To keep myself mildly busy (but still have plenty of time for creating fun crafty projects and relaxing), I have been working through a temporary agency. I've found that it works pretty well with our moving schedule and sometimes can pay pretty decent. They can propose an assignment to me, and I can either reject it or accept it. Very nice. Plus, unlike subbing, they usually call me a few days in advance instead of at 5am on the morning of... a definite bonus!
My first assignment was a 2-day gig, working as a receptionist. My last job was 2 weeks (fortunately one of them was a 4-day week!) as a receptionist at a law firm. A law firm that handles a lot of divorces.
Here's what I've learned:
- Divorces are expensive, and often ugly, hurtful and painful. Avoid them at all costs because it is a great cost - on so many levels.
- Details are important.
- Even if you're paid less than what you might think you deserve, you can still do a good job. And it might come back to make you more money one day. Or not. Who knows? But sometimes a job well done is satisfaction enough.
- There's a reason lawyers charge so much money for every email, phone call, and appointment - if they didn't, they'd never go home.
- A kind word can go a long way. Try to look for little opportunities to make someone else's day - it kind of becomes a little game (especially when you're not busy at work) and is really fun.
Showing posts with label good job. Show all posts
Showing posts with label good job. Show all posts
Monday, September 14, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
This again?
CO is polishing his uniform shoes tonight, in anticipation of reporting in tomorrow. Sigh. I guess his student life is over. :(
I'm trying to decide if I should go to nursing school or not. Hmmm. The deadline for submitting my deposit is tomorrow and I still haven't decided. Swell.
I'm trying to decide if I should go to nursing school or not. Hmmm. The deadline for submitting my deposit is tomorrow and I still haven't decided. Swell.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Pau lau lau!
I'm done with work! I'm done with wo-rk! CO's done with school!
We're heading even farther South for a little vacation :)
(happy girl)
*pau means finished in hawaiian
*lau lau means leaves, namely leaves wrapped around food. i like saying pau lau lau because it rhymes.
We're heading even farther South for a little vacation :)
(happy girl)
*pau means finished in hawaiian
*lau lau means leaves, namely leaves wrapped around food. i like saying pau lau lau because it rhymes.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
I think she meant it as a compliment...
One of the ladies who works in my office asked me where I was from. Here's our dialogue:
Her (in a deep Southern accent) - Julie, where are you from?
Me (in a pure, Midwestern accent) - Originally Michigan, but I haven't lived there for 10 years. I've lived a lot of places since then. Why?
Her - I thought you might be from around here.
Me - Oh really? We have been here for almost two years. (Here being the South with all of its drawling glory, grits, and fried chicken.)
Her - Yeah, it sounds like it. I reckon your accent is just like ours.
Her (in a deep Southern accent) - Julie, where are you from?
Me (in a pure, Midwestern accent) - Originally Michigan, but I haven't lived there for 10 years. I've lived a lot of places since then. Why?
Her - I thought you might be from around here.
Me - Oh really? We have been here for almost two years. (Here being the South with all of its drawling glory, grits, and fried chicken.)
Her - Yeah, it sounds like it. I reckon your accent is just like ours.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Talk about efficiency!
I'm liking my new role at work. It's a lot less individual responsibility - as in if I don't do my filing one day, I can do it the next day - which makes it way more laid back. It's less intellectually stimulating, but that's kind of nice as I have seemingly overloaded on my personal life these days.
My goal when we returned to the South from Australia was to actually take part in life here. So that I did. I signed up for a women's Bible study through church. I signed up for a sewing class through Community Education (a fantastic deal that made my Dutch heart swell with pride). Then, my sewing class was cancelled due to funding issues. I then decided to take a Hawaiian class online. Then after the protestations of the community, my Community Education class was reinstated. Yeah. So in a matter of a few weeks I went from being unemployed with few responsibilites to working 40 hours a week, having class two nights a week plus an online class! Holy cannolli! Not to mention CO's basketball team is in the finals of the intramural basketball league (against some underclassmen some 10 years younger) so one night a week he plays basketball. I, the doting wife that I am, go to watch his team play. Add to that church on the weekends, trying to meet up with friends, and trying to explore the region a bit... free time is non-existent.
Anyway, back to my story...
