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Odds Bodkins!!!
12 years ago
So. Strange things have been happening in my life lately. To give you all a little backstory, 2 years ago I took training to become an electrician. I was surprised to discover I really liked it, and I looked forward to working. Everyone (school, government, employment office, etc etc) was telling me that I would be such a sho-in, as I was in a trade in high demand, AND a woman. In my province in Canada, there is a big push to get women in the trades, because we're still a little backwards about some things. So needless to say, I had a very positive outlook. There was a LOT of construction going on, and I graduated 3rd highest in my class, then starting sending out resumes and making calls.
That was 2 years ago. I haven't had a single interview. I have called people, asking if they were hiring, was told nope, no hiring, to discover that less than a WEEK later, they would go out and hire 12 or 13 apprentices. This went on for 2 years.
I was very depressed. I honestly felt that God, or Fate, or whatever, had it out for me. I couldn't get work anywhere. I lucked into a seasonal part time job at a museum, which I LOVE, but it's only 12 hours a week. For the last year I haven't been making ends meet at all. I had to sell some things, and give up a lot of my hobbies. Luckily I never drank or smoked, and I think that would have been terrible. The only "luxury" or whatever you want to call it, that I kept, was my internet. And I had to keep that so I could keep doing job searches.
I got a call from a local retail store (no names) that wanted to hire me for a month. This would cut into my work at the museum, so I had to tell them no. Things went downhill after that.
I sent out some new resumes before Christmas looking for anything. MacDonalds, donut stores, anything.
Last week, I got a call from a big box store, looking to hire me for a clerk. Now I have NO experience as a clerk, which means I'm going to have to train. And to be honest, I'm s*itbaked. I tend to panic when I have to learn new things while STANDING IN FRONT OF SOMEONE. But I thought, no, I need this job so badly, I'll take. I had the interview, and they told me they would get in contact with me.
Two days later, they asked me to come in AGAIN for some more questions. Me and 3 others. The head manager asked me questions, and when all was said and done, he said he wanted me on their front line, said I was just what they were looking for, responsible, mature (I always want to ask, how old do you think I am? I'm not 'mature', I'm old. I just look a lot younger than I am!), friendly, blah blah blah. So I had the job.
Went home feeling pretty darn good. Still shitbaked, but good.
That afternoon, I get a call from the local Electrical Union. The woman in charge said that she was going to try and do everything she could to get me a job at the biggest construction project in my province. So now I'm thinking, "Well crap. Now I'm going to have to decide. 2 years with nothing, now 2 at once. But given the choice, I'll go with the electrical project. Much more money."
The NEXT day, I get a call from the retail store. Want me to come in that night for training. Now I was locked into something and could NOT get away until 2 days time. Absolutely no way out. I explained to the caller what happened, and that I was available as soon as that time was up.
"Oh. Ok. Thanks for applying. Bye." And hung up.
So I was left thinking,"Well, I guess I really don't have to choose now after all." But I felt a little let down. The manager in charge had praised me up so much, even though I was terrified about the training.
An hour after that, the electrical union called. Nope. No job for me. I wasn't a REGISTERED apprentice. (For those of you not aware, to be registered, you have to be hired. But no one wants to hire an unregistered apprentice. The old job -> experience ->job circle). So I was left with nothing.
I had never felt so low in my entire life.
Yesterday, I got a call from the retail store. Can I make it on monday for training? Yes, yes I can! Ok, good, we'll see you then.
Ok, so a LITTLE hope. STILL shitbaked, but I'll do what I have to do.
An HOUR later, the union called. Oh, don't worry about not being registered. WE'LL do that for you, and call tonight for a list of the jobs and make sure you apply.
So.....I have literally come full circle. As of right now, I once again have a possible 2 jobs to have to choose from, and yes, I am STILL shitbaked about having to learn to run a cash register at a big box store. My head is spinning.
Holy God what a week!
