Well, I have got a lot of news to share, and for once I am actually going to blog about it. This week has been pretty successful as far as the job search goes. I had 4 interviews! I cannot even tell you how much less frustrating the whole process is in this stage. I actually get to meet people and they can meet me, and they can start deciding if they want me to work for them based off of ME and not a boring piece of paper that by the way, EVERYONE tries to make not-boring, but no one really knows how to right? Don't get me wrong, I think I have a pretty great resume, but think I can speak for myself better than it can any day.
Ok, so there are a few things that are pretty important to Dane and I in my search for a job. Some of them are, we need benefits if we can get them- it really is so much cheaper to get them through working, so that means I need full-time, something that will pay the bills, and something that is close enough to make it work for Dane and I to share one car.
So here is the rundown on the interviews:
1.
Graphic Designer for a payday-loan company and their website called
Checkcity Pros: I get to design and spend time doing what I love to do, and not have to worry about all the code stuff, it is way close and when weather is nice, I could ride my bike, good benefits, but they have 90 day waiting period...which brings me to the
Cons: not guaranteed 40 hours, really more like 35? which I would need to qualify for benefits, not quite sure if I could handle the pressure of living up to the expectations of a company who is already out-sourcing to a professional graphic designer.
2.
Risk Analyst for
Cybersource (a company similar to Paypal, they do "e-checks")
Pros: This is a very good company to work for, work in an environment with good, fun people, VERY good benefits that start the DAY I am hired, prob. the highest salary out of all of the places I have applied, could carpool with my next door neighbor who works there (she referred me....hopefully that will work out to be a good "in"), I get to learn new skills and expand my options of future jobs
Cons: My neighbor is probably moving within the next 6 months and I would have to start commuting on my own to American Fork, it has nothing to do with art, and would not really help me further my teaching career.
3.
Manager for
Chrysalis, an assisted-living company where I would be in charge of a small "home" and 4-5 other employees
Pros: They already offered me the job! It would be good experience working with people, and probably make me a better teacher, close to home and to the provo airport.
Cons: only pays $10/hour, my hours would be 10~ish-7~ish, sometimes later, 24hrs-a-day-on-call, may have to work overtime, would never get to see Dane, hard, dirty work.
Pros: I got to meet some of the children when I went in for an interview, they are so cute! would pay better than the manager position above, I would actually get to put some of my education background to use, it would help me become a better teacher and further my career as a teacher, they are hiring teachers next year, and I would have a pretty good chance of getting a job, work with great people (I just found out that a girl in my ward works there too! I love her, maybe we could car-pool?) 35 hours/week, giving me time to paint and do other things I love to do, benefits I need
Cons: Not the best salary, (but not bad), hmmm...I have never worked with autistic children before (not a huge con, but I can't think of much for this job...), might not be able to start benefits until june? but I am not quite sure on that one...
Well, if you can't tell already which jobs I am leaning towards, I think I would love to get the risk analyst or teaching job, I would really like the graphic design job, and if everything falls through I could work as the manager at Chrysalis. I still have not decided exactly where is the right place for me, but it feels good to have some hopefuls.
This was a long summary, but I feel that there has got to be someone out there who wants to know all of this, right?
oh, p.s., I have a second interview at Cybersource for the risk analyst job Monday morning at 9:30, wish me luck!
p.p.s. one thing I have really enjoyed about this stage is having time to get things done, like exercise, keep my house clean, make yummy dinner, and bread, and have time to just not feel stressed. Ahhhhh, it has been nice.
Over the Christmas holiday, Dane, his family and I were inspired to get back into good habits. We heard about this program online called One Hundred Pushups. I had heard of this before, and always wanted to do it, so we all decided to start together. It is basically a week program that anyone can follow to help you build the strength to do 100 pushups in a row. Yeah, that's right, all at once. For all of you that think that sounds like a lot, don't worry, I thought it too, hence I had never done this before on my own. It is actually a very manageable program and you only do pushups three times a week. I am amazed at how much stronger I am already getting.
