Caith721 (imported) wrote: Tue Jun 21, 2011 3:24 am Isn't it a great feeling to hear that "good Wow!" ? Congratulations on healing quickly and well. Remember to keep track of the improvements, either weekly or monthly. They're often very subtle and are definitely worth remembering in the long term after you're completely healed and recovered.

Thanks for the congratulations, Caith!

Keeping track of my progress is a terrific idea. I could even attempt to get photos with my point and shoot camera. I would do this solely for my own use, of course.

I can easily tell that there is a huge difference between how things look today versus just a few weeks ago. As the swelling continues to go down, I can see that Dr. Brassard did a superb job. Clitoral hooding is very good for this one-step surgical method, as I can tell by looking at post op photos for different surgeons on the web. My inner labia definition is also coming along well.

A few days ago, I wore fairly tight form-fitting pants for the first time. I might try going out in heels again soon, although I'll likely avoid running in them for some time to come[qu

Danya (imported) wrote: Mon Jun 20, 2011 5:25 pm

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Danya (imported) wrote: Thu Feb 17, 2011 11:44 pm ]
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Job search update:

Monday seems to be a sl[

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ow day for new job postings and calls from recruiters. [quot
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The one call I got today was for a permanent job in
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Danya (imported) wrote: Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:32 pm the SW suburbs. I am very qualified for this. A fr

D [/quote] anya (imported) wrote:Mon Jan 31, 2011 9:03 pm iend in a similar line of work agrees that there are not [quot

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likely to be many people who are. So I may have a de

Danya (imported) wrote: Mon Jan 24, 2011 6:58 pm cent shot.

One recruiter, in New Jersey, sent an ema[quote

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il about a job in the Bay area of California. I will
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Danya (imported) wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:39 pm pursue this, too. I'm willing to do this because I wo

Danya (imported) wrote: Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:58 pm rked my way out of feeling a bit down yesterday. That [quot

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led to my comments on not wanting to leave Chicago.
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Danya (imported) wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2011 7:44 pm As long as I allow time to get out and have a littl[quote=

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e inexpensive fun, as I did today, I continue to do we
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When I do get out, it is usually spur of the moment, after I've done all I can for my job search. Friday evening, I took the 'L' downtown to Millennium Park for a free concert of works by Poulenc and Mendelssohn. Saturday evening I went to a free jazz band concert at a suburban college. Several well known jazz musicians were guest artists; it was a wonderful experience.

I continue to feel in a fine mood nearly all the time. This blows my mind, considering I have no job, I do not yet know if I will be eligible for unemployment insurance, my financial resources have drastically shrunk over the last two years due to transition expenses, I may need to move for employment and so on.

I am simply happy.

This morning, I noticed a new job posting for the botanic garden. I will go after this.

Yesterday, t least three recruiters contacted me about a job in the northern suburbs. All of the agencies were on the east or west coast. Interest from multiple people is a good indication that what I offer is a good match for this job.

I applied through the first recruiter to contact me. This morning, he called to say that the company liked my resume and wanted to interview me. I've been through this before. I'll believe it when and if it happens.

I will wait another week or two to decide if I should remain in Chicago. Among major metropolitan areas, the Chicago job postings for my career continue to be quite low. I cannot afford to wait here too long when the job market is much better in several other parts of the country.

I don't have the resources to wait around the Chicago area for months to see if someone offers me a permanent job. The contract and contract-to-hire opportunities are also not nearly as numerous as they were last year at this time.

Late Friday, I spoke with a recruiter about my conclusion that the current Chicago market for what I do is much poorer than most other metro areas. I told him that Boston, for instance, looked to be much better. He agreed with me.

Portland, OR seems to be another hot market, as I have tracked it over the last few months.

My Minnesota woman friend told me this afternoon that this is all a numbers game. She's right. I need to continue applying for jobs until I get one. The problem is, there are few here to apply for. In the last four days, I haven't found a single one.

Recruiters are still calling and I have been submitted for several permanent jobs. I am being contacted, though, by more recruiters outside Chicagoland.

When I moved here last March, I was applying for jobs every day. The situation has changed, so I continue to evaluate my options. This is time-consuming and it wears me out. All I want is a 'normal' life. At least to be able to stay in the same location for several years. Is that too much to ask? No, but I accept that it may be too much to expect. Such is life. I will do what I must.

I continue to rule out potential offers in areas that I consider undesirable for trans folk. For instance, a recruiter wanted to submit me for a permanent job in Appleton, Wisconsin. At first, I thought terrific. A place named Appleton sounds very pleasant. Turns out it is extremely socially conservative and, to top it off, the John Birch Society is located near Appleton.

