Day -120

I feel like becoming a "decent" unemployed person now. I'm easy to sleep until midday and just lay down as there are nothing to do, nothing to wait for. I even spent 20mins sitting still on the kitchen table and watching the pouring rain; not touching my phone or tablet at all. That's something, usually 2 min would have been the max to be still :) !

Maybe the above is a bit exaggerate description, but it is true that it's like being on waiting mode now. I'm still active for searching a job, no question of that, but at the same time I'm waiting something to happen; when the house is sold, when the new house is bought, when that and that will happen, etc. ? There are not too many concrete things to be done as everything is running smoothly around and all the first months (actually 7) excitement of being unemployed is gone by now.

We could call this period as a "still mode".

Day -121

These lovely pictures shows how wonderful our Finnish weather can be this time of the year.
Welcome back home M&K! You sure you wanna come back ?

Day -122

When I was a kid, I had a cassette (C-tape), cassette player, a paper and a pen. I put The Clash to the player, listened three words of the song, stopped player, re-winded back, listened again, wrote the lyrics down, and the procedure was repeated until lyrics were right (or somehow close). That lengthy procedure took time.. a lot.

And today, kids open Spotify, select the song, open TuneWiki (application in Spotify) and they receive all the lyrics right to the screen. Done in seconds.

".. My friend's got a boyfriend and she hates that dick
She tells me every day
He wants more dinero just to stay at home
Well my friend, You gotta say:
 I won't pay, I won't pay ya, no way
now now Why don't you get a job
Say no way, say no way ya, no way
now now Why don't you get a job
oh yeah
I won't give ya no money
I allways pay
now now Why don't you get a job
Say no way, say no way ya, no way now
now Why don't you get a  job!
"

and here (and hear) the whole story (first the chick and the the lad) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhalnCwP82s

Day -123

yesterday in Tampere, today in Turku. Or just a quick visit and a morning coffee in the city.

ASCHAN

Kauppiaskatu 9
20100 Turku
044 7500405

Näytä Google Mapsissa

 

Day -124

This is how I have introduced myself lately:

"Dedicated and result-driven manager with 10 years of domestic and 7 years of international experience in telecommunication software business.

Having excellent interpersonal and communication skills through management of global multicultural teams, R&D site and personnel, and via coaching of colleagues and customers, and number of customer presentations.

Specialized in working with global customers and colleagues by leading SW projects, product development and management, and driving process improvements, which all have helped to gain an excellent global customer relationship, project and process management skills.

Contract negotiations, chairman responsibilities, and setting up various technical working groups and teams are all tasks, where strong leadership skills were required, and where my activity, initiative and decisiveness have shown its best."

Day -125

Today I've done.... hmm.. let me see.. nothing more than.. nothing. Not sure is it a good sign or not, but who cares :). But tommorrow I'll run behind a ball with my stick having a good attempt to hit someone.. I mean the ball..all day

Day -126

I mentioned that there is a need for a change this spring, and now the first steps towards that direction has been made: the house is in the market; the contract is signed with real estate agent. No more details to be announced yet, but I'll attach the link once in the web.

Is the house sold before or after I have a new job? The race has started, bets are in:-)

Day -127

I got a ticket for illegal parking in front of the library today. Annoying. There was a 60 min free parking, but I spent 85 min in a library. I was reading Finnish grammar books to find out rules for compound words. Finnish and English are totally different on compound words. Like: "Mobile core network" is "matkapuhelinrunkoverkko".

And I need a sentence to my Finnish CV for "Management system of mobile core network", which could be "Matkapuhelinrunkoverkkohallintajärjestelmä" or "Matkapuhelinrunkoverkon hallintajärjestelmä". I reckon the latter is better, you agree?

There other similar type of words, which make my Finnish CV to look unprofessional.

Day -128

I'm in a bad mood. Not having a good week.  Just feeling a bit down, nothing serious.
You may read this blog today instead: http://www.shoptravelfood.blogspot.fi/

Day -129

Repikää siitä:

"
The number of jobless people around the world rose by 4m in 2012 to 197m (around 6%) and is expected to grow further, the UN labour agency has warned.