At work, I file reports. And I mail back slides and tissue samples (for lack of a better phrasing) from cases where our pathologists are outside consultants. Today, I learned how to do the send-backs and was given a huge pile of them. In addition, I received 3 packages of send-backs that were returned to us due to incorrect addresses (yes, the send-backs were sent back... to us). I went about calling the appropriate people and getting the correct addresses for the first two packages and then I noticed the last package was addressed to the Veterans hospital. The Veterans hospital on our same campus. Hmm. We had the wrong address on it? I can pretty much see the destination building from my office. We had paid the USPS to take it out of our building and give it back to us, not delivering it some place that we could have walked to.
My response:
1. I need to find the correct address
2. I need to get the package to the correct address
Ok, so I called the number on the paperwork to get the correct address for the Veterans hospital. I waited for the operator to transfer me to the pathology department there. A poor resident answered the phone but had no clue of where to send the slides. She then gave me two other numbers to call to verify the address. I then called one of the numbers and they told me the proper address, but asked why we had paid money and not just used the campus mail system. Oh, because I didn't know that we could use the campus mail system, I replied. (And I didn't send the first package either...) She said that she could send something to us via campus mail, but she wasn't sure if we could send things to her via campus mail.
I then called our post office. The first person had no idea what I was talking about. They put me on hold. I then waited for about three minutes. Not on hold, but where you can tell the person just put the phone down (not hung up, just set it on their desk or chair) and walked away. I was beginning to give up hope, thinking that I would have to call back. Just when I was about to hang up, a postal worker picked up and talked to me about campus mail. He said that I could indeed mail something to the Veterans clinic as long as I put it in a blue envelope and put it in a specific mail box. Cool. Cool other than the fact that what I need to send doesn't fit in the blue interdepartmental envelope. And you know, if it's not in the right envelope it could throw them off. I then asked if I could still put the package in the specific mail box but packaged in a box, not the blue envelope. I waited a really long time again and they finally came up with the fact that I indeed am able to put a non-interdepartmental-specific envelope/box in the correct mail box and it will indeed go to the Veterans clinic.
Yeah. In the time that I spent on hold/being transferred in order to answer two questions about mailing some slides, I could have walked to the hospital and back to my office. I might have been able to have stopped for some coffee along the way.
Oh how I love bureaucracies.
My goal when we returned to the South from Australia was to actually take part in life here. So that I did. I signed up for a women's Bible study through church. I signed up for a sewing class through Community Education (a fantastic deal that made my Dutch heart swell with pride). Then, my sewing class was cancelled due to funding issues. I then decided to take a Hawaiian class online. Then after the protestations of the community, my Community Education class was reinstated. Yeah. So in a matter of a few weeks I went from being unemployed with few responsibilites to working 40 hours a week, having class two nights a week plus an online class! Holy cannolli! Not to mention CO's basketball team is in the finals of the intramural basketball league (against some underclassmen some 10 years younger) so one night a week he plays basketball. I, the doting wife that I am, go to watch his team play. Add to that church on the weekends, trying to meet up with friends, and trying to explore the region a bit... free time is non-existent.
Anyway, back to my story...
At work, I file reports. And I mail back slides and tissue samples (for lack of a better phrasing) from cases where our pathologists are outside consultants. Today, I learned how to do the send-backs and was given a huge pile of them. In addition, I received 3 packages of send-backs that were returned to us due to incorrect addresses (yes, the send-backs were sent back... to us). I went about calling the appropriate people and getting the correct addresses for the first two packages and then I noticed the last package was addressed to the Veterans hospital. The Veterans hospital on our same campus. Hmm. We had the wrong address on it? I can pretty much see the destination building from my office. We had paid the USPS to take it out of our building and give it back to us, not delivering it some place that we could have walked to.
My response:
1. I need to find the correct address
2. I need to get the package to the correct address
Ok, so I called the number on the paperwork to get the correct address for the Veterans hospital. I waited for the operator to transfer me to the pathology department there. A poor resident answered the phone but had no clue of where to send the slides. She then gave me two other numbers to call to verify the address. I then called one of the numbers and they told me the proper address, but asked why we had paid money and not just used the campus mail system. Oh, because I didn't know that we could use the campus mail system, I replied. (And I didn't send the first package either...) She said that she could send something to us via campus mail, but she wasn't sure if we could send things to her via campus mail.
