First, I can honestly say that I love stay at home mom'ing and I wish I could do it for a few more years. This surprises me in some ways, as I didn't think I'd adapt quite so well to being home full-time. What I've found is that I'm much less stressed, more rested, I'm having more fun and I really don't miss much about working in an office.
At the same time, I don't hate the idea of going back to work...I just wish I could put it off for a while.
Seems like fate is agreeing with me, as my job search has been basically futile. For a while there, I was getting call after call from recruiters looking to fill 3-6 month contract jobs. While not ideal, I was willing to try, but I never seemed to get past the submission process. It boggled my mind the way these recruiters screened me. They'd usually start by reading the job description, telling me the salary and asking me if I was available. Then they might throw in a question like "tell me about your experience." It was easy to tell they weren't really listening to my answer. One woman even asked me to "rate myself on a scale of 1 to 10." Huh? I gave myself a 9 and she then said that I would be a good candidate for the job. Ohhhkay. How do these people have jobs when I don't?
I also got rejected from a $9/hr front desk job but was offered an overnight shift "maintenance job" - now that's a laugh.
Last week I received a call from a job I had applied to. When I called back, I was greeted by barking. Yes, barking. Finally a human voice said hello and explained he was working from home. Every minute or two, he would talk or yell at his dogs without any notice so I wasn't quite sure who he was talking to. "I AM sitting" I wanted to shout. He decided I'd be a good ear for his complaint about posting a job in this economy. "I have a stack of resumes a mile high," he told me. I wanted to sympathize, but really?
Mostly what frustrates me is the complete lack of response you get from most job applications. Some even call to schedule an interview and then play "hide and seek" when you try to call back. My last prospect dealt solely online and hired a consulting company to conduct a phone screen. If you made it past the phone screen, you might get to talk to the actual company (still waiting).
In this crazy new electronic world, there is also a strong emphasis on "social media." I always thought of Facebook as something you hid from your employer, but now they all want to know what kind of social media expertise you have and if you're familiar with tweeting, feeding, and SEOing (no, nope, and huh?). At 34, I feel like maybe I'm too old to work in today's world. Do I now start bragging that I can waste hours on Facebook? Do I pimp this blog? Do I start tweeting Charlie Sheen and put that on my resume? I'm baffled.
And in my latest phone screen, I got the question I've been dreading as the time ticks on. "So what have you been doing since October?" I told the interviewer that I spent time with my family and am now looking to get back into the work world. Sort of a lie since I've been looking the whole time, but I guess I'm bordering on that dangerous gray zone where employers start to think there must be something wrong with you to be out of work so long. I'm guessing there's some leeway with the state of the job market, but still...I may have to start inventing something since most people don't seem impressed with perfecting your playdough skills and having some kick-ass playdates.
The other day I asked Little A if she wanted Mommy to go back to work and she could go to school. She gave me a resounding "no" and started crying. At least I know I've got one fan who wants me around.
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