The Beautiful Spring of Alberta

Snowing and extreme cold is not unusual in April and even May in Alberta but Global Warming has had a significant effect on that. There haven't been many cold days any more and by " a cold day " I mean a day when the temperature is bellow -15 ℃ (5 ℉) because any temperature above that it's not considered, or perhaps I should say, it was not considered, a cold day.
With that in mind when it snowed nearly 5 cm (nearly 2") the other day I was both happy and sad! I was happy that perhaps this would help to avoid drought and was happy that I didn't have to drive in that condition but I was sad that the temperature was nearly 0 ℃ (32 ℉) which means the snow will melt quickly and we will soon be deprived of the beautiful scenery! 

(Photo: The heavy night snowfall of the last week in a nearby neighbourhood. I stopped to take this picture)

A Phone Interview Courtesy of The M. G.

I was wasting my time(!) on the computer yesterday morning and the telephone rang. It was a lady who introduced herself as an HR person with the company that The Mumbling Guy works for. I thought she might call but didn't expect a call so early. Here's what happened:
I found a position a couple of weeks ago and was going to apply but the product of the company suggest that it was the same that The Mumbling Guy had told me that they were manufacturing. So I thought I should ask him before applying and I did. He said: Don't! I was a bit upset but I didn't because I know he would be the one who evaluates the candidates. His reasoning was someone from the floor had been selected and would start soon, someone who is a relative of one of the managers. 
Nearly a week passed and one they he called and said: Apply for the position in the company I work for! He is the type of the guy who NEVER calls unless there's something really important! So I wondered what had happened. He said that the selected fella would be going to another province for a high pay job. Good for me!
So I applied for the job through the web and also sent my resume to their HR as he had instructed me. The HR person called me just one day after sending the resume, very unexpectedly, as I wrote and sort of asked many questions, some that I had never head in any of the many interviews that I had attended. Here are some:

1) Did you get year-end bonus?(!)

2) How was your vacations or How many days off did you get?(!)

3) How do you deal with issues?(!)

4) Did you have insurance coverage?(!)

I think I've listed the main wired ones!
Then later I received an e-mail and was invited to an couple of interviews(!) at their office. I sent a thank you e-mail and confirmed. The Mumbling Guy though, argued why I had not asked for enough money?! I was going to say that I'm not sure whether I would be hired. Why would I be ruin an interview with a number which most likely not be given to me? He bullshitted for a little while and that was it. Now I have to prepare myself for the interview.

(Photo: I thought I shall use a picture of one of the products of the potential employer but privacy is very important. So I used the line of Natural Gas Pressure Regulator that one of the companies that I worked for as a trainee, many years ago in the old country, manufactured) 

The Second Application

You know how frustrating it is to wait for an interview for days and weeks and then when you're invited to one, you realize that's the same person who interviewed you a little more than 3 years ago! That's what happened to me last week! 

I remember this guy and I remember that I wore a suit and tie (it was probably a very big mistake for a low-level job like that!) and went to this little building while wearing a mask because it was still Corona time and was interviewed. The other details are in the above link, which many might not even bother going there and it's fine by me, but I don't know if the company has its name changed or what. When I first saw the position I didn't realize that I had applied for a job there and had been interviewed because I couldn't remember it. When I checked the address then, I learnt that I had been there!
The guy, this time, wanted to have a phone screening, first! One can imagine why! They call you to interview when it's a pandemic and they screen you over the phone when everything is normal!  

So he called and talked for a short while and I always have my stories set! When he asked me why I was looking for a new job, as I have indicated in my resume that I still work there(!), I told him that I need to be with my family. He also asked about my salary expectations and I know it would be as cheap as the last time, probably a little more, but because I hate staying at home, I'm going to take this job, if I can and then move on. He said that he would like to interview me and would send the address, which I already know(!) and everything. Again, fine by me.

On the day of the interview I'm there two minutes early and he keeps me waiting for about 5 minutes! The funny thing is that the guy recognizes me immediately when I'm shaking hands with him and I deny it, respectfully! I don't deny it actually. I play dumb! I apologize to him and I tell him I do not have a good memory but I also add that I'm more experienced now which indicates that I would be a good candidate for the position! He says that the company has been obtained by another company and that is why, probably, I didn't realize it was the same with a different name! 

He sounds more mature now and this time he offers me a better compensation but I make up so much that at times I think he doesn't believe me because he's looking directly into my eyes without blinking! He never called me after the interview although I sent him a thank you note. I guess I missed this one as well.

(Photo: Phone screening gets rid of a portion of candidates)