I then called our post office. The first person had no idea what I was talking about. They put me on hold. I then waited for about three minutes. Not on hold, but where you can tell the person just put the phone down (not hung up, just set it on their desk or chair) and walked away. I was beginning to give up hope, thinking that I would have to call back. Just when I was about to hang up, a postal worker picked up and talked to me about campus mail. He said that I could indeed mail something to the Veterans clinic as long as I put it in a blue envelope and put it in a specific mail box. Cool. Cool other than the fact that what I need to send doesn't fit in the blue interdepartmental envelope. And you know, if it's not in the right envelope it could throw them off. I then asked if I could still put the package in the specific mail box but packaged in a box, not the blue envelope. I waited a really long time again and they finally came up with the fact that I indeed am able to put a non-interdepartmental-specific envelope/box in the correct mail box and it will indeed go to the Veterans clinic.
Yeah. In the time that I spent on hold/being transferred in order to answer two questions about mailing some slides, I could have walked to the hospital and back to my office. I might have been able to have stopped for some coffee along the way.
Oh how I love bureaucracies.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
WW: A sculpture at my place of employment
)
(taken on my camera phone)And yes, they're babies climbing up a DNA.
Someone thought this was a good idea.
Me? Not so much.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
And you thought I was joking...
There really is express access to the elf kingdom in my building. The only issue I have now is how to open the door.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Day 2
Today I actually got logged into my computer and most of the programs that I need to use for my new job. That's super-exciting.
I would like to say that now I am making what I made a year ago, plus a latte, per hour. And the last hour of work today, I went downstairs, got the mail, then proceeded to type zero's. All for more money than most of my jobs in recent history. Nice. I think I might like this.
I'm pretty excited- my boss is doing some really cool research and me typing in zero's actually might help with the project.
I would like to say that now I am making what I made a year ago, plus a latte, per hour. And the last hour of work today, I went downstairs, got the mail, then proceeded to type zero's. All for more money than most of my jobs in recent history. Nice. I think I might like this.
I'm pretty excited- my boss is doing some really cool research and me typing in zero's actually might help with the project.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Gluteraldehy... what?
I got a job.
That in and of itself is a major statement. After months of searching (and angst) last year I was not very optimistic heading into interviews that I would actually get something. People once impressed by the left side of my resume then take a gander to the right side of my resume and see that we move every year or so. Here in the South, that's grounds for not hiring someone (aka a Yankee like me). But, I applied to the university that CO attends - more specifically, to their temporary service. Yup, I'm a temp.
Again, even that was not enough to make me... what's the word... optimistic. I had applied there last year and never heard a peep from them. Phone calls and emails left unreturned. I went into the interview curious of why I was not placed in a position last year, and highly doubtful of anything that will come in the next few months before we are restationed. So, in my interview last week, I casually asked about last year. My recruiter looked at my file. More accurately, my recruiter looked for my file. And couldn't find it. Anywhere. That explains a lot.
Fast forward to last Friday - my recruiter called me with a position! Woohoo! I have a legitimate excuse not to unpack boxes! Yay! Boo, I won't be able to play on Facebook for hours on end. I started today, Tuesday. My position involves "Microsoft Office use and maintaining a database" it also is potentially long-term as they are looking for a permanent placement for this position. Sweet. (I am potentially nervous about whether or not I say CO will graduate in May... but we'll save that for later).
I go to work today. I'm on time. I look good, certainly better than my sweatshirt/jeans combo I've been employing for unpacking. My boss takes me on a tour - good stuff to know. The tour involves ENTERING A CURRENTLY OCCUPIED SURGICAL ROOM. Well, I didn't need to scrub up or anything, but seriously, it was the control room for an operating room and I am fully convinced the surgeon looked at us when we entered the room. Ok.
I had problems logging onto the programs I need to use to do my job, so the only thing I really could do was either organize my cubicle or do the one assignment my boss has for me. That assignment - TRANSCRIPTION! Um... medical transcription? I watched ER back when it first came on. I've been to a doctor. I've been in a hospital (today). Other than those last three facts, I'm not too sure I'm qualified to type out those notes you have spoken onto the little tape recorder. But yes, I did it, and I think I did pretty well.
After all, the transcription was interesting. Not the typical words that I usually use, mind you, a whole new set of words. Words that included "gluteraldehyde" and "flowcytometry." No, I still don't know if they're spelled correctly, and NO, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY MEAN! I think I still got the basic gist of what the whole transcription was about though... you know, if the doctors cut something out of you, do you know where it goes? Sometimes you get to take it home with you (Cousin Beth?) or sometimes they send it to a research lab. When they send it to a research lab, they have to process it in such a way that the research lab can do their magic. And that process of how many grams the sample can be and how to prepare the slides - that's what I was typing!!
