This morning I got a phone call while I was at work. Normally I wouldn't answer my phone, but I kind of felt like I needed to. It was ICON Health & Fitness asking me to go in for an interview. I have filled out so many applications and submitted so many resumes that I don't really remember which position is for which employer. For some reason. I was thinking that this was for Office Secretary.
I looked it up after work and discovered that it was actually for an Administrative Assistant. I have just been applying everywhere that I seemed remotely qualified for so when I applied at ICON, I didn't really think it would go anywhere. I was quite surprised to get the call.
I went to the interview this afternoon. I still felt like I wouldn't really get the job, and wasn't sure I wanted to, so I wasn't as nervous as I was at my last interview. It definitely helped me be more relaxed. I'll have to keep that in mind. Maybe if I go into future interviews thinking it'll be great to get the job, but not expecting as much, I can handle them better.
Anyway, today I think I did pretty well. There is only one position, and I got the impression that they have a lot of people to interview, so my odds are slim; but I think the interview went well. As she described the duties of the job, I started to get more and more excited. I had a teacher I once worked for tell me that I should be an Assistant. She said that my skills in organization were perfect for the job, and the fact that I always kept her prepared, and kept ahead of the things she needed, were great skills to be an Assistant. I've never considered it until now.
This job would beworking for a Sales Manager who works with other company's (such as Sears, sports stores, etc) corporate offices with people who are called "Buyers." They are the ones who buy the sports equipment in bulk to ship to their stores. I would be in charge of communication through telephone, email and mail with the Buyer's Assistants getting things set up for meetings and such. I would keep track of the Manager's schedule, as well as planning meetings, trips, etc. Occasionally I would make travel arrangements, but quite often would make arrangements for the Buyers who come to Logan; things like accomodations, meals, snacks, etc.
This sounds so exciting to me; a little challenging, hard sometimes, and a little scary. I'm not sure what my chances are, but I might keep hoping for this one.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Update
Today was the last day of the "week" in which I was told that I would hear about the job I interviewed for. I don't know how I feel about it. A part of me never did think I would get the job. I wanted to believe that it was just my own low self-esteem that wouldn't let me be more positive. I know that it's still possible. Even though they said a week, it was Thanksgiving last week, which could have put them behind. However, I heard the girl that was being replaced talking to someone while I waited for my interview; and she was talking about moving on to a better position. She told this person that they were currently interviewing for her replacement, then she would move on. The impression she gave was that they wanted to find someone quickly. I think that's part of why I don't think I got the job.
I have applied to 4 more jobs since my last entry. At this point, I don't think we can afford to pay rent and utilities, gasoline, our meds, and still be able to afford to eat. Let alone the internet to keep looking for jobs and our cell-phones to get phone calls about jobs.
I'm not trying to complain, but I want to give a full accounting of what it's like looking for employment in today's economy. I know that a lot of the people who read this have been in my situation before so they can understand, but I still feel like I need to share my experiences. That includes how I think and feel about what is going on.
It's scary to think that you could lose your home. My family went through it several times when I was a child so I know my parents understand, as well as a few others I personally know. This is the first time in my adulthood that things have been this rough.
I've always been able to find some kind of employment when it was really necessary. However, it hasn't always been the best kind of work. I've spent a lot of time working at dead-end jobs, or minimum wage jobs. At this time, I feel like I may have to settle for what I can get. That thought depresses me, though. Am I always going to be stuck working such jobs? Why is it that necessity never lets me have the jobs I want? The kind of jobs I could make a career, not just a job?
We were told growing up that if we get an education we can find better employment. I even remember being told that I could find better jobs with some college education, even if I didn't graduate. Today that isn't really true. I have 4.5 years of college, and an Associates Degree, but it hasn't gotten me anywhere. Employers want specific degrees or experience. As I'm sure a lot of you understand, that leaves most of us stuck.
