Entry Seven: A good job opportunity?

I am not sure if this maters.... but I feel like blogging about it. I have been working towards a long lasting job for at least a cuple years. I have had odd jobs from here and there, and the occasional "opportunity", but thats all it remained... an opportunity. Most of the places I began to work out of were dead end jobs, no corporate ladder to climb, and just plainly miserable - so I quiet. Recently I believe that has all changed.

I had a dream along time ago, around the age of 16. It all took place at a coffee shop of some sort. There was a boy who looked very much like me at the counter, he was laughing with his co-workers and having a good time. Strangely, in my dream I began to envy him, and when I awoke I knew I had to become a burista. But it took a few years to build up enough determination to actually go out for it.

Around the age of 18 (when I acquired a car) the thought was still in the back of my mind, the search began to unravel. Time passed, to a day where I became determined to find a coffee related job. This uncontrollable drive took me to Pasadena, where I spent 8 hours looking for that shop. Unfortunately I never found it, I found a star bucks that was willing to higher me... but It just didn't feel right. My parents also didn't think it was the best decision, I didn't really think about the commute.

There was also a coffee shop by my house which I wanted to work at, it slightly resembled the one in my dream. I sent in an application during the summer, waited about 5 months, bothered them, bothered, them, and bothered them. I finally sent in a second application during mid spring the following year. Five weeks later I was on the job serving coffee, making sandwiches, and memorizing customer names - well I was trying too.

That was a great job but it didn't last very long. My multi tasking capabilities were minimum - at the time (this has sense changed). Meanwhile I was also picking up new hobbies in electronics, I finished building my own gaming computer and eventually that lead me to HAM radio... but I wasn't really able to pursue that very far due to cost. As a young teenager during my video game phase I always thought about working at a Game stop, or Best buy.

By weaving string into my past talents and time spent, I began to develop a much clearer picture of where I would like to work - especially after building my gaming BEAST. I was eventually drawn into our local Best Buy. I started playing squeaky wheel, which didn't work. I didn't lose complete hope though, instead I just left it to god, placing it on my back burner.

About a month later his unseen work began to become apparent. One average night, me and my dad decided to go out to Chillies. We sat down, began reading the menu, and then she walked over - our waiter. Little did I know at the time, she was a Best Buy supervisor. But thanks to my father and his unmatchable probing skills, it became visible. It immediately lead onto a query, then contact information.

Hope was regained! I finally had a contact who could or might... be able to get me in. Knowing this I furiously continued to contact her, using my squeaky wheel once again. After about 3 months it finally prevailed. I was interviewed via phone: passed, then in person: passed, and finally by the head manager: passed. It has been three weeks sense recruitment and I have worked a total of 16 hours.

I am really enjoying my job, in fact I am truly just in love with it. Its like a giant playground, almost like a sandbox. I also like the amount of knowledge I have picked up. In just 16 hours of on the clock learning, I gained a complete up to date understanding of my department. This is great, because the last time I picked up a PC magazine was when building my own. Getting back into the game of Technology feels good, plane and simple.

Also, another thing I enjoy about this job over my previous coffee one, is I can remain in control of the situation/transaction. People tell me what they want (not knowing whats the best), and I get to direct them. I feel like an educator versus a simple sales man or counter boy. Also, when signing on I found out were none commission, which was great. Being a used cars salesman, meeting deadlines, and keeping budget.... sucks.

It gets even better. Last night we had our all store meeting, in preparation of black friday. We broke up into departments and went over our expected sales rate, things to prepare for, and some new data plans and sales we will be putting up. But heres the best part, our store only has two mac specialist (people who are knowledgeable in the product, and qualified to sell it). But because I own a mac at home and have some experience with them, they want be to get certified.

I have already begun doing some of the online "courses", pretty easy stuff. If I get this done in time before the holiday ends, then there is a %95 chance that they will keep me past sessional. If this happens I can finally afford to continue my flight training. I will also be able to reap the benefits of a full time employee! With that, by the end of 2011 my house might be technologically up to par with the 21st century.