Oh, and I learned where the mail room is. It's in the basement, 12 floors below my cubicle. I hopped on the elevator and ventured down to the underworld. Nothing on the Basement floor is signed. No maps to show you where to go -you just have to know where you're going. Today, being my first day, I am reading the signs posted next to each and every door. And about two doors before the mailroom, I saw a sign reading "Express Access to the Elf Kingdom". I had always wondered where the express access was - I'm so tired of taking the normal route. ;)
I think it'll be an interesting next few weeks, if not months!
That in and of itself is a major statement. After months of searching (and angst) last year I was not very optimistic heading into interviews that I would actually get something. People once impressed by the left side of my resume then take a gander to the right side of my resume and see that we move every year or so. Here in the South, that's grounds for not hiring someone (aka a Yankee like me). But, I applied to the university that CO attends - more specifically, to their temporary service. Yup, I'm a temp.
Again, even that was not enough to make me... what's the word... optimistic. I had applied there last year and never heard a peep from them. Phone calls and emails left unreturned. I went into the interview curious of why I was not placed in a position last year, and highly doubtful of anything that will come in the next few months before we are restationed. So, in my interview last week, I casually asked about last year. My recruiter looked at my file. More accurately, my recruiter looked for my file. And couldn't find it. Anywhere. That explains a lot.
Fast forward to last Friday - my recruiter called me with a position! Woohoo! I have a legitimate excuse not to unpack boxes! Yay! Boo, I won't be able to play on Facebook for hours on end. I started today, Tuesday. My position involves "Microsoft Office use and maintaining a database" it also is potentially long-term as they are looking for a permanent placement for this position. Sweet. (I am potentially nervous about whether or not I say CO will graduate in May... but we'll save that for later).
I go to work today. I'm on time. I look good, certainly better than my sweatshirt/jeans combo I've been employing for unpacking. My boss takes me on a tour - good stuff to know. The tour involves ENTERING A CURRENTLY OCCUPIED SURGICAL ROOM. Well, I didn't need to scrub up or anything, but seriously, it was the control room for an operating room and I am fully convinced the surgeon looked at us when we entered the room. Ok.
I had problems logging onto the programs I need to use to do my job, so the only thing I really could do was either organize my cubicle or do the one assignment my boss has for me. That assignment - TRANSCRIPTION! Um... medical transcription? I watched ER back when it first came on. I've been to a doctor. I've been in a hospital (today). Other than those last three facts, I'm not too sure I'm qualified to type out those notes you have spoken onto the little tape recorder. But yes, I did it, and I think I did pretty well.
After all, the transcription was interesting. Not the typical words that I usually use, mind you, a whole new set of words. Words that included "gluteraldehyde" and "flowcytometry." No, I still don't know if they're spelled correctly, and NO, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY MEAN! I think I still got the basic gist of what the whole transcription was about though... you know, if the doctors cut something out of you, do you know where it goes? Sometimes you get to take it home with you (Cousin Beth?) or sometimes they send it to a research lab. When they send it to a research lab, they have to process it in such a way that the research lab can do their magic. And that process of how many grams the sample can be and how to prepare the slides - that's what I was typing!!
Oh, and I learned where the mail room is. It's in the basement, 12 floors below my cubicle. I hopped on the elevator and ventured down to the underworld. Nothing on the Basement floor is signed. No maps to show you where to go -you just have to know where you're going. Today, being my first day, I am reading the signs posted next to each and every door. And about two doors before the mailroom, I saw a sign reading "Express Access to the Elf Kingdom". I had always wondered where the express access was - I'm so tired of taking the normal route. ;)
I think it'll be an interesting next few weeks, if not months!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
It's October.
Yeah, no shocker there. But funny how it works - my brain keeps thinking of delicious fall-ish/autumny recipes. Like applesauce. And apple pizza. And pumpkin pie spiced everything. That's swell, Julie... what's the deal? Uh. Here in OZ it's spring. Or so they tell me, it's still pretty cold.
I tried to quit my job today. It was just getting to me too much and making me cranky all the time. I told the mother of the kids and she asked me to think about it. I'm so non-confrontational I said ok.
