The process begins, I hope.

This post is about the transcription job-contact I have been mentioning. As it seems that things are beginning to move forward, I realize I've forgotten to mention a few things that happened within the flurry of exam re-submissions and results that have become important to the process (hopefully) of gaining employment.

The day I received word that half of my exam was missing (10/24), I also received word from my job-contact that the program I had available on my computer would not be compatible with her dictation formats. She recommended a free software that would be compatible and I told her I would look into it as soon as I finished re-submitting my exam. So, the evening of 10/25, I downloaded the free software with the intension of beginning to work with it the next day.

On the 26th, I began to read through everything associated with the software (including the student forums through the school). I must say the tutorials were rather sparse, but enough to get functional. In that research, I also discovered that the program's access for specific dictation formats was time-limited. The free version would discontinue access after a specified time, which (oddly enough) was not specified in the literature. [My job-contact was not actually surprised that they started to charge for their software, but it was free when she started using it.]

Be this as it may, I started looking into what it would cost to get the registered "professional" version and thus permanent access to the format compatibility. I wonder: Does God smile when we see and jump on the opportunities He presents for us? It did not take long for me to mull over the pros and cons, but the morning of the 27th had me investing in the registered version of the software. [It was on sale until October 31st for $30.] Not that we have the money to spend, but this software will allow me access to all of the proprietary formats that I might encounter as an independent contractor. This is a foundational building-block that I could not afford to ignore.

Later that same day I notified my job-contact that I had secured the program and that I would begin practicing with it. In that same conversation, my job-contact offered to send me some sample dictations so we could make sure everything was working properly. I said: "Yes, please!"

The next day (10/28), of course, I got the results of my Final Exam.

Now for the "updated" information. ------------------------

On the morning of 11/2, I received three dictation files from the job-contact. These were not just for testing the functionality of the program. These were for TESTING ME to see if she wants to consider me for hiring (i.e. make sure I know the basics).

After some initial set-up hiccups, I was able to access and play her files. I did have to tell her that I had an obligation to attend to (church cleaning for another concert), but that I would start working on them as soon as I got back. I was into the files right after lunch, and submitted the transcriptions back to her the next morning, less than 24-hours after she sent them. [In the transcription industry, it is not unheard of to have a 24-hour turnaround time. Note: She did not give me any deadline at all, but I wanted to respect her time and that industry expectation.]

This brings me up to date. I'm actually a bit more nervous about this testing than I was for the final exam. However, in many ways, this is also a 'final exam,' and the results of which will directly affect all the days ahead -- good, bad, or indifferent.

Many thanks for your continued prayers!

P.S. Mr. Squirrel is still in a bit of limbo. The school has included him in their first-aid training to renew his card, and they won't let him drive kids without it. Unfortunately, they have broken the training into two days, set them a full week apart, and not starting until 11/10. And so, we wait, yet we are still hopeful that he will eventually have income.

Personally, I was praying for sooner rather than later, but God has set the path ahead of us. I have to constantly remind myself that His timing is not our timing. His thoughts are not our thoughts. It is our job to trust in Him and have faith that He will provide according to His will.
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God bless & Godspeed