Starting From Scratch

Trying to find a job can be a painstaking, painful, difficult experience.  Trying to find a job after not having to look for one for six years is excruciating.  And, yet, here I am.

Once upon a time I was a highly qualified, easily hire-able job candidate.  I had skills, availability, work history and temperament that were valuable to employers.  Finding a job was “easy”.  I got call-backs and interviews in no time and at times was able to choose the position I wanted from more than one offer.

Boy, has life changed.

These days I am too old.  My work history is too diverse.  I don’t have the required education level (I mean, a degree for an admin assistant position?).  I don’t have completely open availability to work the varying shifts they might need from one day to the next.

I’m not as good as I once was.  Actually, that’s not true.  I am as good as I once was; possibly even better.  The problem is that I can’t get a call-back.  I can’t even wiggle my way through the door far enough for a chance to present myself to anyone who might be in a position to actually offer me a damned job.

I used to be an office manager and pretty much “ran” my dad’s business for approximately ten years.  After my dad’s stroke in 2011 I was out of work for three years.  In that time I went back to school.  Didn’t work… went to school.  That created a three year gap in my employment.  Once I was able to go back to work I was offered a position from my internship as an AOD counselor fairly quickly and made strides towards advancement within the agency I was working for.  Then I had to step down and become a SAHM for a period of time.  I homeschool my girls and they weren’t receiving the attention and help from me that they needed and deserved.  That was okay and I will never regret the decision that I made, BUT that created another gap in employment.  Luckily, I was able to obtain a position as a server at the resort where we now live.  Over the past six years I have bounced from server to office admin/front desk to bartender.  Six years of my life spent not acquiring a solid, steady work history has taken its toll.

I was recently offered a somewhat managerial type of position at the place where I am currently employed.  I would be a good fit and am qualified for the position.  I know I could be beneficial to the company and create change~ in a good way.  The hours were/are perfect.  It included a pass increase.  Unfortunately, for too many reasons to list here, I decided to pass on the position.

So I’m basically starting from scratch.  I’ve been scouring job sites and trying to find something that I feel completely qualified for that offers hours that are compatible with my schedule (No, I can not leave myself open to any shift at any time).  I’m working on getting a foot in the door because I know I present well.  I am articulate and intelligent.  I dress appropriately (I even hide my tattoos 😉 )  I am friendly and open and honest.  I know what I’m doing.  I just need the chance to do it.

Apparently, I don’t present well on paper these days, however.

And I’m not sure what to do about that.

I guess I’ll keep searching and applying and hope that, at some point, someone might see a glimmer of value in what I have to offer based on that arbitrary piece of paper that they ask you to submit to subjectively consider your worth.

Just let me in the door and I’ll do the rest.