Yesterday I hinted at a day job…
Remember when I posted about getting our car back two months ago? At the end I joked that a job offer was all that was needed to make my birthday week complete.
What I didn’t mention was that I had applied for a job just a few days earlier, and in fact I got an email inviting me to an interview a mere sixteen minutes after my birthday ended at midnight a day after that post.
Two interviews, a five-week trial period and another interview later, and today I started working for…
No. It’s better if I show you:
Today I officially joined Automattic, Inc. as a WordPress.com Happiness Engineer. Specifically, I’m working in the team responsible for live chat support, so if you type into that little chat box in your dashboard, especially during European/African daylight hours, there’s a fair chance that I’ll be the one answering you to help you get your site looking the way you want.
Surprised? Me too. While not exactly a spur-of-the-moment decision, applying wasn’t something I had been planning for a long time. But I don’t regret my decision for a moment. Automattic is turning out to be one amazing place to work, and I’m incredibly excited about the journey that’s lying ahead of me.
On September first I gave my blog a new look to symbolise my choice to also make a new beginning in my life. I’m happy to say the effect of that choice is surpassing my wildest imaginations, never mind expectations.
Watch this space…
Hello KokkieH,
I had to search you after seeing how you respond to forums! 🙂 I really like the way you handle them – amazing! You’re my favorite now. I started volunteering to forums, because I also wanted the HE post. I already have my journey started, interview next week, faithfully waiting for the outcome of this. 🙂 I have been a WP user for almost a decade, but for some reasons I only learned that it’s a distributed company a few months ago, and they’re hiring. I was like feeling lost trying to find the right path, when I came across the job advert. Now, waiting to see what He has for me. 🙂 🙂 – Rose
Hi Rose! Great to hear that you’ve applied. Good luck with the interview, and hope to see you on the inside soon 😀
I volunteered in the forums for two years before I even thought of applying, but haven’t looked back once since.
I wanna be like you when i grow up 🙂
Haha! My one team mate also says that. I say be the best you you can be 😀
…and ever amiable, of course.
Congratulations, Kokkieh! Very happy for you. Have found your posts in the forums helpful, informative, incisive, levelheaded, and considerate.
Thanks 🙂 Never imagined it would lead to this.
Fantastic! Well done 🙂
Thanks 🙂
Cograts, you deserve your job title really!!
Thanks 🙂 Sadly it’s not always possible to make customers happy, but I try my best.
Congratulations, KokkieH! I didn’t make it to the trial stage when I applied last summer, but I’ll be re-applying when I’ve some more time spent in the forums!
Thanks, Pat.
The forums really are a great place to learn. I wouldn’t have made it were it not for everything the veteran volunteers taught me.
I hope to see you on the other side with us soon 😀
Thanks KokkieH, if you’ve any advice I’m all ears!
Ha! I’m not entirely sure how I made it 😉
I’d say show the hiring team that you’re passionate about helping people (assuming you’re applying for a HE position), willing to go the extra mile, take initiative and think about stuff that’s not always obvious. And on trial the way you work with the rest of the team is as important as the way you work with users. It’s something that I noticed from day one: everyone is always ready to help out someone else.
Thanks KokkieH. I’m certainly enjoying helping people in the forums! I work as a carer at present, so its a way of life for me.
Let that passion show in the interview, and even your application. That’s the best advice I can think of to give. Good luck!
👍
Congratulations, “Happiness Engineer”!
Thanks! Hope you’ll be joining me soon 😀
Way to go! That’s great news. I hope you post about your experience with the hiring process.
I’m planning to, but there’s so much I can write about, it’s hard deciding what to use and what to leave out 🙂
Great stuff!!! I am in need of a happiness engineer. When I get to my laptop and not this phone model I am going to check out the talk bubble option. Hope you love what you do!
I am enjoying it very much. I hope you get the option to chat so we can help make you happy 😀
Ok, time to shout out for help on my wordpress site…how do I ask the hard questions directly?
You can find all that information here (though the Staff Answers section of that doc is a bit dated). Short version, if you don’t have any upgrades the forums are the best place to get help. Add “modlook” to the tags if you think it’s something only staff can help with, but unless it’s upgrade-related chances are the Volunteers will be able to help you just fine. The veterans among them have all been doing this much longer than me, after all.
If you have upgrades you can use the contact form link on that page (once support re-opens on Monday morning US time) or you can start a live chat if you see the chat box appear on your dashboard. If we have enough people available you might even see the chat box if you don’t have an upgrade, but that’s not a guarantee.
As my comments policy also points out, I don’t give support via if all else fails… It’s not because I’m trying to be an ass, but because this blog is my personal space and because boundaries. But if you contact us via one of those channels it’s our job to make you happy, and we take our job very seriously 🙂
Ha ha ha – ok, I shall do that Chat box thing. I tried the Public forum Q and A sets, but I think I am a bit “doff” when it comes to technology 🙂 I will definitely respect your ‘private space’, though I must say, I admire your know-how. Well all tecky’s now-how….
What is it you need help with? Perhaps I can point you in the right direction?
I tried to get my Facebook link on the site, – does not work – but shows, and tried to get a translator on the site – installed and copied various code, and buttons etc but I never got any of the translation goodies to work.
Translation widgets won’t work as they use JavaScript which is not allowed here. The only one I know of that does work is this one from Timethief’s site that uses Google Translate: https://onecoolsite.wordpress.com/2011/02/14/translation-widget-for-wordpress-com-blogs/
For Facebook the problem is that the widget only works with Facebook Pages, not with personal profiles 🙂
ai, hats off to you! Thanks a million for the link -you are a super star, and now I finally know why my FB link does not work…still feeling “dof” but less so… 🙂 Thanks again it’s a HUGE help
My plesier 😀
You’ll be wonderful.
Thanks, Ellen 🙂
Oh well done! You are going to have so much fun with this! If you’re based near Jo’burg I’d love to buy you a congratulatory cup of coffee while I’m here… 🙂
I’m 200 km from jozi, but we can always make a plan.
Congratulations! I knew you could do it!!!
Everything you, TT, Jen and Mike taught me in the forums played a huge part. Thanks.
Congratulations!!! What a cool job!
It’s not at all what I’d originally expected.
I hope it suits you. New jobs are like trying on clothes.
It does. But to a large extent it’s also the people more than the work itself.
Oh yes!
Very cool! And congratulations!
Cool is an understatement!
Congratulations!
Thanks 🙂
I like your job title. Congratulations!
It’s one of my favourite parts as well 😀