Jun. 26, 2008 - Death of The Job Hunt
It has been many years since I have had applied for a job, but I remember well the days of pounding the pavement, taking my resume to anyone who would accept it. I remember the frustration of being told I didn’t have enough experience, as I searched for the job that would give me the experience required. I was a certified legal secretary, but I applied everywhere – law firms, realty offices, fast food joints…
I was finally hired by a firm who was willing to forego the experience in favour of being able to pay me a pittance of a salary - $600/month. If they used me for cheap labour, I used them to gain the experience I would need to get a better job! And in the end, when the company needed to downsize and let me go as one of the most recent employees, they gave me a good recommendation which got me a better job in another firm. All was well.
But over the years before I had children I went through the experience of job hunting many times. Lay-offs, moves, and term employment coming to an end all contributed to my frequent search for work, as well as the diverse situations I found myself in. Besides law firms I also worked in various government offices including municipal, provincial and federal, a daycare, a Canex grocery store, Civilian Personnel Office, and the orderly room of a Fighter Squadron. Each job enriched my life in its own unique way. My favourite job of all was working in the counseling office of the high school. It was my favourite because when the band teacher was away, I got to teach his classes. I enjoyed most of my jobs, or certain aspects of them anyway, but what I really love to do is teach music. I taught piano for several years between my last outside job and having children.
What brought all of this back to mind recently was my oldest daughter applying for jobs. In our town jobs are pretty easy to come by so she didn’t have to “pound the pavement” like I did years ago. In fact, she decided where she wanted to work, applied there (and only there – being willing to apply elsewhere later if she wasn’t hired at her first choice), and was hired almost on the spot, even though she said she would not work Sundays and she would need 5 weeks off this summer for prior commitments (our holidays and her 3-week cadet camp). This was amazing to me, knowing what real job hunting is like, but also explained to me why the service is so poor in many of our retail locations!
Her father, however, has no idea having never applied for a job in his life. He worked for his father as a teen, then joined the military right out of high school and has been there ever since. It’s true that he did have to apply to be accepted into the military college. But that is all.
Last night, all of these memories were swirling around in my brain as I read the employment opportunities in our local paper. Some of the jobs sounded interesting. Some sounded mundane. Some were specific to a field that I have neither training nor interest in. Many jobs are available for those willing to work. It was fun to think back to my working days.
But my perusal of the employment section of the paper was purely out of interest because I already have a job. It doesn’t pay much, monetarily speaking, but the benefits are great, and it is definitely full time! As I read the job offerings I thought about what an ad for my own job would look like. Let’s see… I could not come up with an adequate job title, and I’m sure I left out some of the duties!
Employment Opportunity
Duties Include (but are not limited to): Janitorial duties including but not limited to cleaning toilets, floors, walls, windows, etc, laundry, emptying waste, picking up after others; telephone reception; making appointments; driving people to their appointments; care of children from infancy to adulthood, including but not limited to their physical care, emotional care, discipline and moral training; administering 1st line medical attention in both emergencies and non-emergency situations; supervising triage for all medical situations; preparation of all meals (may have periodic sous chef help); supervising all activities by sous chefs and kitchen staff; organizing the purchase of supplies needed for the kitchen (including but not limited to food), clothing for those who live in the household, and all household supplies, both consumable and non-consumable, all within the budget set for you; supervising varying numbers of children; educating the children that belong to this household, including both academics and electives; other duties as needed. There will also be duties outside of this direct employment that will be required, such as volunteer work in a church and/or community organizations. Some travel may be required.
Hours: 0000 hours to 2359 hours
There are no vacation days for this position. No sick days will be allowed!
Salary/Benefits: The successful applicant will receive free room and board, and will be provided with the budget necessary for maintaining the duties as outlined above, as well as to provide for personal needs. Also included in the benefit package are unlimited supplies of hugs and kisses, an occasional dinner out, and breakfast served in bed once per year on the second Sunday in May.
Our Guarantee: In spite of the lengthy duty roster, unending hours, poor pay, and complete lack of time off, previous employees holding this position have found it so rewarding that they have chosen to stay with the company for the duration of their lives. We guarantee that the successful applicant will feel the same. If you don’t, you have to stay anyway.
Comments
Jun. 26, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Jacqueline
LOL! What a job!
Jun. 30, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by carmen
Haha, I like your job description! Sounds pretty accurate! So where did Victoria find her job?
Jul. 1, 2008 - Job description
Posted by LoriD
How awesome that she knew what she wanted and had the confidence to ask for specific time off. I thought your job description was great! It was great to visit your blog, I look forward to coming back again.
Jul. 1, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by BritishColumbia
Heehee, love the job description! I remember when I got my first job. I was 12 years old and worked at the local diner as a dishwasher. I was thrilled to be able to earn my own money. At that time minimum wage was only $5.00 *grin*
Boy does that date me or what! LOL. I ended up working there for nearly 8 years before I got married and then took on the above job :) Ahh, but the rewards are worth it.
Blessings,
Rosina
Jul. 6, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by molytail
*Love* the job description! :-)
Her experience getting the job so fast and at her first choice & your comment about a lack of good customer service reminded me of what my dh has told me about jobs in Fort McMurray - he said nobody seems to value their jobs that much out there because if they get fired, they can snap up another in about 5 minutes.
I hope hers goes well! :-)
http://molytail.blogspot.com/
