Inspired

Wow! I was at a great meeting yesterday at the department that I am hopefully joining in a couple of weeks. We discussed course literature, scheduling, hopes and aspirations for "my" course and a lot of other things related to teaching at the uni. It was magnificent! ;D

I can honestly say that I don't think that I have ever been so inspired when it comes to my career so I just can't wait until the necessary paperwork is pushed through. I want to start working now!

Just as I was about to leave, my boss to be asked me about my research preferences as well. My interpretation is that I will be allowed to do some research of my own related to the big project that we will be a part of and that we are managing. It's a dream come true! ;D

So I'm totally inspired, and I walk around with big ol' smirk on my face. It's good to be me! :D

Cheers!

A very long time, no see..

Hello!

So it's been quite a while since I last wrote anything here on the great confusion blog. It's not that I've been lazy (though I have) and it's not really because I got bored with it (because I did a little), it's mainly due to my lack of experience in these things... I'm just not used to writing a journal of any kind. Please forgive me... ;)

So my last post told you all(?) about my first week at my job. It's been another eight months (sort of) since then... I think I am starting to get a hang of my job, but I'm not sure it is what I thought it would be, and I'm not sure it is what I should be doing with my life. On the plus side, I have a wonderful girlfriend, we are pretty soon moving to our newly (well, relatively newly) bought apartment that we haven't actually been allowed to enter yet. It's a brand new house and there are workers and carpenters running about the place making everything fit to live in... And I also have a wonderful hobby in my photography. Some of my photos can be seen on Facebook and others can be found on www.RedBubble.com. So all in all I am happy with my life, but I need to figure out my work situation so I'm still as confused as ever.

Hopefully I'll update this blog soon, at least I will try to do it the next eight month or so... ;)

Cheers!

/Matsey

It's time again!

For an update, and it will be an update of what has happened over the last three weeks or so...

I have of course been taking some more photos, but more importantly a lot of stuff has happened on the job front. I think I have to start from the beginning, otherwise this won't make much sense I guess. So let's travel back in time to the 20th of August 2007... ;)

So the 20^th... It was a Monday, and more importantly, it was the day before my dissertation! So I was (unlike every other day?) sitting in front of my computer most of the day, not really working on my dissertation, but going through it and trying to cut unnecessary parts out of it. And then my mobile phone rang… It was the CEO of a company called Optilon which I had applied for a job with the previous Thursday. He was genuinely interested in me and my background, so we spoke for a bit. He is placed in Stockholm but there is an office in Malmö as well, and he said that he would ask the manager of that office to contact me during the next couple of days. I still haven’t heard anything from him, so I have to try to make contact with him pretty soon I guess.

On Tuesday the 21^st I had my dissertation! I was dead nervous before my presentation, and a lot of people came to watch me (not a lot a lot, but I filled a small room at least…) but I did all right… ;) So I was quite pleased with myself, and happy to be done with it.

Some last minute work on the train to Norrköping

Me strutting my stuff and presenting my work.

The Wednesday was used to try to get to grips with the fact that I have finished my education, I’m done! Well, I was almost done… There were some alterations that I was encouraged to do with my report, and I knocked them out of the park this day as well.

On Thursday the 23^rd I sent my report to Billerud and to the University of Linköping for electronic publishing, so now I can be found online… Also I received a call from the A.P. Moller Maersk group who had previously rejected me. Now they wanted me to come back for a second interview after all and we booked a meeting for the following Wednesday. So I felt that I was on a roll… ;)

Not much more happened during this week, so let’s fast forward to next week… Monday came again, and I was sitting at home, looking for job opportunities… As usual I went to HiQ to fetch Christina after work, and she had a proposition; that I would come to HiQ with her in the morning the following day, to work a for a couple of hours. Apparently they needed some people to do some tests that week, but they couldn’t get any of the “normal” students at this time, as it collided with the start of term for most of them. So I had a job for a couple of days!

