Okay I haven't given out a lot of details about my interviews this week. Tuesday I went in for my first interview with DHS. It was more or less an assessment interview. There are two positions available with this organization, temporary positions, with the possibility of hiring me on permanently (pending a test, drug test, background check, how the training period went yada, yada, yada). I sat in the lobby and waited five very LONG minutes before I was called in. I felt very overwhelmed waiting in the lobby. Not going to lie, sitting down I questioned whether I was cut out for this job. Despite that I turned out the charm, the brain, and the humor. It wasn't too bad! There were two supervisors and two senior workers, each with a different dept and each asking me questions. Everyone was very friendly. They were quite taken by surprise when I asked about bringing Leo into work. However, they didn't seem to object to the idea, but, they did want to check into it. Twenty minutes I was out of there not feeling so sure, but, feeling good about getting my feet wet.
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Yesterday there was another impromptu interview at the elementary school where I've been helping my friend Rhonda out. She gave me a heads up that there are two positions open at her school and so I applied. They aren't uber glamorous, but, the hours are good and there are benefits. And one position, a para, invovles working with special ed/needs kids- something that I have a bit of a passion for since I began teaching piano. To my surprise the principal asked me to come in for an interview while I was helping get Rhonda's class ready! The interview went pretty well actually despite being in a t-shirt, jeans, and flip flops. The principal was very nice, seemed to get my teaching 'philosophy', and we got along well. She wants to fill the positions asap and I was feeling really encouraged this maybe the place for me.
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Today I recieved a call from DHS, that I missed, and one of the supervisors told me she'd like to discuss a job offer. Holy CRAP! I don't know the details yet, if Leo is allowed to be there, pay, when I have to say yes or no, etc. The other position at the school is kinda up in the air. They want to offer me a spot, but, as it is a public school they have to wait for the nod from Human Resources. So here I am... in between pretty much two job offers, but, only one is solid. And the DHS position if a is a 40-50 hours per week kinda job- meaning if I were to take it (and even quit if I got a job at the elementary school) I would have to cut a chunk of piano students, a big chunk of students.
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A lot depends on what DHS has to offer of course. I have been stressing out, which is to be expected lol. However, I maybe getting worked up over nothing. My heart wants the PARA job. It is not a big high up position, but, working one on one with kids is something I'd love and I could keep many of my students. The dual pay would be a plus, the hours a big plus, the no pay during the summer- not as great. The DHS job would be a higher step up career wise, the benefits are fab, but, the hours would be looooonnnngggg.
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I don't want to sound as if I'm complaining- I'm not. I am blown away by the opportunities that are coming out of the blue and I'm trying to make sense out of it all. I will know more tomorrow and so we shall see. My goodness what a day this has been (and I didn't even cover what the staff meeting at the studio this morning was like!)
8 comments:
Ask about travel at DHS, too, if there would be any and how that's comped. You don't want to find out you'll be driving all over creation and getting no vehicle allowance, etc. Just sayin'. Best of luck, babe! Sounds awesome!
Good call Sarah. We'll see what they say. If Leo isn't allowed there and the pay isn't fab then that'll be a deal breaker. However, if everything is too good then I'll really be in a pickle! Good problem to have huh?
That's great news, two job offers is so much better than none! I know the feeling though of not knowing which way to go. I reckon you'd get a bigger kick out of the school one, that sounds really good.
Also, DHS in Australia stands for Department of Human Services - is it the same in the States or does it mean something else?
I think that it is very important that you have already had the opportunity to be interviewed twice in the brief period of time since you left your old job due to its restructuring of positions within the company.
However, I hope that you take your time and reflect seriously, self-protectively, before taking any job that requires you, before even taking the job, to agree to work up to 50 hours per week at something which would also require that you give up aspects of a particular passion and talent, such as teaching piano.
Maybe "feeling overwhelmed" in the lobby was a message from you to you. I don't presume to know, but it might be worth contemplating...
I'll be interested in hearing about interviews #3,#4, and #5. Who knows where your interviewing could lead!
Wow! Your fortune cookie really does fit!
"Do not worry about holding a high position; worry rather about playing your proper role."
I wonder what your proper role is :-)
Annelise- Yes, DHS in America stands for Dept. of Human Services as well. And you're right, I know I would get a bigger kick out of working one on one with kiddos at the school. Just hoping they'll be able to make a spot for me! Darn having to work the system. lol
Pliers- As always, you hit the nail on the head. I was overthinking so much yesterday my thoughts hadn't quite settled into a cohesive series. That said rest and the phone call I made today.
I think you're right, feeling overwhelmed in the lobby and the thought, "I'm not going to get this" that came out of the blue after the interview as I was walking to the car, were all 'signs' if you will. I even thought about that yesterday, but, thank God for today as it helped to make things a lot easier for me to decide.
Trace- I know right?! Kinda freaky. But, I think my proper role is to be where I am able to help. If I can change one life for the better then that makes my life so beyond worth it. That is a humbling thought right there isn't it?
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