Apples and lettuce and pears! Oh my!

Damon is hard at work stocking those bananas.

Damon has joined the ranks of the employed.  After completing an online application, a 1 hour aptitude test, two face-to-face interviews, a 4 1/2 hour test and 11 training videos and comprehension tests, Damon was hired to work in the produce department.  Can you imagine the hiring process for a manager?! Damon started 2 weeks ago and seems to be settling in well. He says the  job isn't too demanding which  is great because it leaves him plenty of time for class and studying.  The past couple of months of job hunting has been humbling but I am so proud of him for sticking with it.  And hey there are perks to working at a grocery store...thanks to the 5% employee discount, our consumption of fruits and vegetables may increase this year!  We are truly blessed and feel thankful to have both found jobs.  

Kangaroo, not just cute but tasty too

A couple days ago we went to Mark and Claire's house for dinner.  They are on the left and Claire's brother Peter was in town visiting.  We met Mark and Claire through Eastside Church of Christ where we all attend church.  

We celebrated Earth Day by eating Kangaroo kebabs by candle light.  I was amazed at how good they were.  As you can see Amy sure is enjoying her kebab. We had a good time.  Thanks guys.

My Wife Rocks

Amy is at work right now.  This is the second day of the third job she has had in the last three weeks.  Confusing?  Yeah, me too.  She first took a job at a hotel.  It wasn't good.  It was in a bad part of town, she would have had to work late nights and early mornings and it didn't pay very well.  And as you can see from my last post I am not contributing as of yet.  So we made a deadline for ourselves.  If Amy didn't get a better job by the 29th of March we were going to pack up and go home because that was the last day for me to drop classes and get my money back.  This may sound drastic but the cost of living in Sydney is astronomical and we simply didn't have the money to stay and we had both been turned down so many times that the prospect of finding a job was bleak.  Amy had one last interview on the 28th at a doctor's office.  I was already packing because after the interview employers always have to deliberate and call you back in a couple of days.  She went into the interview and wowed them.  The HR lady told her she had four more people to interview so she would let Amy know soon.  Two hours later she call and said she cancelled the interviews with the other people and wanted Amy to start tomorrow!  This job had better hours, better pay, was in a better part of town and made it possible to stay!  After working there for a week she got offered another job making more than we ever hoped for and that is where she is now.  She is the Marketing Coordinator for a company who own 100+ funeral homes.  I know, sounds creepy but she works in the corporate office so she doesn't see dead people.  When she told me she was going to do marketing for a funeral home I immediately had this picture of her at a nursing home saying "You aren't looking so good.  Here is my card.  Call me."  She is actually working more with advertising instead of sales so unfortunately no ambulance chasing.  So thanks for all the prayers.  We are definitely learning to trust God and have patience because He knows what is best.

A Bachelors Degree isn't what it used to be

Did you think when you donned the square hat and the black robes and walked across that stage $60,000 poorer a great job was on the horizon?  I know I did.  Well after two months of tireless searching, I sit writing this blog with not a job in sight.  Looking back on the last couple months I would like to share with you the best of "Damon looking for a job" in no particular order.

S - Store

D - Damon

Where:  Woolworths - a local supermarket.  

What: Stocking shelves at night

Reason:  S: I'm sorry we have had more qualified applicants apply so we cannot short list you for this job, not once, not twice but three times!  

Comment: More qualified?  I didn't even make the short list?  We don't shop there anymore.

Where: Local coffee shop/sandwich shop

What: Sandwich maker

Reason: S:Do you have any experience?  D:Umm...I make sandwiches at home.  S:I'm sorry mate I need someone with experience, I don't want to have to babysit you.

Comment: Babysit?  Really?

Where: Dry cleaner

What: Cash register

Reason:  S:We are looking for a woman.  

Comment: Oh, so that sign on the door that says we don't discriminate is just decorative?

Where: Call center

What: Answering phones

Reason: S:We need someone with two years experience in a call center.  D:I have that.  S:Sorry mate we are looking for more experience.  

Comment: So what you meant to say was three years?

Where: Apple Store

What: Selling Apple Products

Reason: S:What do you primarily use your mac for?  D:Since I am a student now, I primarily use it for word processing and internet research.  S:I'm sorry we are looking for someone with more Mac knowledge.  Thanks for your time.  D:How do you know what I know?  I just answered your question.  You didn't ask me what I know about Macs?  S:Sorry we are looking for someone with more Mac knowledge.

Comment: Maybe I should have put on my resume that Amy is a member of the Facebook club "My Husband Loves His Mac More Than Me" created by Kelly Barneche.

Where: Gelato Shop

What: Dishing up Gelato

Reason:  D: Are you guys hiring?  S: Sorry "Champion" we don't need any help.

Comment:  At least he thinks I am a champion

It isn't all bleak.  I just had my second interview, that's right second interview, with Cole's, another supermarket, to stock produce.  This is the final step in a three week process where I had to take an aptitude/SAT/psychological test.  I passed with a 92% and so far so good on my reference and background check.  Maybe I will know something more next week.

I hope you had a bit of a laugh with me.  God is good and he will find me the right job.  So, no worries!