So on Tuesday I was working, and not much more happened. On Wednesday the 29^th though, I first went to Malmö to sign a contract with Manpower so that I could actually get paid for the work that I did at HiQ, and then I was off to Maersk in Copenhagen! I had a lovely interview, and I believe I was doing quite well. I increased my score on the logical test, so I went from being part of the upper third to being quite high in the upper third of the people tested. I still haven’t heard back from them, so I choose to take that as a good sign… ;D

On Thursday I was back to HiQ doing some more tests, and my phone rang quite a few times. First from the university to clear a few aspects of the publication of my thesis, but then I was rung by a woman at Lawson, offering me an interview for the position of junior business consultant so I scored another interview! And that interview will happen tomorrow. I can’t wait! I also received an e-mail on this day from the CEO of another company, Consafe Logistics Consultants, offering me a meeting about a position the coming Monday from now, so things are finally starting to happen for me on the job front.

Anyway, Friday the 31^st of August passed without anything really to tell. On the Saturday however, we went to Malmö to go sailing for an hour on the HiQ trimaran! Unfortunately, the wind was not optimal, so we only sailed eight knots or so. The boat used to transport us to the trimaran however, was pushed to 40 knots, so we got some speed at least… But the sailing was lovely, and I really feel like saving up for a smaller catamaran and start sailing again. After this lovely excursion we helped some friends to move from their apartment to their first house. How grown up is that? ;D

The sails of the HiQ trimaran

You do look stylish in sailing clothes, don't you?

I might as well do this week as far as it has gotten, right? On Monday I was back in the saddle again! Or at least in the running track... It had been four weeks (!) and I expected it to be rubbish, but it was one of the best runs I’ve had so far and the exercises afterwards was really good as well. So I was quite content. And I still am!

Tuesday passed without any major events… And we have arrived at today. Wednesday the 5^th of September. So what will happen today? Well, I’m not sure yet, except for that I’m going to class again! Today I am starting a course in project management, and hopefully I’m going to go for a run later on tonight.

So I would like to wish you all a pleasant day and I’ll post you when I’ll post you… And with my track record, that might take a while… ;)

Cheers!

Matsey

Wow...

I’ve been pretty lousy at maintaining this blog, haven't I? For a number of reasons I just haven't been bothered to write anything, but I will try to better myself. Well... Here goes...

My reasons for not writing for over two months(!):

- It's summer... I know that is a pretty bad excuse, especially since it's been a pretty bad excuse for a summer. It's mainly been raining. In Britain they blamed Rihanna for the rain, due to her number one hit Umbrella. It was also number one in Sweden, so I guess it's her fault? (Just kidding! We all now who's really to blame...?)

- I've been feeling a bit down and out for a while. As you know I have been searching for a job for quite some time now, while trying to finish my thesis. Unfortunately I'm still unemployed, but at least I've finished my thesis. I'm presenting in eight days, so from the 21st of August, I will be able to title myself "Master of Transportation Systems". Cool, huh? ;)

- I have been working on my presentation. It shouldn't have taken this long, but when you're a perfectionist... ;)

- I've been making up reasons for not writing another pointless and boring post, but here I am! ;D

- I have been applying for jobs and trying to convince my lovely Christina to do the same, as she is chronically bored at her own job. I've actually gone on a couple of interviews since the last time and I really, really, really hope to go forth in one of the processes... That job would suit me like a... Suit I guess?

So those are my reasons... They're not good reasons, but they are reasons... ("And the reasons? Who needs reasons when you've got heroin?" - Ewan McGregor in Trainspotting) (Disclaimer: Remember kids, drugs are bad... Don't do them!)

I forgot the greatest reason! (Not great as in Great! but more as in big...) I've been sucked into Facebook! Oh my god! I tried to resist, but I was overpowered by the demons of Facebook who lured me into their midst with promises of wealth, zombies and a widened network... So I got hooked... And that's fine! I "met" quite a few old friends there, and it's nice to get back in touch with people that you haven't seen or heard from in years and years... I've also discovered lots of groups of various importances for the world and me, but that gives me an oddly satisfied feeling... "There are more people like me in the world!" might be an appropriate expression right now... Only today I joined three groups that are all aimed at sharing photos and photo tips with other amateurs and professionals. So it's cool... Just as long as you don't let Facebook dictate your life.

