...get a job?? ACK!!
Ok, fine, so the cutbacks at DH's employer are going to last a while longer. To make ends meet, yours truly needs to find something, at least part time.
It's not that I'm not willing to work. I'm a little excited about it, actually. It will be interesting to be back out in the 'real' world, meet new people, learn new things, meet new challenges.
BUT...and you knew there had to be a but, didn't you...it's been ten years since I was part of the workforce. TEN years. A decade. Yep, one whole decade of sitting on my fat arse, munching bon-bons, wearing curlers and bossing around everyone in sight. *snorts with laughter*
In reality, it's been ten years of raising a family, rehabbing homes, establishing a small farmstead, working toward self-sufficiency, homeschooling, learning new skills, reading textbooks, studying, and lots and lots of firewood.
Once it was decided that I would start job hunting, I had to look for my resume. The one that I last used more than 12 years ago. It's not on my pc, which is new. It's not on my other pc, which I purchased after my 'retirement'. I found a disc labeled 'resume'..but it's not even there! Finally, after a lot of digging through old files, I found a hard copy. Remember those? On real paper? Ancient!
The next step is to update it with all the hooplah from my last job. Thankfully, I have a full job description in a file. No idea why, but I'm glad it's there.
Then on to the cover letter. I'm still working on that part. I've looked up sample cover letters for returning to the workforce. Some say to address the employment gap. Some say don't. I'm going to, lest my future employer think I've been in prison all that time. A few things I've read said that most employers view 'housewife' as 'living in luxury'. um. yeah.
I've even filled out online job applications. Apparently, you can't just walk into a store anymore and ask for an app. You either spend an hour sitting in front of their 'application station' or apply online. The app asks questions about my pay rate at past jobs. I have no idea! I know that I have never worked for minimum wage, not even at my very first job working in a grocery store deli. Of course that was back when minimum wage was only $3.15...or was it $3.00? I'm a friggin' dinosaur.
Anyway, back to the online apps, if you have ever done one, you know what I mean: My life doesn't fit in those little boxes. And what's with those tests after the app? Moronic questions like "would you ever steal from work?"?? What the heck?? Who FAILS those??
But I suppose the real point of my post is that I don't want to give up my dream of living a self-sufficient life as a result of going back to work. We all know that many women found they saved money by quitting their jobs. I've always thought if I went back to work, we'd spend the money I made on ready made food and fuel oil, since I am the one that does the majority of the gardening, cooking, and firewood. That, however, has changed with DH being home more, so things will balance, I think.
We've become more self-sufficient each year. I think we started slowly, back when we lived in the city, with our herb garden and 48 tomato plants. I froze tomatoes then, and used as many as possible while fresh.
Last year, however, was our biggest leap toward self-sufficiency, or at least the most noticeable, when we greatly expanded our garden, canned many items, froze even more, and actually got ahead, for the first time, with firewood.
I don't intend to let that change. I refuse...refuse...to go back to eating factory food. I love baking our bread and raising our own food, cooking meals from scratch, eating fresh eggs, cutting firewood and tending our land.
True, life will be different, but we'll continue to homestead, homeschool, and rant about..um..everything.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
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6 comments:
It sounds like everything you've been doing the past 10 years would make a helluva resume!
Thanks, Shellmo. Let's just hope prospective employers think the same thing.
In the past three years since I've been "at home," I worked one year part time at a machine shop in town, four hours a day, five days a week. Between the gas, and extra money spent on all that goes with the work scene, we didn't get much ahead, if at all after taxes.
Needless to say, although I did manage to pay for a digital camera and a laptop computer with my earnings, there wasn't much concrete benefit. But we no longer have any kids at home, so that may have weighed into the decision to quit.
Anyway, good luck in your job search -- and try to find something you like to do (garden store, thrift store, etc...). It makes the time away from home that much more bearable. :)
Thanks for the advice, Snow. That's kind of what I'm afraid of: that I'll work my butt off and not have any $$ to show for it.
Snows advice is dead-on, make it something in an area you would like -- the garden store or whatever. I've hired "returning housewives" before, and I always want to see skillz acquired during housewife time listed in the cover letter. I do think if there is no explanation for a ten year gap that they've been in prison (which wouldn't necessarily rule someone out for me)-- it is the non-explanation for the "gap" that raises a flag. Returning workers are often fresh and enthusiastic, tempered by maturity, don't sweat the small stuff, and bring many gifts. Don't necessarily think an employer would think it was a negative, I don't. Some states have programs for returning workers that can be really helpful with resumes training etc. Maybe see if there is one in your state? Good luck!
Thanks, Chance, that is encouraging! I've applied at a couple of places I wouldn't mind working, and completely ruled out (almost?) the local tech support center. I hear they are always hiring but what do I know about blackberries except how to make them into jam?
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