It's Time For Me To Get a Job, Part 2

The weather for today: still cloud.

Well, long story short, after selecting a job to apply for from a list of maddeningly vague job descriptions (i.e. "Associate," "Program Assistant," "Distribution Technician") that contained no specific information about work hours, location, or salary, I completed the application packet, which required me to write a detailed account of my work history for the past ten years. Now, being a military spouse, I have moved five times in five years, which means that I have had so many bizarre, short jobs as well as frequent periods of unemployment, that this portion of the application required at least five pages worth of information. The position I decided to apply for, a "Program Assistant" for the local Child and Youth Services, which provides activities for youngsters as well as daycare, only required a High School Diploma, but when I went back to the Right Office to submit my application, I decided to bring along my college transcripts as well, with the hope of making myself look worthy of higher pay.

When I finally met with the Right Person back in the Right Office (a different person, it turns out), she scanned my college transcripts for anything that might show some qualification to work with children. "You can speak Greek?" she asked, referring to the four semester of Greek listed in my undergraduate transcripts. "Uh . . . well, its actually ancient Greek, you know, for translation purposes," I explained. Actually, it was worse than that, it was Koine Greek, as in New Testament Greek (I went to Bible College), but I figured "ancient Greek" was easier to explain, given the fact that I am not currently employed as a Bible Translator (I barely passed that last semester with a C). She scowled and continued to scan. Lots of Bible classes (uh-oh, I hope she doesn't think I am some kind of religious fanatic bent on indoctrinating innocent children the moment I get hired, I thought). She highlighted "General Psychology." Whew. At least there was something practical in my undergratuate education. She turned to my graduate transcripts. Nothing got highlighted here, as I doubt "Graduate Seminar in Critical Approaches to Literature" and other such courses struck her as being glowing qualifications for a Youth Worker.

All necessary paperwork submitted and forms requesting criminal background checks signed, I left the office to wait for a phone call from anyone who would consider me to be qualified enough to care for little ones. And I did get a call, but that is another story that will have to wait, for now. Stay tuned for The Interview . . .