My hormone doctor, who has trans patients from all over Illinois and parts of Wisconsin and Indiana, agrees with the prevailing wisdom that Illinois is great for trans folks, as long as you are not south of Interstate-80. He doesn't think it would be a good idea for me to move to that area, even though he has told me more than once that I pass well. That can become irrelevant if some not too nice person were to find out I am not a natal woman.

Generally, I continue to feel upbeat about the future. When I get too worn out from my intensive job search, though, I can feel down for a time. Then I know I need to relax and take care of myself.

A few people send occasional PM's asking for details of what certain things feel like, or what's the most significant difference I've noticed and so on after surgery. With the many hours I'm putting into my job search, I do not have time to answer these types of PM's. Then again, I say no more or less than I want to about my surgery on this thread. When and if I have more time, I may provide more details.

One thing I did not expect from GRS was for it to radically change my life. So I was not disappointed when it did not. I do feel more complete and more confident. A lot of my increased confidence may be more from the satisfaction of achieving a major life goal than from surgery itself. In the end, I don't care about the source of these feelings.

I have started scheduling in 'quality time' just for me to relax every day, even though I want to spend every waking moment on my job search. This way I stay in a good mood, a very important thing for me to do well at interviews. I spent two hours at the botanic garden yesterday evening and an hour this evening.

A second recruiter has agreed with my analysis of the Chicago area job market for my career. Things may yet work out here. I have two phone interviews with hiring managers tomorrow. This morning I had a phone interview for a job in Pittsburgh.

'X' - I see him occasionally and the relationship we have now is strictly friendship. After leaving the botanic garden this evening, I met him at a restaurant that serves hamburgers for $2 every Tuesday. For the first time, I'm able to discuss politics and know that neither one of us will lose our cool.

I had so many calls from recruiters today, and job applications to submit, that I was unable to follow my own advice of giving myself time to relax every day. As a result, I am feeling a little anxious about an in-person interview I have tomorrow afternoon in a nearby suburb. This is with a hiring manager and it is for contract job. Once again, writing here is allowing me to relax.

I may very well have another interview for a contract-to-hire type job in a day or two. This is with the downtown company I worked at the last half of 2010. I won't repeat the problems I had with my very difficult boss. This new opportunity is in a different department and I would not be working with her.

Tuesday, I have a phone interview for a contract job in Pittsburgh. If I am offered the job, I just might take it. The benefits are outstanding for contract work. This job would give me my first experience working in the health care industry. That would be terrific for my resume.

Danya (imported) wrote: Tue Jun 21, 2011 2:23 pm

Danya (imported) wrote: Mon Jun 20, 2011 5:25 pm

[/quote] Danya (imported) wrote:Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:55 am
Danya (impor[quote="Danya (imported)" time=1

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Danya [/quote] (imported) wrote:Fri May 06, 2011 1:22 pm

You continue to amaze me...Good luck in your job search...Mr. Big...hehehe

smooches drag n fly

butterflyjack (imported) wrote: Fri Jul 01, 2011 4:19 am You continue to amaze me...Good luck in your job search...Mr. Big...hehehe

smooches drag n fly

Hi drag n fly,

I'm only doing what I must. Thaks for the good wishes.

Danya (imported) wrote: Thu Jun 30, 2011 8:28 pm

Danya (imported) wrote: Tue Jun 21, 2011 2:23 pm

[/quote] Danya (imported) wrote:Mon Jun 20, 2011 5:25 pm
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[quote="Danya (imported)" post_id=119276 time=1310012400 user_id=3065]
Hi drag n fly,

I'm only doing what I must. Thaks for the good wishes.

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The recruiter I met with this morning was the third to confirm my analysis of the IT job market in Chicagoland, at least for my area of expertise. It continues to be worse than last year. It may be improving, but it is not nearly as good as some other locations. Although I have a number of application submissions that are active here, I cannot afford to wait long to see if I am offered a job.

So I am even more actively pursuing opportunities around the country. I worked on this five hours tonight. I will likely take the first decent job offer that is in a reasonbly trans friendly part of the country. I still have my preferred list of locations, but I am willing to consider quite a few others. If I move, I will probably pay all of the expense myself. Since I have few belongings, this would be manageable.

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Good news - how did it go?

My phone interview early last evening went well; I won't know for several days if the company wants to proceed further. These interviews are, at the very least, great opportunities for me to get back into waging an effective job hunt.

Meanwhile, so far today four recruiters have called about local contract-to--hire jobs. I've already been submitted for one of those that is downtown. Now I'm updating my resume to specifically address the position requirements of another. Both are excellent companies.

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