I want to be able to take this opportunity that has happened to me and finally get a good job. Right now, however, it looks like it's time for me to apply at Wal-Mart, fast food places, or even the gas station down the street which is currently hiring.
At this time, it's hard to be positive.
I have applied to 4 more jobs since my last entry. At this point, I don't think we can afford to pay rent and utilities, gasoline, our meds, and still be able to afford to eat. Let alone the internet to keep looking for jobs and our cell-phones to get phone calls about jobs.
I'm not trying to complain, but I want to give a full accounting of what it's like looking for employment in today's economy. I know that a lot of the people who read this have been in my situation before so they can understand, but I still feel like I need to share my experiences. That includes how I think and feel about what is going on.
It's scary to think that you could lose your home. My family went through it several times when I was a child so I know my parents understand, as well as a few others I personally know. This is the first time in my adulthood that things have been this rough.
I've always been able to find some kind of employment when it was really necessary. However, it hasn't always been the best kind of work. I've spent a lot of time working at dead-end jobs, or minimum wage jobs. At this time, I feel like I may have to settle for what I can get. That thought depresses me, though. Am I always going to be stuck working such jobs? Why is it that necessity never lets me have the jobs I want? The kind of jobs I could make a career, not just a job?
We were told growing up that if we get an education we can find better employment. I even remember being told that I could find better jobs with some college education, even if I didn't graduate. Today that isn't really true. I have 4.5 years of college, and an Associates Degree, but it hasn't gotten me anywhere. Employers want specific degrees or experience. As I'm sure a lot of you understand, that leaves most of us stuck.
I want to be able to take this opportunity that has happened to me and finally get a good job. Right now, however, it looks like it's time for me to apply at Wal-Mart, fast food places, or even the gas station down the street which is currently hiring.
At this time, it's hard to be positive.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Job Update
It's getting kind of late so right now I'll just give a quick update on the job search.
I have submitted my resume for 5 different jobs, most of them for an office-type position. I have taken one Assessment Test and have a job interview set up for tomorrow morning (this job would be perfect, btw). I also got an e-mail response to another resume asking me to answer a few more questions because, "I have cut down the amount of applicants significantly just based on the résumé’s alone so I congratulate you on having a well written résumé." It's not as good, but could be a good start, and get an official office job on my resume.
That's about it on the job hunt.
There is one more thing to say. Last Friday I got a phone call from one of my 3 guys. It made me cry. I miss them so much. Today I went to visit them. Again, it made me cry; but it was so good to see them.
I have submitted my resume for 5 different jobs, most of them for an office-type position. I have taken one Assessment Test and have a job interview set up for tomorrow morning (this job would be perfect, btw). I also got an e-mail response to another resume asking me to answer a few more questions because, "I have cut down the amount of applicants significantly just based on the résumé’s alone so I congratulate you on having a well written résumé." It's not as good, but could be a good start, and get an official office job on my resume.
That's about it on the job hunt.
There is one more thing to say. Last Friday I got a phone call from one of my 3 guys. It made me cry. I miss them so much. Today I went to visit them. Again, it made me cry; but it was so good to see them.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Poetry
So today I was talking with Lee about how he wants to know how to work on his writing skills. I told him that it's all about just writing, even if you have a block. I told him that I have started writing this blog again as a way to write, even though I've been blocked for a long time. It got me thinking that some of you may not know that I was a poet. So, I will now practice writing while giving a little bit of my background.
Just before I entered Jr. High I spent a few weeks in the summer with my grandparents. I found a book of poetry and enjoyed reading it. It was simple poetry, easy for all to read and enjoy. Like most of us, I had thought poetry was boring and hard to understand, but these poems made sense. I thought to myself, "I can write like this." So for the rest of the summer, I practiced making simple rhymes. Most of the time they were silly and a little childish; but hey, I was just barely 12.
