Girlfriend in Tacoma
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Feb. 19, 2009 at 5:06pm
firsts at forty...
(feeling out of the loop...)
so, here I am, mostly unemployed, and needing to find a way to pay my bills (and considering myself lucky that the Significant One takes on the lion's share of the financial burdens around here.)
I was informed there's a crossing guard gig opening at my kid's school. Sounds decent, my regularly-scheduled life can go on as planned with the exception of getting slightly earlier starts each day. Meh, I can handle that.
Trouble is, the online application process is, like, insane!
I was approached for the job by the school's office staff, but the job isn't posted. So that pulls up a red flag-sort-of warning when I go to submit app. And despite the fact that I have a Bachelors in Psychology with a minor in Ed, I lack relevant job experience (particularly of late... I nannied and worked in day care centers, but that was, like, the nineties.) --Once I began my foray into the wild world of journalism, I kinda' didn't have time to do kid-ish things in the school, which means that red flag number two comes up, and probably I won't be referred to a non-existent job.
Further, I have never *had* to do an online application. It's a frustratingly anonymous process, where you're given bubbles to classify yourself, and if you're more vapor-like than bubble-like, you don't have a chance to flesh out the essence of yourself. Even in a resume, I can illustrate how amazingly skilled I am in diverse directions, but it's not as though kids are my life, and have been my life over the last 30 years. But... dude. I can put myself bodily in between a car and a kid if need be, I'm a mom. And I can make angry eyes over my glasses, I can smile and be friendly, too, when necessary. I'm told I am quite good with kids.
And yet... Because of the "process" I may or may not be able to help out the school, and have them help me financially in the process. And I'm learning a weird little lesson in how much suckage there is in trying to find a job, especially in the here-and-now...
bah, anyway...
 by fredo on 2/19/2009 @ 6:50pm | Girlfriend@ You'd enjoy the movie "Lost in America". Albert Brooks quits his job as a highly paid executive and within a couple of days is lucky to find a job as a school crossing job.
Reading over your posting it sounds like you could get a job as a teacher. Wouldn't that fit your employment needs and perhaps provide more job satisfaction than crossing guard? |
 by jenyum on 2/19/2009 @ 9:11pm | You have to get a credential to be a teacher. Even if it's an emergency credential that still means going back to school, despite the minor in ed.
Not that Jess shouldn't do that if she wants to, I'm just saying it ain't that easy, and getting a teaching job at her daughter's school would be highly unlikely. |
by fredo on 2/19/2009 @ 9:51pm | She's only a little coursework away from getting a teaching certificate. What if she couldn't get a job teaching at her daughter's school? Considering she can't get the crossing guard job at the same school what does she have to lose? |
 by Erik on 2/20/2009 @ 12:32am | Sounds like you are overqualified. |
 by justagirl on 2/20/2009 @ 8:29am | You don't have to go back to school to get an emergency credential, you just have to go through the process. |
by justagirl on 2/20/2009 @ 8:29am | (At least to be a substitute teacher.) |
 by jcbetty on 2/20/2009 @ 8:45am | heh. "overqualified" is a stretch, Erik; I think in my case it's "differently qualified (and unable to navigate the site :D) I think, jen and fredo, they do have emergrency certs --and I could possibly qualify for one-- as sub teachers, and I could sub as a paraeducator. Then there is the option of going back to school for my Masters in Ed, as I had planned *Even still* for now, swinging things as a single parent, and trying to keep up with whatever bills I need to, I think the crossing guard thing would be a good fit, particularly in terms of times I'd need to be there...
At any rate, I'll talk to the office today and see if they can offer me any insights to nab my dream job... and will have to look up that movie. I like Albert Brooks quite a lot... |
by jcbetty on 2/20/2009 @ 8:46am | heh. just a girl and I were thinking the same thoughts at the same time!! |
by jcbetty on 2/20/2009 @ 8:47am | ...and, heh. I seeme to "heh" a lot. And "meh." But "meh" just feels good... |
 by intacoma on 2/20/2009 @ 3:26pm | dont feel old your like a fineee wineeeeeeeeee guuuuurl |
by jcbetty on 2/20/2009 @ 10:45pm | ya know, intacoma, fine wine can't really navigate online job applications, either... |
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musing her way through arts, culture, dining, shopping, exercising, and parenting, all while wearing a pungent, truffle-like aroma.
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