Grrrrr

So far, two interviews and all I have to show for it is a background checking company that continues to stalk me for W2 forms and references upon references.

Listen people, I'm 22 frickin' years old, didn't work through much of college, my high school employer went out of business... I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE REFERENCES!!!!!!!!

OK that's a lie.

I could give you the many names of my many friends and family members to tell you I've never been arrested, but you don't WANT friends and family members!

Employers, you are SO high maintenance.

Take a darn breath!

On the bright side, as a kind of chance happening, the teacher of my Leadership Seminar thought I e-mailed him about a job at the school I volunteer at (I didn't), but I told him I was interested in it anyway. I sent him my resume yesterday, but he's out of the country for the week. The position as I understand it would be to creep in step-by-step as a guidance counselor of sorts, as the current guidance counselor retires.

At first I was like "Yay! A job! With a school I love! With a wickedcool boss! Weeeee!"

But now as I'm getting more into the swing of things with my volunteer work (with some awesome kindergartners) I'm getting more and more pumped about having the opportunity to actually help the rugrats.

I find myself researching coping strategies for children managing stress, and I look forward to speaking with them the next day about it.

I'm catching on to what makes them tick, and it's surprisingly exciting.

I've had the inkling for a long time now that there's more to kids than what meets the eye. I think I probably felt that way even as a kid myself.

It's a shame when I hear other adults talking about the children as if they're not even in the room, or catching them talking down to the kids like they're beneath them.

Frankly, there' s absolutely nothing more in tune and honest than a child. They deserve to have their voice heard and understood.

They deserve to know that their feelings are there for a reason, and that their voice should have a place within that world which dictates their every minute. I think as a pseudo-counselor for these kids, I could help them realize just that.

However, that's almost enough ranting for one posting. This is my last week of undergrad classes, and I have about 7 papers due this week. I DID move into my new apartment (which I love) and will be writing about it in the near future...perhaps after finals.

So for now, I bid you kids adieu.

xxoo

What an Interesting Question, Barbara

Image from somewhere on google...Babs interviewing Carla Bruni

This week has been INSANE!!! Although I can't really complain because it was my first crazy week of the semester, and also because I was a thorough waste of life last weekend.

I had major exams on Monday and Wednesday, an assignment and a job interview on Tuesday, a quiz and a 10-12 page paper due on Thursday. I'm feeling pretty good about everything ESPECIALLY the interview.

I had meant to go shopping for interview clothes over the weekend, because most of my nice clothes are leftover from either high school or my sorority days. So Monday evening in the midst of assignment-doing and exam-studying, I took a break to go Express to pick up something remotely classy.

I'm learning a few things along this job-hunting quest...here's a few:

1. ASK. FOR. HELP. This came in handy at Express when I had under an hour to find an outfit and not a clue how to go about it. The salespeople are there for a reason. In the end, think about what Dermot Mulroney (as escort Nick Mercer) said in the movie The Wedding Date: "If you look people in the eye, they won't notice what you're wearing."
2. Yes, everybody puts LOTS of pressure on making a good impression during an interview: don't arrive too early, don't be late, ask THEM questions, don't interrupt, be informed, don't ask about money, find out more about the position, iron your undies (jk), shake hands, not too hard--not too soft! There are SO many things to think about! Its easy to forget why you're their in the first place! I've eased myself into the experience by pretending I'm being interviewed by Barbara Walters. Just present yourself in your best light, the way you would want millions of tv viewers to see you. Ok, so that seems like it would add pressure, but if you just be YOURSELF, and they aren't diggin' it, you probably won't like being there anyway, no?
3. Take this time to interview them come armed with questions. If not to ask verbally, then to note inside your own pretty little head. You're not the only one who has to pass the test, they need to pass as well.
4. If you don't know the location of the interview, take the time the day before to do a drive-by. If I didn't do this I would have been about 45 minutes late thanks to 2 major exits having detours.

There's more to come, I'll post them as soon as I learn them :-)