Last summer, I purposely took time to be with my boys
because I figured it would perhaps be the only summer I would have
"free" to spend with them as I wished. So while I am enjoying
getting to take them to the local public pool once a week this summer as a treat, it's also
disheartening for me emotionally. I didn't want to still be unemployed at
this point. I realize that most of my current situation is not in my
control; that doesn't make it any easier.
So the question at this point becomes: What is my
shelf life? How much longer can I continue to look for work before the
growing, gaping hole in my resume becomes a liability? Now I have
taken a couple of classes, and also taken some short workshops in order to try
and keep myself marketable. But I'm not sure that's enough
anymore. I had an HR professional tell me today that I might need to fall
back on using my teaching certificate -- but I'm not sure I can even do that
since I have been out of practice for so long -- going on 10 years. (Wow –
it’s been that long.) On top of the fact
that I really really really don’t
want to be a first year teacher for the fourth time. Sigh…
On a positive note, I was able to get an extension to
stay in my current living environment (we have been here at HEARTH for 171 days
now), but that also expires in about another month. At that point, I
don't know what I will do -- or if I will be able to stay here longer if
needed. My kids wouldn't mind living here indefinitely; I want to be
independent and live in a place where I make my own rules about curfews and
inspect my own apartment. I know that this will come in time, but I grow
impatient by the day for my parole (for lack of a better way to explain it).
Another positive point is that the start of another school
year looms near on the horizon. I am grateful that I will only
have "before" and "after" care to budget for this year
since my youngest will finally be starting kindergarten. This mom will
not be shedding any tears on the first day of school. I will be pushing
them out of the nest with both hands!!
But back to the question at hand – how long before I
start to stink (in a metaphorical sense)?
I have revised my resume so many times that I could wallpaper at least a
powder room with all of the versions and variations I have made over the course
of the past six months. Every time I
encounter another HR professional or recruiter, I get a different opinion on
what I should be putting on my resume and where it should go. Sometimes they want separate sections for
technical skills and administrative skills; sometimes they want it all listed
in my job duties. I have a basic idea of
what I have listed as standard elements on my CV, but the little nuances are
what just may trip me up eventually.
I had a career counselor tell me that if I was getting
interviews based on my resume, that maybe I was being rejected because of my
interview skills. I listened to what she
had to say. Then I returned her concerns
with the fact that my chosen profession requires me to speak in front of
strangers all the time. If I can’t get
comfortable quickly in a training session, I lose my effectiveness and
credibility. I’m usually speaking about
topics that I know well, and so I’m fairly certain that this isn’t the
case. If I can't speak intelligently
about my own job history and experiences, than I am sure that no one else will
be able to either. I also provided her
with evidence from another credible source (a lawyer who knows a thing or two
about body language) who voluntarily told me that I was projecting positivity
despite the fact that my circumstances were anything but rays of sunshine. And that in itself boosted my confidence in
ways I desperately needed.
I have been working every angle I can think of to crack
the system. I have attended job fairs,
signed up with staffing agencies, taken workshops, gone to a networking
breakfast, and spoken with many recruiters.
I am working with a career counselor at one of the local outreach
places, and have taken a career readiness assessment and a civil service test. I keep several of my business cards in my
wallet at all times just in case an opportunity presents itself. Frankly, I could use all of the business
cards I have collected from contacts for the border on my “resume wallpaper
project” J (I have to have a little bit of a sense of
humor here so I don’t lose it completely.)
So as I sit here on a bright Monday morning, with a heart
full of hope and a calendar full of empty holes, I wonder what this week will
bring. I have a list of follow-up phone
calls to make, and websites to scour for possibilities. My kids and I pray for my new job every
night, and I know that I have to be
closer to my goal than I was six months ago.
It would be so affirming to be able to see the finish line on the
horizon…
In conclusion, I could still use a hand finding
employment. It really is the critical key
to taking the next steps to get myself completely back on track. If you are reading this, and you have any
leads or contacts, please send them my way.
I have a profile on LinkedIn [www.linkedin.com/in/selinaboyles]
and would welcome any assistance in this area.
I would prefer not to hit my expiration date and continue to sit on the
shelf. Many thanks for your
consideration!! There’s more to come!!
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