Job Strategies
Aug. 23rd, 2013 09:09 pmI don't feel like dealing with pictures. I do feel like sharing a quote (scroll to bottom). So I'll post something.
One thing that really bugs me about job hunting is that I feel I have to be able to imagine myself actually doing a job before I apply for it. And everything is unique. Could I really do event planning? How about deal with donations all day? How about be a receptionist? How about use state and university bookkeeping systems? How about working half-time for not enough money? How about commuting by car? How about working weird hours? It's tiring. I actually didn't get my application in to one place before the job closed because it took me too long to decide I could do the job.
And besides the specifics, I'm still figuring out the generalities of what to even try for.
Goals:
1) Try not to draw down my IRA contributions before I become eligible for my pension.
2) Do not do anything to put my retirement plans at risk.
3) Extra money for additional contributions would be nice, too.
Plan A - Get more degree audit jobs. That was (usually) fun while it lasted, paid well, and got me another year of credit. Awesome. However, those jobs have dried up, at least for now. Well, a new fiscal year starts next month, and I'm going to a retirement party next week (where I can let people know I'm still available).
Plan B - Get other UT jobs. (I could also try for other jobs with the same or transferrable pension, but some sources say that would mean I couldn't retire from UT and get their good health insurance, so I'm not going to risk that.) But what kind of UT jobs?
a. High-paying full-time jobs I'd be good at. Yeah, I don't see many of those. I did get an idea I haven't yet tried for if I find one but I don't have the required qualifications. I will send a letter (and resume and references and promise I have the required qualifications--because they make you). But the letter would say that in case they have trouble finding the candidates they're hoping for, I'm writing to let them know that if they change or alter their required qualifications [in some way that includes me], then they could have me as an applicant.
b. Mediocre-paying full-time jobs I'd be good at. When you add in the extra years of service, it's still good money. Plus I'm actually finding some of these to apply to.
c. Mediocre- or low-paying half-time jobs I'd be good at. These would at least minimize the IRA draw-down. And it's possible I could get additional work to fill in, such as any degree audit jobs that might materialize in the future. And if not, I'd only have to work half time. I'm also actually finding some of these.
Plan C - Meanwhile, apply for unemployment. This has actually worked.
Plan D - After still getting zero interviews, I am planning to get help on resume writing, but I'm also looking into other things to check into while remaining hopeful about plan B.
a. Temp jobs - I could take short-term temp jobs and make a little money but still be available for permanent jobs. I need to write to the teacher certification place again (even though I'm supposedly still on their list) and find a temp company that specializes in administrative stuff. Worst-case scenario: someone likes me and wants to hire me full-time, and I like them, and because it's the private sector the pay is actually good. So I would just take the job and work a little longer and blow off Plan B. Sounds good.
b. Seasonal job as a tax preparer - I've about decided to take a class in tax preparation. A lady at the job club said she's allowed to let us take the class for $50 instead of the usual $150. It's no guarantee you'll get a job in January, but they pretty much hire anyone who wasn't a jerk in the class. Also I might learn something. Also, one of the class locations appears to be walkable from my house. It pays only $10/hour the first year, but you get only easy forms--or just watch other people do easy forms. And it's only for three months and you can't even get full-time work the whole three months, but it's still some cash and might be interesting. She said they do have extra services they sell, but it's not a hard sell. And I asked and she said they judge how good you are by how many returns you finish, by customer satisfaction surveys, and by how much additional training you take. [Not sales.] I then couldn't help asking if they checked for accuracy. Yes. Worst-case scenario: I get hired for a full-time job before I finish the course. Sounds good to me!
c. Seasonal job with the IRS - That pays way more that tax prep (I think), but last time I took the test, I could barely get through it because it was so boring.
d. Some low-paying job I wouldn't mind quitting. What would that be?
Plan E - After I give up on plan B, I should broaden the job search somehow. Ugh, I don't have a plan E yet. I do know when I would implement it, though, and that's in mid-April of next year, when it becomes too late to get a year of service for the 13-14 year. Last time I looked for a job, it only took eight months, though, and I was trying to change careers again, so this time should be easier.
Quote of the Day - "Screw it. I'm just going to have a zombie wedding. Nothing says class and dignity like a theme wedding, right?
"Let me clarify...a theme wedding can be tasteful. A zombie-themed wedding is open for debate. Though the narrative writes itself. You could ask all married people to show up as zombies...the bride and groom show up as non-zombies but through the magic of some sort of quick make-up, as soon as the service is over, the happy two-some become zombies. But since you don't want to make it seem like you're putting down marriage, you maybe put a spin on it to say that it's okay to be a zombie...that it's a valid lifestyle and no one should feel bad that if you're a zombie or a non-zombie. So you're making everyone feel good and maybe also supporting gay marriage. As a matter of fact, you're kind of a jerk if you look down your nose at a zombie-themed wedding."
