focus.....]................huh?!....that's about how it feels).
Apparently this "training" period takes about 6 months before I start to feel up-to-snuff on how things run. (I told mom I already feel my competitive edge kicking in: "well if it takes 6 months, I'm going to show them - I'll have it down pat in 2-3!! I'll be their fastest learner yet! Promotion here I come!!") ha! right.
Anyway, the company is built to function entirely internet-based & completely paperless, which is very cool. In fact, they have it so streamlined that I rarely need to move away from my desk to do anything (except reach for more coffee of course). Faxing? Receiving scans? Sending insurance docs? Email. Email. Internet. All at my computer. I'm excited about how progressive they are. Everyone has three monitors on their desk as well! Which does beg the question: why would anyone REALLY need to be IN the office, so long as they have a good computer and a fast cable connection? The work can be done VIRTUALLY anywhere.
(sample picture - not my real desk)
In case you are curious, my actual job - or hired position at least - these days is as a Commerical Lines Assistant for a local insurance company that handles some large-size regional clients (hospitals, farms, etc.). I'm not totally sure what that means yet, but I'm getting the sense that it involves mostly data management and some project management as support to a small division in charge of Commercial Property insurance: some folks in the division handle sales (or as they call it, "production" - why not just call them sales people? I don't get it), some are client relationship managers (portfolio mgrs), some are team managers (supervisors), and others - like me - process the data as support staff (administrative support assistants). The position I interviewed for was a portfolio manager position...but obviously I have to walk before I can run in this new industry, since I don't have direct insurance background. So, they are showing me the ropes to see how high/fast I can climb before assigning me to management (if I get there). Which makes sense. There's a lot for me to learn. It's exciting to be flexing my brain again (but I have to admit - I am still pining to be crunching market population statistics instead, analyzing financial data trends, and driving around a new cities scouting out, assessing, and cataloging old-peoples' homes....I'm just telling myself that this background in Commercial Insurance will only better my understanding of property management, should I go back to the Senior Housing industry in the future someday).
God's got it in His hands.
Little blessings, so far, that I'm happy about (far over and above my last job) - all things said: awesome, fast, up-to-date, company-provided technology (with NO expectation that I am to personally fund and/or maintain my own technology for company-use). A window in my cubicle...it lets in lots of natural light (even if the view is of a brick wall...oh well). My desk faces windows on the opposite wall that let in more natural light and I can see some greenery (even though it's mostly a view of the parking lot and the ghetto-ville neighborhood that our building is located in...at least I can keep an eye on my car). Friday we can wear jeans if we want to...and everyone actually does (versus my last job where we could wear jeans but everyone was competing so fiercly we all still wore our suit get-ups, and maybe just ditched the jackets for the day). I'm expected to be there at 8:30am, to clock my two 15 minute paid breaks, to take my full hour lunch, and to leave no later than 5:00 sharp (lest I be the one to lock the door & turn the lights out at 5:10!! - which you should be very happy about, SMM - it means I have no excuses and may actually be saving YOU a chair at Bob's one of these days now, instead!). The people seem way nicer to work with than in California, easily by 10 fold if not more.
I should probably get going. I have a lunch to make and shirt & slacks to press for tomorrow!
Hope you have a great Friday.
cvo
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