Make it WORK!

So, I haven't been too "posty" about my job situation. To be quite honest, it's been because there really hasn't been much to share. I've sent approximately 50-odd resumes and applications, and I've had relatively little luck until recently.

In November, after completing about 3 exams and some orientations, I was hired by the post office rec (where mail is sent after they electronically can't figure out where it is supposed to go). I was excited to finally start something, even though it wasn't quite what I was looking for. Unfortunately, my official hire date was set for January 19th, almost two months out (because they have to pay so much overtime in December, they didn't want to pay newbies and their trainers when the trainers could have been working). Meanwhile, Kevin's office had offered me brief employment while their office manager took some time off, and I had two interviews in December. The first interview was with WSU, and the second was with the Wichita Library.

Long story short, I declined the offer at the post office because we learned the hours would not work well for us now. I recently found out that WSU rehired an employee for the position I had interviewed for who had been laid off due to budget cuts earlier. Although I was (and still am) disappointed about not getting that position, I did receive an offer from the library. I start today! The branch (Westlink) that I will be working at is only a few minutes from our home, which is wonderful. It's part-time, but I think that might be a good adjustment for me since it's been eight long months since I've had an official job.

I'm still hopeful that I will find a higher ed job in the near-ish future. Most jobs in my field are typically vacated at the end of the fiscal year, so hiring seems to be done mainly in the late spring/early summer. For now, though, I am quite happy to be starting at the library. I worked at the CG library all through high school and some of college, and I really enjoy the atmosphere and people.

There have been times in the last several months where I've been so frustrated to not be able to find something that I so enjoy and have been educated to do. I've been upset at the role of "traveling spouse" that I had to fill. However, I am so lucky to have great family and friends who have encouraged me when I needed it the most. I am the luckiest, however, for having the best husband imaginable, who never failed to give me a shoulder to cry on and always listened with great interest.