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Anxious week

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Posted 6/21/2013 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
I have been (supposed to be) applying for jobs this week. And I have been. Two so far today, and roughly 5-6 others this week.

I do have to admit that I am very anxious about all this. I am not exactly depressed, but I am very on edge. I am happier emotionally than I have been for a while, despite being unhappy at my old job and living alone with chronic conditions. But the job search is wigging me out, as it does everyone.

People have generally two points of view on my choice. One is that I am crazy to leave a fulltime job with nothing else lined up. Most of these folks either did not know the job (needless to say, everyone who had firsthand knowledge of the place did not fall into this category) or was not aware of the mounting health issues. Others say I am brave to take this step.

Let's just say this week, I desperately want to believe the second group, and strongly suspect I am, in fact, nutso bonkers.

Anxiety!

On the other hand, eating properly, exercising, and sleeping. So, life can't be all bad.
Posted 6/21/2013 2:45 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like you're making some really good moves and taking steps towards finding work that suits you. You are applying regularly, which can be productive, if nothing else than for the practice. How are you finding the application process?
Posted 6/21/2013 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
Honestly, the hardest part is parsing my experience with the current market. My background is in academia, twenty years in the classroom. There are tons of marketable skills in that experience; It takes time to tease them all out in an useful and marketable way.

I took a federal seminar which helped me craft a resume that showcases effectively my skills. I wrote the resume, and have several adaptations of cover letters.

Part of me really hopes the local university with it's one-year fulltime professorship gives me a call. And they might. But that's so familiar! I know exactly what they want, and how to handle the job. This other stuff sounds interesting...

I need to start trying to find a therapist here--and get my records transferred from where I used to live.
Posted 6/21/2013 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
Myself - you are doing so well.

Im not sure I could go through all the application / interview process again, way too stressful for me. I will have to try hard to keep my current job..are you looking full time...which subject do you teach?

Glad you are sleeping and exercising well also, im jealous...have stopped my exercise as having a flare...and need to get back to sleeping :o(
Posted 6/21/2013 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
I really don't know much about this, but it came to mind. Since you have a strong background in the classroom, but have not yet found a job, could you find p/t work, even temporarily, as an online tutor? I would guess your qualifications would be perfect for this.

Best wishes!
Posted 6/21/2013 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
I have to get fulltime. I need insurance (Here in the USA, insurance is linked to a fulltime job, as I am sure you know). My partner is just that-my long-term SO. His job, contract for the US government, does NOT offer insurance for opposite-sex partners. They do, however, offer insurance for same-sex partners. Lotsa loopholes here.

I am only looking at academic jobs on the periphery. That market is horrendously tight, and I have already done the "move to the place where the job is" for six years. I have also adjunct taught (part-time at schools) for many years a decade plus ago. That's no way to live--three or four different institutions, 5-6 classes a semester, no benefits, and no security, and not really enough to pay bills. The one year I did it post-diagnosis, I spent a lot of time sleeping, the rest of the time was driving. I teach/taught in the liberal arts, history, english, theatre, speech, communications.

Right now, I am focusing on education directors in the private sector-people who do training classes and administer certifications, stuff like that. They generally want administrative and classroom experience, which I have.

I am trying to breathe, focus my mind, and smile. I am only getting sleep and exercise and proper eating, because these are my procrastination tools of the moment. Hey, maybe I ought to go and do some dishes! Prep some dinner! Make a shopping list! Go to the gym!
Posted 6/21/2013 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
with teaching at least you get some long holidays to recouperate, or does that not apply in the US? I remember Uni days...ahhh bliss
Posted 6/21/2013 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
I see what you mean, Myself 09. I was more thinking along the line of temporary tutoring online, until you find a full-time position, but it sounds like your current 'fulltime job' is hunting for a job (and that can really feel like a job in itself, can't it?).
Posted 6/21/2013 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
I can't believe the gov't job will pay for healthcare for same-sex partners but not opposite-sex partners!  This is nuts!  Well, nothing seems to surprise me anymore.  mad

 

Myself, you might be surprised what you find.  My husband and I were both teachers and really did need both paychecks but then we had our first child and I did try to teach the first year and found I needed to be home raising my child.  I left teaching and my husband was quite nervous.  He was a math and physical science teacher but he had taught himself how to use a computer while teaching at the high school, since they had an old Univac time share computer.  (They didn't have computer science classes when we went to college.)  He ended up writing the textbook on computer science that the school system used in the three high schools.  So, he did have something different to fall back on.

 

When I quit, he started sending out resumes and looked in the data processing field since teachers made practically nothing back then.  He did get a job as a programmer and worked his way up in the field.  He also was able to teach computer languages at our local college, too.  We never imagined all of this would happen and my leaving teaching was the best thing I could have done!

 

For you, you really had to leave that other job.  It was for your own sanity, I think.  You were so frustrated there and all that stress just makes your illnesses worse.  You did absolutely the right thing.  You are a bright woman and it will show in interviews and the perfect job for you will come up.  The job market is so tight but I think you just might be happily surprised. 

 

Here is another great thing about being a teacher.  When my husband was working his way up the ladder, they would send only him to workshops and then he would come back and teach the rest of the group what he had learned.  He got to put the workshop in his resume and this also saved the company money.  That's another plus in  your column!  

 

Just try to relax.  Take your deep breaths and try to relax your muscles.  Everything does work out even though it doesn't seem like it will at the time.  Be sure to let us know how your interview goes.  

 

Sherrine 

Posted 6/21/2013 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I have hit my five job applications for the day! Private sector research and training jobs, and not-for-profit learning positions. Rah!! Now, it is time to relax, and do other things.

I am trying the deep breaths, Sherrine, really I am. I am also glad I have a little cushion, at the moment, of paychecks until the end of summer. I did have to leave. I was so very unhappy! Anyone who knew the job understood completely, and were jealous of my decision to move on while I still was able.

One step at a time. You do your best, and then let it go, until someone calls and then you go to interview, and do your best.

One step at a time, and don't worry about that which is out of your hands. -sigh- trying!
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