On a Positive Note

 

My transfer was accepted! I start working full time for Amazon next month.

It's not the schedule I prefer, but it gives me Sundays off, and it's an early day shift that ends at 5pm. I stay at my current fulfillment center. I have not converted to Blue Badge yet, but I'm eligible to be in the running when the opportunity arises.

My wife is struggling with the change, it will impact our time together (assuming her next role is standard business hours). My hope is to transfer again when a better schedule is available. There's another facility opening soon nearby, so there will be more options soon.

I'm choosing to look at the positives. I get a three day "weekend", with time for appointments, chores, and errands during the week. I get to start my tenure that will make me eligible for benefits. I have to admit the physicality of the role has a positive effect. I'm naturally sedentary and built-in exercise is good for me. I'm close to home. I do enjoy the work; it's simple, solitary and gives me a tiny burst of accomplishment each day.

I have two interviews lined up this week. I'm still searching for my next move. But I'm grateful for this small step in the right direction.

Another Pivot

Well, my transfer requests pushed back to a later timeframe. The new review period starts next week. I could see the schedules were updated; both of my choices now showed no spots open.

I'm not sure if this was the right move, but I canceled my transfer requests and made two new ones for schedules that reported "many spot open". One for my current location, and one for a different facility. 

The transfer selection process is bit of a mystery. Is it based solely on tenure? First come first serve? Is my part-time status hurting my chances? Or my "seasonal" status?

There were recently changes made to "Blue Badge" conversion. A blue badge indicates you are a regular full-time Amazon employee, versus a white badge indicating your are seasonal. The wording is slightly misleading; some "seasonal" employees have been working at Amazon for almost a year, maybe more.

Blue badge conversion, from what I understand, used to depend entirely on corporate feedback regarding headcount and tenure. If you put in the time, and corporate Amazon determined your site is ready to convert more employees (based on turnover, increased activity, etc) you were in. 

Now, performance plays a major part in conversion. Amazon tracks rate, and you must be in good standing (or at least not behind your peers) to be eligible. You also cannot have write ups. Tenure still plays a part; you must be employed for at least 90 days.

Honestly, I'm surprised performance metrics were not a part of the conversion formula until now. I know I need to focus on bringing my rate up. My new path is Stow, and I need to pick up the pace. This department is also one of the transfer choices I picked. Right now, my metrics show as Insufficient Data. I assume this is due to being relatively new to the path and working part-time. I'm less than a week from meeting the 90-day requirement. 

And the "real" job search continues. I was hoping to see more activity now that we have settled into the new year, but everything feels like more of the same. I did have a phone screen, and I took a (kind of bizarre) AI-driven assessment for a role I recently applied to. I have not heard any updates. On a positive note, my wife has had two interviews. 

I'm proud of my family's ability to pivot. Circumstances change, and we might be disappointed for a moment, but then it's right back to work. What might we learn from this change? How do we adapt? What are the possibilities I have not yet realized?