I'm super-excited about this weekend - we're going to Tasmania :)
Oh, and has anyone been to New Zealand? I'm looking for travel tips!
I tried to quit my job today. It was just getting to me too much and making me cranky all the time. I told the mother of the kids and she asked me to think about it. I'm so non-confrontational I said ok.
I'm super-excited about this weekend - we're going to Tasmania :)
Oh, and has anyone been to New Zealand? I'm looking for travel tips!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
So I got a job.
As a nanny. It's pretty interesting, because I'm not exactly Mary Poppins.
Anyway, God really provided this opportunity, and I'm grateful. I work on the days dh has school and am off on the days he's off! Woohoo! He can't escape me :) Plus good money doesn't hurt!
Here's the quote of the day from the little boy I nanny for "3 bags full. One for my master, one for my dame, one for the little boy who lives down the DRAIN." Lol.
Anyway, God really provided this opportunity, and I'm grateful. I work on the days dh has school and am off on the days he's off! Woohoo! He can't escape me :) Plus good money doesn't hurt!
Here's the quote of the day from the little boy I nanny for "3 bags full. One for my master, one for my dame, one for the little boy who lives down the DRAIN." Lol.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
"I've got some good news...
... and some bad news," said dh as he surprised me at home on my lunch hour today.
"The good news is that I have a chance to invest in one of our friends.
The bad news is that I'm doing it over golf. In 20 minutes."
Yeah sure, honey. Way to invest in people here. While I go back to work with the disobedient children for a yucky salary. You have a good afternoon basking in the sun and playing games. I'll deal with poop and "he said he's not my friend, Miss Julie. Make him be my friend."
"The good news is that I have a chance to invest in one of our friends.
The bad news is that I'm doing it over golf. In 20 minutes."
Yeah sure, honey. Way to invest in people here. While I go back to work with the disobedient children for a yucky salary. You have a good afternoon basking in the sun and playing games. I'll deal with poop and "he said he's not my friend, Miss Julie. Make him be my friend."
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
So I finally got around to reading ALCOAST 164/08
ALCOAST 164/08
COMDTNOTE 1754
SUBJ: WEB-BASED ACCESS TO SKILLSOFT TRAINING FOR SPOUSES
as taken from COAST GUARD MESSAGE SYSTEM at
http://www.uscg.mil/announcements/
on 9 April 2008. Comments in red are my own.
1. THE COAST GUARD REALIZES THE CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED BY
MANY SPOUSES ATTEMPTING TO FIND EMPLOYMENT DURING AND
AFTER RELOCATION TO A NEW DUTY STATION.
(Really? You could have fooled me.)
A MOBILE CAREER CAN BE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE AND DEVELOP.
(Shocker! So having a different job every year ISN'T
helping me find a new job, even with a Master's degree?)
I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE AVAILABILITY OF A TOOL THAT
CAN HELP GROW PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SKILLS IS NOW BEING
MADE AVAILABLE TO SPOUSES AND DEPENDENTS OF ACTIVE DUTY AND
RESERVE PERSONNEL. THE SKILLSOFT TRAINING SYSTEM WILL ALLOW
SPOUSES AND DEPENDENTS TO MAINTAIN SKILLS OR OBTAIN NEW
TRAINING TO ASSIST WITH THEIR JOB SEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT.
So, it continues. Btw, I don't think I could ever be military.
They shout at you even in emails. All caps all the time.
2. SKILLSOFT IS AN ONLINE TRAINING SYSTEM PREVIOUSLY
AVAILABLE ONLY TO COAST GUARD MEMBERS, THAT INCLUDES COURSES
IN LEADERSHIP, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, COMPUTER APPLICATIONS,
AND OTHER GENERAL COURSES AS WELL AS ONLINE BOOKS. EFFECTIVE
IMMEDIATELY, SPOUSES OF ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVE PERSONNEL ARE
ABLE TO ACCESS THIS PROGRAM FROM ANY COMPUTER WITH INTERNET
ACCESS.
Has anyone tried this? What does it do? What kinds of
training does it offer? Maybe I'll try it myself. I have
time. I can only get a part-time job.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Honesty is the best policy...
