Hello,
Yup, I worked at Arby's at one point in my career. It was totally a fun job, too. I worked there when I was around 16 years old or so. I clearly remember going on the interview for this job. I was soooo nervous!
The interviewer called in a bunch of us for a group interview. About 6 other people and I sat in a circle answering questions. I remember being such a ditzy, little teenager at the time. My interview skills were pretty much nonexistent. I showed up in a black t-shirt, jeans, and Dr. Martens that had seen better days. My friend had done my nails just two days prior and she had painted little dice on my fingernails... Ha! I was a mess! I got the job so I guess I did well enough. An interview at Arby's definitely does not take much preparation but thinking back at what I looked like that day, I am not sure that even
I would have hired me.
I still remember some of the questions they asked me and how bad some of my responses were. They asked me where I wanted to be in 3 years. In my 16 year old naivety, I blurted out exactly what was in my heart ?I am going to be in China or the Philippines in 3 years?, I said.
I now know that this was the wrong answer to that question but back then I was having a ball telling my soon-to-be-manager about how much I loved the Asian culture. In general, an interviewer?s purpose in asking an applicant where they see themselves in 3 years is to gauge whether or not the person is worth training. Nobody wants to invest time and money training an employee only to learn that they will be leaving the company in a few months. I remember regaling the poor interviewer with my wistful dreams of moving to China or the Philippines to study after high school. I completely shut out the other applicants with my boisterous chatter. My enthusiasm for my job at Arby's was really kind of cute and kind of pathetic. A job's a job and it gave me my first real taste of financial freedom. I had a good time that summer.
You are a wise man, Mikey. Your statements concerning what you value in a person are very well though out and I have to say that I tend to agree. It?s kind of hard to put a label on these kind of things.
Mom sells Sobe? Really? Yummm!!!
I love the melon flavored one. Where does your mom sell her Sobe? Maybe I'll buy one from her.
I could never sell Sobe...I?d hoard them for myself and quickly find myself going out of business.
So you found someone willing to help out a ?bro?? Too funny!
That?s great though. I always root for minorities realizing success, too. My colleagues and I dedicate our lives to evening the playing field through social, political and economic advocacy for minorities and other underrepresented groups. Here?s what I think about housing. Most realtors will tell you that we are not experiencing a housing bubble. It?s in the best interest for the real estate community (realtors, builders, brokers, lenders, etc.) to deny that we are experiencing a bubble. Much research has been done on this topic. What constitutes an economic bubble? When most people think of a bubble they think of the economic bubble that devastated many parts of Asia in the 80?s.
Everything points towards the fact that U.S. housing may be experiencing a bubble but Greenspan and other political and economic experts have yet to state that the U.S. is experiencing a housing bubble. A housing boom, yes, but a boom in housing is significantly different than the sharp supply and demand curves that result from economic bubbles.
Anderson, UCLA and Southern California. The famed UCLA?s Anderson School of Business released a report about 9 months ago stating that Orange County, LA County, and even San Diego County were in what could be considered an economic bubble. UCLA was a reputed but lone voice stating that local economist should reassess their estimation of Southern California?s housing market. It was a pretty interesting report. I enjoy follow some of these reports.
I have friends who have been in the real estate business in the past and I have friends who are in the real estate business now. It?s hard to say what is going to happen with the real estate industry. Based on what I know of this industry, I believe that the housing market will eventually cool down in Southern California (LA, OC, and SD counties). It is my opinion that property in Orange will cool down but this area will simply slow down. This is still a highly desirable place to live and prices will level out eventually. Based on my research, don?t believe that prices will go down that much. This area is not as affected by raising interest rates as in other parts of the country. People here are definitely conscious of the potential for higher interest rates but we have such limited housing resources that our limited housing resources counter acts the affect of higher interest and bond rates.
My belief is that prices will level. This is different than prices necessarily going down. I do think that prices will go down but not enough to make a significant economic impact. Who knows? I follow this stuff on the news and in scholarly journals but these things are really kind of hard to predict. I particularly enjoy reading what some of the financial powerhouses and Washington D.C. has to say about our housing situation. The collapse of our Savings& Loan institutions in the 70?s as well as our heavy borrowing have contributed towards creating a sharp divide between those that can afford to live in their own homes and those who can not.
I wouldn't wait too long to buy if I were you. When you are ready to buy, I would be happy to look over your loan doc?s to make sure that you are getting the best loan for your situation and financial goals. Loans come in so many different flavors these days. I would be happy to help you verify that you are not being offered a subprime loan. Take your time. I plan to cool it, myself for the time being.
It's a starnge place that we call home these days. We live in a country where just a year or two ago the economy was tanking and our idiot President decided to take a month off. It?s kind of weird how Washington Republicans tend to ignore facts, push aside America's real problems, promote partisan sniping and division, and flat out refuse to turn their attention to finding ways we can work together to make America stronger for everyone. Agh, Michael?Bush and friends irritate me to no end!!! They ignore the increasing number of Americans struggling without health insurance. They wrap themselves a little tighter in their golden fleece retirement funds as people like you and me kiss our pensions (something
we count on dearly take care of ourselves
and our families) good-bye. They prey on the poor and the powerless. Empty promises from the Bush Republicans are piling up and it really has got to stop. Do you know that this clown has CDBG funds on the chopping block? CDBG have helped countless families build parks, recreation centers, affordable housing units, created jobs, and even secured havens for homeless people, low income seniors, HIV patients, victims of domestic violence and children. What is he thinking?!? He and his spoiled little twins are safe in their ivory tower but what about the rest of us? Karl Marx taught us that socialism does not work but this is ridicules. Even though the current administration is increasingly intolerant of dissenting voices I believe that it is my obligation, as a taxpayer and a concerned citizen, to refuse to stand by while Washington ignores the problems facing families every day. Seriously, I just want to ensure that my hard-earned cash is going towards helping families and not lining the pocket of some fat Texan who is more concerned with the pork barrel subsidies than what is happening to real people in working class families. Grrrr? they make me mad.