Well... This was just an attempt to make up for lost time and a low posting frequency, but there you go! I hope to see you out on the information highway soon again, but I guess that's up to me? ;) Until I post again!

/Matsey

Long time no see...

Bonjour! (Yeah, I frenchiefied it a bit...)

May 28th. That was when I wrote my last entry... That's more than half a month ago. 22 days to be exact. So what have I been up to? In my last post I told you that I hadn't received word from the third post I was up for, but I did just a couple of days later. Unfortunately, I'm still unemployed.

So what did Matsey do instead? I finished my thesis! Well at least a rough version of it. Last week I sent it to Billerud (for you need in packaging paper!) and I have received an answer from them with a couple of points that I'm now trying to correct. Unfortunately my examiner is no where to be found, or at least he doesn't answer e-mails. To make matters worse, he has resigned from his post at the university so I'm in dire need to come in contact with him. Thore, if you read this, contact me! Please?

Apart from working on my thesis I have also started a summer class. I am now a proud student at the University of Lund where I'm studying Economic History 10 points (or 15 ECTS-credits). Why I hear you scream? Because it's fun! My more than lovely and wonderful girlfriend thinks that I have lost my marbles... She is so bored by anything related to economics, but in my heart I know I should have become an economist instead. But it's never too late... ;) Who knows what the future brings?

I guess that's it... It hasn't been the most eventful couple of weeks, I've just been busting my hump to get the thesis done and now I have... I must admit that I sometimes miss writing it... But it's time to move on and work towards bigger and better things... I just have to correct the report and present it as well... ;)

So back to work with me, and back to work with you! Don't you have anything better to do than to read this???

Peace out!

Work life... When will it begin?

Hello...

I'm sitting here working hard (or hardly working?) on my thesis and I have finally started to see the end... (Yeah right!) It feels as though I soon will be ready to send the first rough copy to my company for them to read it and comment on it... I'm actually dreading the day I get it back from them... Self esteem issues? Me? Noooo...

Anyway... As you know, I'm currently searching high and low (well not that low) for a job opening in my field and preferably in the near geographical region... And as you might know, I have had a bunch of interviews for three companies that were all very interesting and also interested in me. I received an offer from one of them last Monday, but on Wednesday I turned them down... I feel like such a spoiled brat, 'cause I turned them down on the account of a bad offer. And I didn't give them that reason. Instead I told them that I had received an offer from another company and that the job description there was slightly more interesting. This was not entirely truthful, but hopefully they will never know. They offered me 18% less than I demanded a month, so I still fell that I did the right thing.

Unfortunately, on Tuesday of last week, the company that had the most interesting job opportunity called me at around 7 p.m. and kindly turned me down... ); They were however very nice and the guy who had interviewed me told me that he thought that I had been a very good subject and that he hoped that he would see another application from me in the future. So why did they turn me down? Well... Lack of experience. The guy they went for in the end had already worked for five years within the company and they felt that they needed to take care of his experience. The fun thing was that this was an internal recruitment and out of 18 people applying for the position, I was the only external applicant. And I was so close. I was the last to be cut from the recruiting process, so I still feel very good about that. Yay me! ;D

And the third? Well I was there for a third interview last Thursday to meet the team in which I might work. I still haven't found out. We are (as far as I know) still two applicants competing for this position so now I'm sitting here, a nervous wreck. Oh can they please just give me a call? I don't even care if I get the job anymore; I just want to know... Well that's a lie... Of course I want the job! I applied for it, didn't I?

So, that's what's been up... I better get back to my (very) nervous writing now...

Ciao!

Time for another post I believe... (Long overdue!)

Servus! (That's hello my friend in Austrian... ;D)

So it's been a while since I updated my blog. My last post told you about having my girlfriends' family coming to stay with us, and they were here and it was fun... We drank alot of wine, hung out, went sight-seeing in our new home region but most interesting of all we went to Copenhagen to be tourists there. It's only about an hours travel by train from here, and it's quite a different feeling to it. It feels more... International or continental if you please... I can really recommend a trip to Copenhagen if you are close by (that's not a prerequisite, just go there!) as it is really nice.