I applied for a job as a receptionist at a department at dh's school. It would have been a 9-5 job in the same building as his school. I had envisioned us riding to school together, eating lunch together when possible... it being quite cute. Plus, it paid more. Well, I think it paid more. They told me I would be an hourly employee, earning between $9 and $16 per hour. Gee, could you narrow it down a little. $9/hour might not be worth it... $16 per hour definitely would be nice!
I had two interviews with them. The first was normal, about an hour. The second, was between 3 and 4 hours long. For a receptionist position. Crazy. I debated at the second interview whether or not I should tell them there's a possibility we'd go to to Australia this fall. I decided it'd be better to tell them.
I got this email on Friday.
It was so nice getting to know you during the interview process. We all thought you were delightful and qualified for the position. We also appreciated your honestly about your long term availability through the fall of 2008. However, we have decided to offer the position to someone who has the potential for long term availability. We all wish you the best and hope to see you again at one of the school events.
(bold and italics added by me)
Shoot. Honesty IS the best policy, right?? I didn't want their stinking job anyway.
I had two interviews with them. The first was normal, about an hour. The second, was between 3 and 4 hours long. For a receptionist position. Crazy. I debated at the second interview whether or not I should tell them there's a possibility we'd go to to Australia this fall. I decided it'd be better to tell them.
I got this email on Friday.
It was so nice getting to know you during the interview process. We all thought you were delightful and qualified for the position. We also appreciated your honestly about your long term availability through the fall of 2008. However, we have decided to offer the position to someone who has the potential for long term availability. We all wish you the best and hope to see you again at one of the school events.
(bold and italics added by me)
Shoot. Honesty IS the best policy, right?? I didn't want their stinking job anyway.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
What does it take to become staff?
To all of you who live in Michigan or the Chicago area, enjoy a paczki for me!! I'll be enjoying my own :) In case you need proof I actually made paczkis, here are a few pictures.
I haven't really deep-fried much in my life. And as my friend Jen Ponder says, "Everyone has to deep-fry something in their life. Now is your time". Well, Sunday was my time. Look at those beauties bobbing around in the liquid heart-attack.
See, I forgot the powdered sugar. They were still good anyway.
I am also dealing with some remorse that I am not voting today. Here it is, "Super Tuesday" and I am making it mediocre, average Tuesday. I, the one-time political science professor, am not voting. Bad example.
Also, I, in Nehemiah 2 fashion, presented my boss with a list of dates I wanted off from work. And like the true Artaxerxes she is, (just kidding), she granted them all to me without blinking an eye. I thought "hey, I'm a valuable employee, perhaps she will beg me to stay, to not take time off." But no. Have fun. Later gator. I think my first indicator should have been the fact she told me about the staff meeting and told me "You can come if you want". Apparently working there 4 days a week doing all of the yucky jobs no one else wants to do still doesn't qualify me as a mandatory staff-meeting-attender. After all, only staff are allowed. No, I'm not bitter.
Anyway, this does help me want to do exceptionally well for my interview that I have tomorrow. Even if the interview doesn't go well, this week I get to take Sabbatical and work at a flower shop for the next week or so.
I haven't really deep-fried much in my life. And as my friend Jen Ponder says, "Everyone has to deep-fry something in their life. Now is your time". Well, Sunday was my time. Look at those beauties bobbing around in the liquid heart-attack.
See, I forgot the powdered sugar. They were still good anyway.
I am also dealing with some remorse that I am not voting today. Here it is, "Super Tuesday" and I am making it mediocre, average Tuesday. I, the one-time political science professor, am not voting. Bad example.
Also, I, in Nehemiah 2 fashion, presented my boss with a list of dates I wanted off from work. And like the true Artaxerxes she is, (just kidding), she granted them all to me without blinking an eye. I thought "hey, I'm a valuable employee, perhaps she will beg me to stay, to not take time off." But no. Have fun. Later gator. I think my first indicator should have been the fact she told me about the staff meeting and told me "You can come if you want". Apparently working there 4 days a week doing all of the yucky jobs no one else wants to do still doesn't qualify me as a mandatory staff-meeting-attender. After all, only staff are allowed. No, I'm not bitter.
Anyway, this does help me want to do exceptionally well for my interview that I have tomorrow. Even if the interview doesn't go well, this week I get to take Sabbatical and work at a flower shop for the next week or so.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Do what you are...
So, I've been trying to figure out what job would be good for me. Not just one that would make money, but one that would be fulfilling and help out with a little cash. Based on my Myers-Briggs results, this is what various people recommend.