Over the next 2 years, I made up silly rhymes, but didn't really save any of them. I remember showing some of them to my mom and she thought that I had some talent; I think that's what kept me trying. When I entered 8th Grade, the school yearbook put out a competition for students to write a paragraph about the science classes and teachers. I decided to enter a silly poem. I didn't really think that I would win, so I was quite surprised when I did! My first published poem was in the San Rafael Jr. High 1989 Yearbook!
The next year I started learning a lot more about poetry and working more on my own. One day I wrote a great poem called "The Seasons Change". If I recall correctly, during the spring or summer of 1990 I found a poetry contest advertised in a magazine. My mom encouraged me to try to write something to submit and "The Seasons Change" was what I came up with. It was still pretty simple, but I had decided that I liked doing simple. I remembered how I felt when I read that book of poetry that was simple enough for me to read and understand when I was 12.
Once again, I didn't expect to win anything, so I was quite surprised when I got a certificate in the mail saying I had won an Honorable Mention! Not only that, but not long after, I received a packet in the mail saying that I had won what they called a "Golden Poet" award and that I was invited to a convention in Las Vegas to accept my award!
I won't go into my trip to Vegas right now. I'll leave that for another time. Needless to say, it really got things going for me. In school, I worked hard to learn new writing tips and techniques, and entered a few more contests. (I won another Honorable Mention and Golden Poet award for poetry, and placed in a school essay contest.) In the meantime, I wrote a lot of bad poetry.
Don't get me wrong, some of it was good. However, I was a teenager, going through normal teenager emotions, and my poems tended to reflect that. There were a lot of really sappy love poems about different guys that I liked. Still, it was writing, and it was practice. I'm kind of glad now that I didn't keep all of those poems.
As I became an adult, life intruded upon my poetry. In some ways it made it better; however, it also interfered with my writing. I started having more and more mental blocks, and more and more time went between poems. I'm sure that stress has had a lot to do with my blocks. It's so much harder to think clearly when life has you stressed out.
In college, I took a poetry class in the hopes that I could release some of that block. I did manage to come up with some decent poems for the class; but assigned poetry just didn't have the same meaning to me as what I had done before. Basically, it didn't really work to get rid of the block.
Over the years since then, I've written some very good poems. However, I can count them on my one hand. It has been about 15 years since I've been able to write poetry regularly. Every so often, I really miss writing; now is one of those times.
I think that I'll look up some of my old poetry and post it one of these days. Hopefully it will help to inspire me.
Just before I entered Jr. High I spent a few weeks in the summer with my grandparents. I found a book of poetry and enjoyed reading it. It was simple poetry, easy for all to read and enjoy. Like most of us, I had thought poetry was boring and hard to understand, but these poems made sense. I thought to myself, "I can write like this." So for the rest of the summer, I practiced making simple rhymes. Most of the time they were silly and a little childish; but hey, I was just barely 12.
Over the next 2 years, I made up silly rhymes, but didn't really save any of them. I remember showing some of them to my mom and she thought that I had some talent; I think that's what kept me trying. When I entered 8th Grade, the school yearbook put out a competition for students to write a paragraph about the science classes and teachers. I decided to enter a silly poem. I didn't really think that I would win, so I was quite surprised when I did! My first published poem was in the San Rafael Jr. High 1989 Yearbook!
The next year I started learning a lot more about poetry and working more on my own. One day I wrote a great poem called "The Seasons Change". If I recall correctly, during the spring or summer of 1990 I found a poetry contest advertised in a magazine. My mom encouraged me to try to write something to submit and "The Seasons Change" was what I came up with. It was still pretty simple, but I had decided that I liked doing simple. I remembered how I felt when I read that book of poetry that was simple enough for me to read and understand when I was 12.
Once again, I didn't expect to win anything, so I was quite surprised when I got a certificate in the mail saying I had won an Honorable Mention! Not only that, but not long after, I received a packet in the mail saying that I had won what they called a "Golden Poet" award and that I was invited to a convention in Las Vegas to accept my award!