In a report, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said the worst affected were youth, with nearly 13% of under 24-year-olds unemployed.

It said global unemployment was projected to rise 5.1m this year and by a further 3m in 2014.
"

Day -130

yet another rejection received today. This time from Intel. I got all required assest and more, but I wasn't choosen for the first interview round, how familiar. And it's not question of having a crap CV format, the English version is pretty ok now-a-days.

Day -131

olipas masentavaa luettavaa; eipä ollyt yhtään duunia, joka olisi sopinut "any" kategoriaan Porin alueella. Pisti taas mielen matalaksi... parempi pistää kone kiinni tältä päivältä ja avata vasta kun fiilis parempi.

Day -132

Tomorrow is Monday again. On Mondays I'll scan through all new job ads via various forums and web sites. It could take 5 min or couple of hours, depends on number of jobs available and how much information I'd like to search of the company in question.

Tomorrow I'll turn a new page on my job hunting strategy and expanding it totally new area. Basically, any job will do. I'd like to what are my chances, and start working immediately, if interesting enough, even if the salary would be low.

There was no point of doing "any" job last year due to very high taxation. But in year 2013 my tax % is low and it makes sense again. This could work out as temporary solution ?

Day -133

Still alive.

Here's some photos from yesterday.

 

 

and thanks JP for these:

 

Day -134

I'll meet my ex-colleagues tonight. We'll travel to middle of nowhere and will spend the night in the cottage and discuss politics and have a cup of coffee and tea, and some biscuits. (like we always do here in Finland with friends, in the cottage)

There is a sauna and smoker (?) (savustuspönttö), which is actually good as the weather forecast says :

Shit, we gonna freeze our balls off.  (Maybe a cuppa or two is not enough after all..)

I'll continue the blog tomorrow if I've survived.....

Day -135

Tough times. Tough times. Yet another layoffs announced today here in Finland.

I went through couple of forums related to unemployment and there are comments like: ".. there are many many ex-NSN and ex-Nokia persons queueing for new jobs, and looks like these people are not favoured by employers anymore, thus many won't even reach the first round (for interview)...

I'm not the only one feeling the pain. The game is getting serious, and there are only a few winners and many disappointed faces around...

Day -136

I'm late again, blame FC Chelsea , I was watching their game and couldn't believe them not winning Southampton FC at home. Damn!

I was playing floorball tonight and got a hit by stick to my left eye, or for the corner of the eye. I didn't mind first, but at home, I lost my vision for a half an hour. Not complete by any means, but the vision was blur, in both eyes. I was getting worried and already planning to see a doctor, but the vision came back and I don't think there's nothing wrong after all. There is a open wound, but does not need any stitch.

Here's one more picture from Lisbon.

Day -137

All day travelling yesterday. Arrived at 03.00, via Munich. No free WiFi around airports --> no blog updates.

Day -138

Day -139

Day -140

today, in a minute,  we start a quick visit to:

 

and no, the home is not empty, but occupied, so all robbers and thugs: don't bother.

Day -141

Enjoy the stage with the jam session by RHCP..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJYwnBUM9Tc

Day -142

It's kind of funny how one single call and brief interview gives you hope. Since the call, I have started to read more articles and papers related to technical area in question. I have also written a story about who I am, what is my core as a person and my career history. Just in case, they will call me again. The call was the needed boost to think and write that all down. Now I'm a bit more prepared to answer they possible questions. And even they never would call again, it's no time and effort wasted.

Day -143

Dark clouds in Lisbon. Höh.
www.lounaassa.blogspot.fi

Day -144

Eurozone unemployment rate is 11.8%, which means there are 19 million persons like me. Somehow it doesn't make me feel any better.

Spain recorded the highest unemployment rate,  26.6%.
Greece had the second-highest unemployment rate, 20%
Lowest in Austria (4.5%), Luxembourg (5.1%) and Germany (5.4%).
http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Unemployment_statistics

Day -145

It must be said that day by day I'm getting more and more restless not having and not getting a job. Last week I found couple suitable ones, which made my mood a bit more relaxed, but now it's quiet again, and I don't like it. There should be loads of options to choose with. The though "what if.." comes to my mind more often. Did I make a wrong decision to leave last summer, should I have tried to stay after all?