List from PersonalityType.com
# Psychologist
# Human resources professional
# Physical therapist
# Researcher
# Translator/interpreter
# Legal mediator
# Employee development specialist
# Religious worker
# College professor: humanities
# Massage therapist
# Social worker
# Librarian
# Fashion designer
# Holistic health practitioner
# Editor/art director (web site)
Other list from this link
Actor
Artist
Architect
Church Worker
College Professor: Humanities/Art
Counselor
Editor
Educational Consultant
Employment Development Specialist
English Teacher
Fine Arts Teacher
Human Resources Development Specialist
Journalist
Librarian
Minister/Priest
Missionary
Musician
Psychiatry
Psychologist
Religious Educator
Researcher
Social Scientist
Social Worker
Speech Pathologist
Writer: poet/Novelist
So, I think that my choice to get an Educational Ministries degree and a Latin American Studies degree works. I have degrees, but no job. How do I transition from one to another?
List from PersonalityType.com
# Psychologist
# Human resources professional
# Physical therapist
# Researcher
# Translator/interpreter
# Legal mediator
# Employee development specialist
# Religious worker
# College professor: humanities
# Massage therapist
# Social worker
# Librarian
# Fashion designer
# Holistic health practitioner
# Editor/art director (web site)
Other list from this link
So, I think that my choice to get an Educational Ministries degree and a Latin American Studies degree works. I have degrees, but no job. How do I transition from one to another?
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
It's that time again...
I'm looking for another job. It's not that I don't like the preschool job, it just isn't working out for paying our bills. So, here I am trying to think of jobs to apply for...
- Cross cultural communication professor - the semester probably just started, but that could possibly be my dream job.
- Bank teller
- Pharmaceutical saleswoman - dh thinks I should do this, because it makes some good money. I don't think I could sell water in a desert.
- um... I don't know.
Basically, I think I need to read the book "What Color is Your Parachute?" or something because I seriously need some career counseling. It certainly doesn't help that I get the privilege of moving every few years to a completely new setting. At least the CG is paying for most of dh's school thus far.
Who's got grumpy pants on today? That'd be me.
- Cross cultural communication professor - the semester probably just started, but that could possibly be my dream job.
- Bank teller
- Pharmaceutical saleswoman - dh thinks I should do this, because it makes some good money. I don't think I could sell water in a desert.
- um... I don't know.
Basically, I think I need to read the book "What Color is Your Parachute?" or something because I seriously need some career counseling. It certainly doesn't help that I get the privilege of moving every few years to a completely new setting. At least the CG is paying for most of dh's school thus far.
Who's got grumpy pants on today? That'd be me.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
"Military Spouses earn $900,000"
That stinking email throws me off every time. It sounds so awfully good. Better than the $10/hour part time jobs that I usually can find. The email gets me started thinking about jobs that would earn money, be helpful to others, be fulfilling... But then I read on, and it says "Did you know that a bachelor's degree will earn you $900,000* more over the course of your career?"
Um. Yes, a bachelor's degree probably will help you earn more money. And about that $900,000 - did you see the Barry Bonds asterisk in there? Once you follow that down to the bottom of the page, it's over a person's career, assuming they start working at birth and die, working, at age 107. Perhaps I exaggerated slightly, but it's still bad.
My theory is that now that I have a masters degree, my earning potential is actually inverted, due to my obviously "overqualified" self. So, not only can I not get jobs, I also have to pay off my student loans too.
Thanks, military.com for getting my hopes up.
Um. Yes, a bachelor's degree probably will help you earn more money. And about that $900,000 - did you see the Barry Bonds asterisk in there? Once you follow that down to the bottom of the page, it's over a person's career, assuming they start working at birth and die, working, at age 107. Perhaps I exaggerated slightly, but it's still bad.
My theory is that now that I have a masters degree, my earning potential is actually inverted, due to my obviously "overqualified" self. So, not only can I not get jobs, I also have to pay off my student loans too.
Thanks, military.com for getting my hopes up.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
HWotD
Today I've had the day off from work at the preschool and have taken the opportunity to clean the house a bit, catch up with laundry, and make DH's favorite homemade spaghetti recipe. After all that work, I want to pat myself on the back (domestic goddess would NOT be one of my attributes).
Today's word is maika'i
maika'i - good, fine, all right, also good-looking, of good health, righteousness
"my-kigh-ee" and put a pause between the 2nd and 3rd syllables.