I won't go into my trip to Vegas right now. I'll leave that for another time. Needless to say, it really got things going for me. In school, I worked hard to learn new writing tips and techniques, and entered a few more contests. (I won another Honorable Mention and Golden Poet award for poetry, and placed in a school essay contest.) In the meantime, I wrote a lot of bad poetry.
Don't get me wrong, some of it was good. However, I was a teenager, going through normal teenager emotions, and my poems tended to reflect that. There were a lot of really sappy love poems about different guys that I liked. Still, it was writing, and it was practice. I'm kind of glad now that I didn't keep all of those poems.
As I became an adult, life intruded upon my poetry. In some ways it made it better; however, it also interfered with my writing. I started having more and more mental blocks, and more and more time went between poems. I'm sure that stress has had a lot to do with my blocks. It's so much harder to think clearly when life has you stressed out.
In college, I took a poetry class in the hopes that I could release some of that block. I did manage to come up with some decent poems for the class; but assigned poetry just didn't have the same meaning to me as what I had done before. Basically, it didn't really work to get rid of the block.
Over the years since then, I've written some very good poems. However, I can count them on my one hand. It has been about 15 years since I've been able to write poetry regularly. Every so often, I really miss writing; now is one of those times.
I think that I'll look up some of my old poetry and post it one of these days. Hopefully it will help to inspire me.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Job Hunt Update
Just checking in with a simple update for the job hunt.
I put in an application at Lowe's and w/in a day I was told they were "going to go another direction." Oh well. If they don't want me, that's their loss.
I have been checking daily on several websites for new job postings, including Workforce Services, LDS Employment, & USU off campus job board. So far I haven't come across anything I qualify for.
We had several people suggest Conservice as a good place to work, so I looked up their Job Board and submitted a resume for 2 positions. Today I go in for an Assessment Test for the Office Manager position.
This job would be great. It's full time, M-F 8-5, $10/hr starting, w/ full benefits. I would be able to use my people skills, my organization skills, etc. I would have to quit the job @ the school and that does make me sad, but sometimes we have to make sacrifices.
I know that I would do very well as a Receptionist/Secretary, personal or office assistant, or other office-type job. I've tried over and over throughout the years and haven't been able to get anything. I know I can do this job, I just hope that they feel the same way.
I put in an application at Lowe's and w/in a day I was told they were "going to go another direction." Oh well. If they don't want me, that's their loss.
I have been checking daily on several websites for new job postings, including Workforce Services, LDS Employment, & USU off campus job board. So far I haven't come across anything I qualify for.
We had several people suggest Conservice as a good place to work, so I looked up their Job Board and submitted a resume for 2 positions. Today I go in for an Assessment Test for the Office Manager position.
This job would be great. It's full time, M-F 8-5, $10/hr starting, w/ full benefits. I would be able to use my people skills, my organization skills, etc. I would have to quit the job @ the school and that does make me sad, but sometimes we have to make sacrifices.
I know that I would do very well as a Receptionist/Secretary, personal or office assistant, or other office-type job. I've tried over and over throughout the years and haven't been able to get anything. I know I can do this job, I just hope that they feel the same way.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Lost my job
I thought that writing in this blog @ this time might be good for me for a number of reasons. First, I could work out my thoughts and emotions regarding the loss of my primary job. Second, it would be good practice for my keyboarding skills. Finally, it would be a good way to get back into the habit of writing again.
Now, about losing my job. I really don't want to go into a lot of detail about the reason for losing my job. After all, this is not a private blog. (If anyone wants details, I can tell you more in person.) Let's just say that it was a mistake that could have been bad, but thankfully wasn't. Unfortunately, it fell under company policy that I lose my job because of it.
