Okay, so by now the entire blogosphere is intimately aware of my struggles and battles with trying to find a job. I’ve done it all; seminars, workshops, lecture series, mixers, networking, volunteering, and support groups – did I leave anyone out? I’ve spent the last nine months trying to give birth to employment and I fear this baby’s going to be quite late! What more can I do short of storming an office building and holding some corner suite ransom? I’ve gone strictly by the book.
Could this be my demise?
My lovely, adorable and out of the workforce for over ten years raising our children wife comes to me two days ago with this solemn phrase: “I have a job interview tomorrow at 10AM.”
Huh? What was that word you so effortlessly blurted? Inter-what?!
Yeah, one of her mother’s friends knows a small insurance firm looking for part-time help. This firm comprises an elderly man and woman, unrelated, and one employee. It turns out this one employee is ill, sadly, and they need someone to pick-up the pace some. I don’t know the insurance business; my wife does have some years of experience there. The day my mother-in-law told my wife about it (2 days ago) she called and got an interview the next day. She walks into the meeting with the two people and they look at her resume (which is not even one page and mine is two) and without asking what her strengths or weaknesses are or where she wants to be in five years, they offer her the job on the spot.
What the hell am I beating my head against the wall for?
But wait, there’s more! My wife comes home to report all this and proceeds to discuss with me the hours and salary; not really the fit she was looking for as the hours are late morning through the afternoon and she has commitments with our children which I kindly explained I could handle, but she wouldn’t hear of it. Wages? Well, let’s just say that we pay more for babysitting, but hey – it’s an offer! I couldn’t take the position as it pays under my UI so rather her than me. She was set to pass on it, but felt she should call the nice people and explain that it would cost more in additional childcare than to take the job…
We’ve been admonished not to negotiate with folks as that could kill the deal, right?
I’m telling you my life is quite a story right now…my wife called them this morning to talk it over and they agreed to accommodate my wife’s’ hours and she can work all morning to free her in the afternoon. Of course as things pan out, they will be flexible with each other as I so adamantly express here.
But what’s to be adamant about now? She starts Monday and I don’t. Is what we are being told hogwash? Do we just stop the presses and wait for some miracle, some word from On High to send us a care package and save us from ourselves?
So my consort who wasn’t actively looking (but wouldn’t give up the chance) for work gets the bug in her ear from her mother and within 48 hours has a job. I, who can be now called a professional job seeker, can’t score a phone call back to save my life.
What lessons are learned here? Well, for me personally I’m grateful somebody got a job; truth be told when it all boils down to it, money is money regardless of who’s bringing it home…but enough of morals. First, you never know from where a job lead is going to appear. Second, if you don’t tell every living soul you’re out of work how are they to know so they can put the word out someone in your family is unemployed? Finally, this proves that tunnel vision and only concentrating on computer-generated job-searching is a disservice; it’s merely one way, not thee way of looking for work. As an important post-script, don’t always be looking at the big guns–small fish like the one my wife caught need us too. It’s also easier to get to the head honcho by going smaller; less fat to burn through. Think about it.
Always keep your eyes and ears open – avail yourself to all possible pathways and avenues that could lead to work. And when all else fails…call your Mother!
Again, thanks for surfing my wave!
Why Just Look For A Job? Create One!™
TheUnemployMENTOR – email@theunemploymentor.com
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