Pehea 'oe? Maika'i au. How are you? I am good.
Maika'i! Good job!
Today's word is maika'i
maika'i - good, fine, all right, also good-looking, of good health, righteousness
"my-kigh-ee" and put a pause between the 2nd and 3rd syllables.
Pehea 'oe? Maika'i au. How are you? I am good.
Maika'i! Good job!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Update on us...
Our condo has officially been ours for a week now. Our household goods (aka all of our stuff in military-speak) were delivered on Monday. We're still unpacking and trying to get 3 bedrooms worth of stuff into 2 bedrooms worth of space. That and we're trying to "simplify our lives" as DH says, and get rid of a lot of our stuff. We'll just see how many wetsuits he plans to get rid of... anyway, we had our first dinner at home last night and it was nice not to have to go out after 2 months of eating out all the time!
DH started orientation this week. Aaaah, orientation, with all of its icebreakers and get-to-know-each-other goodness. It's been a busy schedule. I wonder what the school schedule will actually hold.
I'm in the process of looking for jobs. It's interesting... to say the least. I'm trying to be optimistic and realistic at the same time.
Goodness, jobs are so annoying. The whole process of finding one is particularly frustrating. It's exacerbated by the fact I have no idea what I want to do with my life. Compounding this frustration is the problem that I don't know what I can do with this expensive degree I'm trying to pay off. Add to that my fear of committment - that just as I sign away my life on the dotted line, a better deal will come along and blow raspberries in my face, taunting me that I am such an idiot for settling.
So, I interviewed at one place at the university to be an administrative assistant. They told me I was overqualified and asked me why I wanted to stoop down to take the job. Repeatedly. It's kind of frightening when they do that. They said that I obviously was headed toward something. I just wish I knew what that was. I'm guessing it was teaching Latin American studies?
And then I turned in an application for a retail position at a mall and they offered me the job right away. At $9/hour, working nights and weekends (the only chances I'll have to see my student husband). Plus I'd have to dress business casual, and no, those new khaki pants from JCrew that are so cute don't count (therefore, most of my wardrobe).
Did I choose the wrong things before? Why can't I find a job? Should I go back to school (prolonging my lifelong affair with academia) and study become something useful to society like a nurse or engineer or architect? Grrr. It might be easier if God just hit me on the head with a 2x4 and inscribed on my head what I'm supposed to do.
But it's the weekend. DH has one activity tomorrow to finish off orientation, and then classes start on Monday - woohoo! Hopefully we'll spend some time by the pool and continue to set up the house. Ok... that's it for now :)
Aloha!
DH started orientation this week. Aaaah, orientation, with all of its icebreakers and get-to-know-each-other goodness. It's been a busy schedule. I wonder what the school schedule will actually hold.
I'm in the process of looking for jobs. It's interesting... to say the least. I'm trying to be optimistic and realistic at the same time.
Goodness, jobs are so annoying. The whole process of finding one is particularly frustrating. It's exacerbated by the fact I have no idea what I want to do with my life. Compounding this frustration is the problem that I don't know what I can do with this expensive degree I'm trying to pay off. Add to that my fear of committment - that just as I sign away my life on the dotted line, a better deal will come along and blow raspberries in my face, taunting me that I am such an idiot for settling.
So, I interviewed at one place at the university to be an administrative assistant. They told me I was overqualified and asked me why I wanted to stoop down to take the job. Repeatedly. It's kind of frightening when they do that. They said that I obviously was headed toward something. I just wish I knew what that was. I'm guessing it was teaching Latin American studies?
And then I turned in an application for a retail position at a mall and they offered me the job right away. At $9/hour, working nights and weekends (the only chances I'll have to see my student husband). Plus I'd have to dress business casual, and no, those new khaki pants from JCrew that are so cute don't count (therefore, most of my wardrobe).
Did I choose the wrong things before? Why can't I find a job? Should I go back to school (prolonging my lifelong affair with academia) and study become something useful to society like a nurse or engineer or architect? Grrr. It might be easier if God just hit me on the head with a 2x4 and inscribed on my head what I'm supposed to do.
But it's the weekend. DH has one activity tomorrow to finish off orientation, and then classes start on Monday - woohoo! Hopefully we'll spend some time by the pool and continue to set up the house. Ok... that's it for now :)
Aloha!
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