Sorry to get off topic. Back to housing? I?ve been really busy. I did get my loan. Escrow closes at the end of this month. Whoo hooo!
I am so excited!!!
My first property. I decided to do something different than what I had earlier mentioned. I did not accept cash aid at all from my parents but they did help me with some ?creative? financing. I?ll tell you more later. I am happy with my loan though. I am ready to move on to something more fun? like planning a vacation. Italy, you say? Hmmm? that sounds wonderful. I have not been out of the U.S. in such a long time. Always wanted to go to Italy and Greece.
It?s been a busy couple of weeks since school let out. I think I told you that I was in job search mode. I have been offered a new job. It?s a temporary promotion within the same government agency that I currently work for only it?s at our headquarters in Sacramento. If I decide to accept the offer, I get to keep the job for 3 months. I have been offered the position of Section Chief. Their current Section Chief has moved on and they are looking for someone to help manage day to day activities as they do a full blown recruitment to fill this position permanently. My boss encouraged me to apply for the position. Didn?t think I would get it as I don?t have any experience as a supervisor, never mind as a Section Chief but I guess I did o.k. because they offered me the job.
I don?t know if I want to take this promotion. The pay is a lot better than what I am currently earning. They would pay me for 4 months with the potential for an extension if they don?t get a good crop of candidates during the first recruitment. I doubt that my contract will be extended. I think they already kind of have a permanent person in mind but by law they have to do the formal state-wide recruitment. They would pay me as a consultant with no benefits. I would still get to keep my current benefits and my current job would be waiting for me when I get back. It?s just a temporary promotion. They have given me the choice of whether I went to rent a furnished condo near the offices or stay at a hotel for the 4 months. If I do take this job, I think I will opt for the hotel. I think it will make things easier for when I have to come back. Not sure exactly how all that will work but I would just as soon make things as easy for me to pick ?up and come home at a moment?s notice. I think I could do that easier in a hotel.
Anyway, I am feeling a bit, I don?t know anxious, about this decision. I will only be supervising a team of 3 people (2 researchers and 1 analyst). This job will give me the supervising experience that might help me break into a management position here at home. I?ve been on a couple of upper management position interviews lately and I feel that I am batting zero due to my lack of supervisory experience. That is the first thing that people seem to want to know more about during the interview. How many people did I supervise? My current boss says that though he would love to promote me here, he can?t, he has no money available in the budget this fiscal year. He did say that depending on how we are affected by the budget being passed, he would see what he could do about getting me a more substantial raise. Who knows, though? He?s the nicest guy in the world but he?s a total flake?
Anyways, I have a lot to think about. If I take the temporary promotion in Sacramento I would need to begin at the start of the next pay period, not this Friday but next Friday the 24th. Don?t know yet what I want to do. I know that I want the supervisor experience and the chance to put the title Section Chief (actually my offical title will be "Executive Director". The government is strange that way. We all have our working title and our public title.) on my resume is a chance that I should not pass up. I am a little, I don?t know, scared I guess, of going off into the unknown for 4 months. I don?t know anyone in Sacramento. No one. Not a soul. I know that I could do the job. I am just not sure that I
want to do the job. Being so far from my family kind of scares me. My mom can be the biggest pain in the butt but I love her and I like having her close. I know that I should stop being such a baby and embrace this experience but I have never really lived far from home and I have to admit I am a bit scared of leaving. I am leaning towards taking the job, though. Maybe I just need to go, soak in all the leadership skills that I can and than come home in October and continue my job search here with some supervisory skills under my belt.
Like I said, I am not sure what I want to do yet but the pros do seem to outweigh the cons. I could always come home on the weekends if I get too lonely over there. Sacramento is not that far (What is it? Like 8 hours away?) and my contract would be over soon anyway, on October 13th. Decisions? Decisions?
Wow! That is a huge movie collection to get rid of. I hope that you feel good about it. I always laugh at how similar you and I operate. When I want to feel better about, I don?t know, everything, I guess, I start throwing things away, too. I turn into a neat freak and start tidying all kinds of things up.
Happy to hear that your fish tank is doing well. It?s hot in my room this evening. I wouldn?t mind being a fish and gliding through water? fish are so relaxing to watch.
I am still jealous of your dreams of Kim. Must be a sweet feeling to dream of her. I don?t dream at night. I wouldn?t mind falling asleep and dreaming of Timothy. It just never has happened. Too bad. The last dream I had was of you. I went to bed thinking of you and MB going to DC without me then suddenly there you guys were; in my dreams. It was such a trip!!
I have much more to say, so much more to ask you but I have to get to work. MB?s 3 jobs?!? The girl is crazy.
Good luck, chick!! I?ll come back in here soon to hopefully hear more about that. Hey, I go to South Coast all the time. Congratulations on your new job, MB!
My friend lives within walking distance and we meet at South Coast for lunch and shopping often. She?s going to wedding and I might have to go help her find a dress soon.
Michael? thanks. May the rays of happiness always shine upon you, too.
Ciao!