So it's not all glory, but the gloom is sneaking in step by step.

BUT THEN, I got a call from UK later today and I was INTERVIEWED shortly by a lady regarding one of the job I applied last week! The first one! I might have a second telephone interview next week, they said, as I have pretty good match for the position (among hundreds of other applicants). And it sounded even more interesting position when explained via phone. (I don't release the company name yet to you).
Nothing to be excited, as it was only the preliminary touch, but still, the first..

Day -146

I saw one of the world's seven wonders today: the SUN ! It might not be part of defined wonders generally, but surely it is here in west coast. And I can prove it, see photos below (@13.30):

Day -147

Wärtsilä (Vaasa) informed via mail that they don't need me to manage their requirement management as Solution Manager post. They "regret" that I wasn't choosen. Damn right they do.

The position was pretty much same kind of I use to do some years back, in different technology though. Thus I expected to reach second round, interwievs. Failed again.

Day -148

Year 2013 is only 4 days old and I have already applied 4 jobs. No, there are no new jobs around here, but I extended the research to capital area. There are decent amount of jobs available.

Day -149

I mentioned that the year 2013 will bring some changes, a big ones I would say. Stability is good. Change is even better.

I'll sell the house. That's on the top of my list. This house will go to the market in couple of weeks time, and expecting to close the deal in 5 months time, before summer. Wanna buy? (The price tag is not decided yet, so wait until sending the cheque).

We'll buy a house together with Virpi. We have had two separate address for more than 4 years and it's time to move on. We are hoping that to happen in a summer time.

Oh, before we can buy I need to have job too; just a small thing to keep in mind. (more likely we need a mortgage and even though they are nice fellows in a local bank, I doubt they would give me a dime without a job status).

If the house is sold sooner than expected, it could lead to the situation where I have sold the house, but not have a job yet--> can't buy a house --> need to get temporary solution where to live with the kids . But that's sounds just fun, something different again. Will see. (I know it would be wise to get a job first before selling, but that sounds so boring (yawn). It good to get the ball rolling, I have waited long enough.)

Day -150

Hi, it's me again.
A new year, a new layout, a new numbering schema and a new tactic. These pages are not necessarily updated daily anymore. The content will be as poor as been so far; pictures added if taken. Language could be English or Finnish, but not Swedish. Your comments are not monitored or censored, but noticed.

I failed with my 200 target. Did not realize the size of open positions around here, I overestimated. I must extend the region, a lot. Luckily I have this buffer; the size of the buffer is 150 days.

Must be careful not to exceed the target again. It would not look good in my CV. Should do some kind a plan again, shouldn't I. Or just find the damn job!

Even though I will use more time to find the job, I'll still continue to Live my abnormal life.
We will travel to Lisbon soon to visit our friends to start with and hopefully to Miami in March time frame. (We even agreed to drive through The Route 66 in a near future, but that's not gonna be possible in spring 2013, I'm afraid. Planning can start though.)



Day 200

Day 200! Wau.

Am I going to work tomorrow? Nope. Am I close to working in the near future? Nope.

The statistic of last 200 days is pretty sad reading. There have not been many promising job ads around Satakunta. Nothing to be excited for. I have applied for less than 8 jobs during 200 days. Haven't got any interviews, not any kind of contact at all.

On the other hand, I have had a good time, enjoyable time. Had some travelling around (Alanya, London, Budapest), many cups of coffee in coffee shops, done more exercise than in years, thus feeling physically better. I'm less restless than use to be; I can actually enjoy the time just passing by and not rushing around too much. Done small things, which haven't been too keen to do earlier. Lived the every day life a bit different mode. The life is in good balance in overall. Good.

Been optimistic; but the optimism is fading as the time runs on. The year 2013 needs changes, maybe dramatic ones. But I'll tell about those changes more tomorrow.. stay in tune :)

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The future of the blog is unknown, continues by time being.