-Randy Tumlin
One thing that really bugs me about job hunting is that I feel I have to be able to imagine myself actually doing a job before I apply for it. And everything is unique. Could I really do event planning? How about deal with donations all day? How about be a receptionist? How about use state and university bookkeeping systems? How about working half-time for not enough money? How about commuting by car? How about working weird hours? It's tiring. I actually didn't get my application in to one place before the job closed because it took me too long to decide I could do the job.
And besides the specifics, I'm still figuring out the generalities of what to even try for.
Goals:
1) Try not to draw down my IRA contributions before I become eligible for my pension.
2) Do not do anything to put my retirement plans at risk.
3) Extra money for additional contributions would be nice, too.
Plan A - Get more degree audit jobs. That was (usually) fun while it lasted, paid well, and got me another year of credit. Awesome. However, those jobs have dried up, at least for now. Well, a new fiscal year starts next month, and I'm going to a retirement party next week (where I can let people know I'm still available).
Plan B - Get other UT jobs. (I could also try for other jobs with the same or transferrable pension, but some sources say that would mean I couldn't retire from UT and get their good health insurance, so I'm not going to risk that.) But what kind of UT jobs?
a. High-paying full-time jobs I'd be good at. Yeah, I don't see many of those. I did get an idea I haven't yet tried for if I find one but I don't have the required qualifications. I will send a letter (and resume and references and promise I have the required qualifications--because they make you). But the letter would say that in case they have trouble finding the candidates they're hoping for, I'm writing to let them know that if they change or alter their required qualifications [in some way that includes me], then they could have me as an applicant.
b. Mediocre-paying full-time jobs I'd be good at. When you add in the extra years of service, it's still good money. Plus I'm actually finding some of these to apply to.
c. Mediocre- or low-paying half-time jobs I'd be good at. These would at least minimize the IRA draw-down. And it's possible I could get additional work to fill in, such as any degree audit jobs that might materialize in the future. And if not, I'd only have to work half time. I'm also actually finding some of these.
Plan C - Meanwhile, apply for unemployment. This has actually worked.
Plan D - After still getting zero interviews, I am planning to get help on resume writing, but I'm also looking into other things to check into while remaining hopeful about plan B.
a. Temp jobs - I could take short-term temp jobs and make a little money but still be available for permanent jobs. I need to write to the teacher certification place again (even though I'm supposedly still on their list) and find a temp company that specializes in administrative stuff. Worst-case scenario: someone likes me and wants to hire me full-time, and I like them, and because it's the private sector the pay is actually good. So I would just take the job and work a little longer and blow off Plan B. Sounds good.
b. Seasonal job as a tax preparer - I've about decided to take a class in tax preparation. A lady at the job club said she's allowed to let us take the class for $50 instead of the usual $150. It's no guarantee you'll get a job in January, but they pretty much hire anyone who wasn't a jerk in the class. Also I might learn something. Also, one of the class locations appears to be walkable from my house. It pays only $10/hour the first year, but you get only easy forms--or just watch other people do easy forms. And it's only for three months and you can't even get full-time work the whole three months, but it's still some cash and might be interesting. She said they do have extra services they sell, but it's not a hard sell. And I asked and she said they judge how good you are by how many returns you finish, by customer satisfaction surveys, and by how much additional training you take. [Not sales.] I then couldn't help asking if they checked for accuracy. Yes. Worst-case scenario: I get hired for a full-time job before I finish the course. Sounds good to me!
c. Seasonal job with the IRS - That pays way more that tax prep (I think), but last time I took the test, I could barely get through it because it was so boring.
d. Some low-paying job I wouldn't mind quitting. What would that be?
Plan E - After I give up on plan B, I should broaden the job search somehow. Ugh, I don't have a plan E yet. I do know when I would implement it, though, and that's in mid-April of next year, when it becomes too late to get a year of service for the 13-14 year. Last time I looked for a job, it only took eight months, though, and I was trying to change careers again, so this time should be easier.
Quote of the Day - "Screw it. I'm just going to have a zombie wedding. Nothing says class and dignity like a theme wedding, right?
"Let me clarify...a theme wedding can be tasteful. A zombie-themed wedding is open for debate. Though the narrative writes itself. You could ask all married people to show up as zombies...the bride and groom show up as non-zombies but through the magic of some sort of quick make-up, as soon as the service is over, the happy two-some become zombies. But since you don't want to make it seem like you're putting down marriage, you maybe put a spin on it to say that it's okay to be a zombie...that it's a valid lifestyle and no one should feel bad that if you're a zombie or a non-zombie. So you're making everyone feel good and maybe also supporting gay marriage. As a matter of fact, you're kind of a jerk if you look down your nose at a zombie-themed wedding."
-Randy Tumlin