:P
That was 2 years ago. I haven't had a single interview. I have called people, asking if they were hiring, was told nope, no hiring, to discover that less than a WEEK later, they would go out and hire 12 or 13 apprentices. This went on for 2 years.
I was very depressed. I honestly felt that God, or Fate, or whatever, had it out for me. I couldn't get work anywhere. I lucked into a seasonal part time job at a museum, which I LOVE, but it's only 12 hours a week. For the last year I haven't been making ends meet at all. I had to sell some things, and give up a lot of my hobbies. Luckily I never drank or smoked, and I think that would have been terrible. The only "luxury" or whatever you want to call it, that I kept, was my internet. And I had to keep that so I could keep doing job searches.
I got a call from a local retail store (no names) that wanted to hire me for a month. This would cut into my work at the museum, so I had to tell them no. Things went downhill after that.
I sent out some new resumes before Christmas looking for anything. MacDonalds, donut stores, anything.
Last week, I got a call from a big box store, looking to hire me for a clerk. Now I have NO experience as a clerk, which means I'm going to have to train. And to be honest, I'm s*itbaked. I tend to panic when I have to learn new things while STANDING IN FRONT OF SOMEONE. But I thought, no, I need this job so badly, I'll take. I had the interview, and they told me they would get in contact with me.
Two days later, they asked me to come in AGAIN for some more questions. Me and 3 others. The head manager asked me questions, and when all was said and done, he said he wanted me on their front line, said I was just what they were looking for, responsible, mature (I always want to ask, how old do you think I am? I'm not 'mature', I'm old. I just look a lot younger than I am!), friendly, blah blah blah. So I had the job.
Went home feeling pretty darn good. Still shitbaked, but good.
That afternoon, I get a call from the local Electrical Union. The woman in charge said that she was going to try and do everything she could to get me a job at the biggest construction project in my province. So now I'm thinking, "Well crap. Now I'm going to have to decide. 2 years with nothing, now 2 at once. But given the choice, I'll go with the electrical project. Much more money."
The NEXT day, I get a call from the retail store. Want me to come in that night for training. Now I was locked into something and could NOT get away until 2 days time. Absolutely no way out. I explained to the caller what happened, and that I was available as soon as that time was up.
"Oh. Ok. Thanks for applying. Bye." And hung up.
So I was left thinking,"Well, I guess I really don't have to choose now after all." But I felt a little let down. The manager in charge had praised me up so much, even though I was terrified about the training.
An hour after that, the electrical union called. Nope. No job for me. I wasn't a REGISTERED apprentice. (For those of you not aware, to be registered, you have to be hired. But no one wants to hire an unregistered apprentice. The old job -> experience ->job circle). So I was left with nothing.
I had never felt so low in my entire life.
Yesterday, I got a call from the retail store. Can I make it on monday for training? Yes, yes I can! Ok, good, we'll see you then.
Ok, so a LITTLE hope. STILL shitbaked, but I'll do what I have to do.
An HOUR later, the union called. Oh, don't worry about not being registered. WE'LL do that for you, and call tonight for a list of the jobs and make sure you apply.
So.....I have literally come full circle. As of right now, I once again have a possible 2 jobs to have to choose from, and yes, I am STILL shitbaked about having to learn to run a cash register at a big box store. My head is spinning.
Holy God what a week!
:P
hexen109
~hexen109
Hah your spot is pretty funny though Quillsword, seen that a lot of people are just like you right now, jobless and sitting on the bench for years and most don't have the monetary possibility to improve on their education so that they become more attractive workers... but really as for your dilema you should really keep both in check and see which one actually works out in the end but DO NOT try to juggle jobs, you'll feel like crap by the end of the week. I wish you all the luck, prayer or fatespinning you can get!
Quillsword
~quillsword
OP
Yeah, if I have the choice, I'll go with the electrical job. It's what I want, it's full time, and steady until that work ends. Then, at least, I'm 2nd year and it will be a little easier to find something. As for juggling 2 jobs, both will be part time, so at least it won't be every single day. Hopefully that will be ok. :)
