Friday, April 04, 2008

A (Probable) New Job

Well I had my interview today, and it went pretty well. The lady basically told me I had the job (if I wanted it), but that H.R. had to be the one to offer the position to me. She said they'd either call me later today or Monday. There are many factors that make this job better than the one I have now, let me count the ways:

1. Money. Let's be realistic, it's important. My salary will only increase by twenty-five cents, yes...HOWEVER, I'm going to be working 40 hours a week EVERY week. This is important because currently I work 35 hours a week--however I have only worked that much a couple of times (because of holidays, special events, etc.). So if you factor in the extra hours and the raise, it's much more money.

2. More experience doing something that's NOT security work. The new job requires nearly a month of training, all of which is paid for (and I'm to be paid to attend). This includes a CPR/First-Aid class, conflict resolution/avoidance, and a "Masters-level course" specifically pertaining to who I'll be helping...

3. Which brings up the third point: I will be helping people (which is what I wanted to do).

So what is this job? Well, essentially I'm going to be doing Social Work. I'll be a "Supported Employment Technician." The organization I'll be working for (non-profit) helps both children and adults who suffer from Autism. The people they help run the gambit of functionality, but the people I'll work with will all be those who are able to hold a job in the community. I'll be placed with people in my area, who I will take to work...I'll hang out, make sure that they're able to do their jobs. Four hours a week I have to spend in the office working on the case files/reports, but the rest of the time I'll be in "the field" helping these people try to live a normal life. I'll need chauffeur's license (which I think is funny), and I will be reimbursed for my travel/gas expenses.

I honestly can't believe I applied for, let alone am seriously considering accepting, such a job. However the benefits are good--more money, new and interesting work, new skills and things I can add to my resume. Plus I'll be doing something that matters more than the usual job. I can't really say that this is something I'd want to do forever, but right now...I feel like I'm pretty much wasting my life...I need to be doing something, anything NOT security work. So there it is.

What sucks: all the extensive training I'll get (which I'm glad is going to be available to me) is done once a month, the next session begins on Monday...which means I'm going to have to wait until next month to start working full time. Which means I'm looking at another 3 weeks at my current job. Also, they pay their people once a month (at the beginning) so I won't get my first full paycheck until June (yeeeessssshhhh!!!). But April is a "three-payday" month for me where I am now...so between that, and Leah's new job starting to pay her this month...we'll survive.

Limemonkey the case-worker, who'd have thought?

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well I'm glad you found a job that won't slowly steal your soul like your current gig. : ) Good luck!

Jason said...

Yeah thanks...I'm still looking, though. I actually applied to a few more places today. I'm just not making the kind of money I feel like I should be making (i.e. over $25,000 a year).

Seriously people, why did I get this degree???

Anonymous said...

That's awesome that you get to do something that you like. It's really hard to get a job nowadays I hear just coming out of college. It's a recession and the pickings are slim. But like I told Leah if you think of a number you want to make, then I believe you can make it happen.

Anonymous said...

I think it's hard--when you graduate high school most people think they know enough to take the world by storm...and then they find out they don't. Then, it happens all over again in college... Even with a graduate degree, I worked four years as an adjunct to find the job I have now.

Working with autistic clients could lead to better things. Have you read the novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime? It is told from the point of view of an autistic narrator--and was very well reviewed several years ago.

Anonymous said...

You got the degree, for you and that is one thing and perhaphs the last thing you will do for yourself and something that no one can take away from you! YOU SAY THAT YOU WHAT A JOB MAKING $25,000 A YEAR, ONE MONEY IS NOT EVERYTHING, second why just 25,000? That seems like a low goal,but it is a goal,ah to be young again, but nothing happens without action, a chance to try and fail, or to say I mess up and pick up again, it is better to try the unknown then to be HAPPY with what I have, and the comfort zone I have, and wonder in later years why I did not follow I heart. And wonder what I should have done what might have been!