We went on a canal tour when we were there, and that was money well spent. We got to see the major sites of the town and it was nice not having to walk the entire day... ;D Below is a little picture from Nyhavn (New harbour) taken from the canal boat... It had a very nice atmosphere, it was nice and warm and people were drinking beer and enjoying themselves.
















So what else is new? My report still isn't finished but I am writing on it as we speak... Or at least as I post here... I'm multi-tasking! ;D But it's been so-so with the progress of my beloved thesis... [insert roll-eyes smilie here] At least I'm trying my best at the moment...

And on the job front? Much better than the thesis front! As I have written earlier, I went to three interviews in a week... Since then I have gone to an interview for a fourth job. And here's the kicker; I have been called back for a second interview for all these jobs! So at the moment I'm still in the running for no less then four jobs!!! I love Skåne and the work climate here... ;D I do however keep telling myself that I shouldn't get my hopes up to much, but as long as I haven't heard anything to contradict it, I'll keep believing that I am about to be employed by some company... ;D

So that is pretty much what's been up... Touristing, writing and being interviewed... This week I'm going to interview 2 on the big transport company located at Kastrup, and after that I'm heading up to Linköping/Norrköping for the bi-annual Student Orchestra Festival (SOF) that I helped arranging four years ago... Beer, friends and crazy student orchestras... Sounds like a nice weekend to me... ;D Unfortunately my better half (yeah, my girlfriend) can't come with me, her company is going to a conferance in Greece... I'm not jelaous... I will ofcourse update next week again don't hold your breath) after the festival...

Until I post again,

Such a busy week!

Really! It's been busy!

This week I have gone to no less than three interviews, and all of them are related to my "professional" experience... Or at least to my studies... ;) To start from the beginning... I am desperately looking for a job in my new geographic surrounding and I'm quite a picky guy! I don't really want to take a job just for the sake of having a job, I'd rather have a job that means something to me and that is related to my area of expertise. So two weeks ago I was offered an interview for a global distribution company at the Danish airport Kastrup (the one were SAS had a major strike this week). Last Thursday I was first contacted by another company right here in Lund (a smaller company, but still a global leader in surveillance cameras) and they asked me to come to see them on Tuesday... Finally last Friday, I received a call from one of the largest mobile phone companies in the world (also situated here in Lund) and today (Friday) I went on an interview with them. So, when it rains it pours...

Anyway, even though it's nice to feel wanted, it also puts me in quite a predicament. Now I have to choose... Assuming I get offered all three positions... Each job has its own advantages and of course also its own disadvantages... For instance, if I get the job at Kastrup I will have a forty minute train ride plus a twentyfive minute walk to my office... Both the jobs here in Lund are roughly twenty to twenty-five minutes from my apartment by foot. The jobs here in Lund will not however give me as good a salary as the one at Kastrup, but they do not interfere as much with my leisure time...

All three jobs are rather interesting, but I think that I have managed to prioritise them a bit regarding the work tasks degree of interest:
1. Kastrup - Find and improve bottle necks in the operations
2. Large mobile phone company - Forecasting of components
3. Leading surveillance camera company - Distribution planning

So now I only hope that they find me interesting in the same order as I find their jobs... ;) I know that I should feel privileged that three companies are interested in me, and I do! Don't get me wrong! But it would be so much easier to choose if there were only two offers... I know, I'm taking it all out in advance (none of the companies has actually offered me a position yet) but I think it's only natural to start thinking about it before I have to make a decision... Woe is me! ;)

In other news. My mother in law is visiting us this weekend along with my girlfriend’s brothers... Booyah! There will be wine to drink, and things to do! It's a nice break from the everyday happenings that make up my week... Writing my report (yeah right!), daydreaming, going on interviews and re-watching all the Scrubs episodes on www.sharpiesscrubs.tk. So that's good!

Well, that's what's been up... C ya!