For those of you who don't know or need a reminder, I work quite a lot with children and adults with disabilities. The job that I currently still have is working w/ the Special Ed. class at the local Middle School. The job that I just lost was working with adults w/ disabilities in their homes; sort of like a caregiver. It's a little difficult for me to avoid forming attachments with the people that I work with. I am especially close with 3 guys that I used to be a Resident Manager for.
One of the things that keeps haunting me is how lucky I got that the mistake wasn't worse than it was. I'm not really concerned about how it affected me, but how it would have affected one of my clients. On the other hand, I am very grateful that it wasn't worse. Still, it would be nice if I could stop obsessing over it.
One of the other things that is really bothering me is the feeling that I abandoned my 3 guys. I keep thinking of all of the things that I used to do for them and now I'm not there to do it. I am well aware that anyone is replaceable, and that they will find someone else to do the work I did, but I still wonder if they're getting the care they need. I know that's silly. They've had other staff in the past, and will have more in the future. I think the best way to describe it is to say that in a small way, they are like my children and I feel like I abandoned them to someone else's care.
Finally, on a very selfish level, I feel like I let down my husband. While he is training for better employment, I was the primary bread-winner. The job I just lost took away almost half of our income. Of course, I still have my other job; but I am only allowed to work 3.5 hours/day due to budgetary issues w/ the School District. That's less than 20 hours/week. That doesn't really pay a lot. It also doesn't help that it only pays once a month.
Right now I'm not really feeling very upbeat. It's hard to be motivated enough to do the things that have to be done. On the flip side, keeping busy with housework and filling out applications has at least kept my mind busy. That won't really last long, unfortunately.
I want to end today with an update on the job search:
Yesterday I filled out an application for Sam's Club. Today I have filled out an application for Lowe's as a Cashier, and finished updating my information on Workforce Services, and LDS Employment.
Wish me luck!
Now, about losing my job. I really don't want to go into a lot of detail about the reason for losing my job. After all, this is not a private blog. (If anyone wants details, I can tell you more in person.) Let's just say that it was a mistake that could have been bad, but thankfully wasn't. Unfortunately, it fell under company policy that I lose my job because of it.
For those of you who don't know or need a reminder, I work quite a lot with children and adults with disabilities. The job that I currently still have is working w/ the Special Ed. class at the local Middle School. The job that I just lost was working with adults w/ disabilities in their homes; sort of like a caregiver. It's a little difficult for me to avoid forming attachments with the people that I work with. I am especially close with 3 guys that I used to be a Resident Manager for.
One of the things that keeps haunting me is how lucky I got that the mistake wasn't worse than it was. I'm not really concerned about how it affected me, but how it would have affected one of my clients. On the other hand, I am very grateful that it wasn't worse. Still, it would be nice if I could stop obsessing over it.
One of the other things that is really bothering me is the feeling that I abandoned my 3 guys. I keep thinking of all of the things that I used to do for them and now I'm not there to do it. I am well aware that anyone is replaceable, and that they will find someone else to do the work I did, but I still wonder if they're getting the care they need. I know that's silly. They've had other staff in the past, and will have more in the future. I think the best way to describe it is to say that in a small way, they are like my children and I feel like I abandoned them to someone else's care.
Finally, on a very selfish level, I feel like I let down my husband. While he is training for better employment, I was the primary bread-winner. The job I just lost took away almost half of our income. Of course, I still have my other job; but I am only allowed to work 3.5 hours/day due to budgetary issues w/ the School District. That's less than 20 hours/week. That doesn't really pay a lot. It also doesn't help that it only pays once a month.
Right now I'm not really feeling very upbeat. It's hard to be motivated enough to do the things that have to be done. On the flip side, keeping busy with housework and filling out applications has at least kept my mind busy. That won't really last long, unfortunately.
I want to end today with an update on the job search:
Yesterday I filled out an application for Sam's Club. Today I have filled out an application for Lowe's as a Cashier, and finished updating my information on Workforce Services, and LDS Employment.
Wish me luck!
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