Hello!
A few things have change from our last encounter:
1. I am officially Mrs. Maureen Ward
2. I have attended my first high school reunion
3. I have ridden a bike for the first time in 2011 (that's kind of sad, actually)
One thing has not changed... I am still living in the world of the "currently unemployed."
I have had a few great adventures in job searching, however, and I still stand by my opinion that any interview is a good interview.
I interviewed with a progressive political group where my boss and the Executive Director were both younger than me... that's the first time THAT'S ever happened. I truly appreciated that the job description called for someone who feel comfortable working in costumes, and the interview was fun, but, in the end, they found someone who was a better fit.
I also had a preliminary interview at a dental clinic for an office coordinator position, where the dentist pretty much already knew who he wanted to hire, but didn't want to cut off his options early. He was also concerned that didn't know if could commit beyond three years (for a clerical office job?), and admitted he really hates to call and tell people they don't have a job, so just noted if I didn't hear from him by Tuesday at 5, he'd found someone else... that was a very surreal experience.
I feel I am tainted from my experience in higher ed, where we see the value of people's strengths and weaknesses in a team and look for honesty and a good fit both ways with our employees, and now that I'm out in the "real world" I feel like I have to be more guarded with my reality for fear of saying the "wrong thing." All in all, it pretty much, for lack of a more mature word, sucks.
Upcoming, I have an interview at the University of Montana Bookstore for temporary cashier help to get through the Fall Rush, and I'm desperately trying to get all of my administrative ducks in a row to complete the 27-page application packet to be considered for substitute teaching for the K-12 system in Missoula County (including getting a TB test and getting finger-printed). In the meantime, I will keep plugging away at the monotony and repetitiveness of job applications...
Food for Thought: For those of you employed in Higher Ed - if you were going to leave H.E., what would you want to do most?
