My unemployment compensation is now called TRA, after the initial six months ran out. I make a minimum of five job contacts a week, whether I am working or not (if I am making less than I would on un-employment). Once I get in a full-time permanent position, I’m off TRA for good and forever (I hope).
During my first week of job searching, I found a temporary position, over the Internet, on a state site called Minnesota’s Jobs Bank. I didn’t have to go through either of the temporary services where I am registered; I just dropped off my resume and they hired me the next day.
This puzzled me, because it is for a state job at the graduate studies office at our local university here. I have no experience in office technology other than my classes, and I was surprised that they snapped me up like that. Turns out, they only had one other applicant, who already was hired elsewhere.
The job is front reception desk and phone (five lines), plus processing applications to grad school, handing out information, fielding questions about registering for classes, graduation ceremony requirements, scholarships, and much more. It is very interesting and I am lucky to get the experience. I have been using Access and Word Perfect mostly. I also created a small database in Access to match up graduating students with their advisors. They all have to sit together so the advisor can give them their diplomas and hoods.
The office manager, who is training me in, has been there for thirty years, and is remarkably patient with my ignorance. I am learning lots, and I have submitted an application to the state to be tested so I can go on a list to apply for permanent employment when it comes up. It would be ideal for me, because it is walking distance from home.
And, I found out my old GRE scores are still in the system from 1987. If I were to be hired there, I could possibly reapply for grad school, not have to retake the exam, and have free tuition.
So far I worked there three days last week. This job will last probably another two weeks. They inteviewed two candidates, and will interview another on Monday. Once they hire someone, if that person needs to give two weeks notice, I will have that much longer to learn. Then I will contact the second temp service where I registered, and see if they have work for me, plus I will keep pounding the pavements.
Of the ten contacts I have made so far, half of them have been over the Internet. I love cyber space!
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