After nearly 7 months of unemployment, more than 30 interviews and, to be fair, 11 job offers (I fully admit I was totally picky). I have accepted a position as a case manager/therapist at a community mental health agency about 10 miles from my new place in Washington. The county I live in privitized their social service agencies a few years ago so I'll be dealing with the client base that would normally visit a community mental health agency but instead working for a non profit funded by a private for profit company (follow that). Which means I'll have a stable job with good benefits but I'll be working with chronic and persistently mentally ill adults as well as hopefully running PTSD, Military and Trauma groups for the organization. The salary is fair for the area, it has great benefits and will provide me with all the hours towards supervision that I need to get my full license. Thank you for all your support, well wishes and good woo woo over the last few months. I'm very excited to start my social work career! By, January 2015 I will be hopefully a fully licensed social worker and on my way to commissioning with the US Army.
This is all simultaneously very exciting and VERY expensive. I have to get my car ready to ship (to the tune of more than 1k) and stuff the trunk with 100 pounds of my crap, I'm flying southwest back on Saturday so I get 2 suitcases for free plus my carry-ons but I still need to pack those, I just shipped 30 dollars worth of text books and cookbooks ($30 more dollars). I also have to figure out my estimated taxes because I worked as a contractor and I only have until Jan 15 to pay that, I cashed in some saving's bonds and I have to figure out the taxes on them as well. I have made really detailed to do lists for the rest of the week which will have mostly kept me from FREAKING OUT. I'm going to transpose them here because it makes me feel better. There are still a few things pending (a couple of lunches etc) but this is the jist of the rest of my week.
Wednesday
-pack my car
-figuring out my taxes
-call about getting insurance switched over
-remove my ez-pass from car and clean it
-pack trunk
-deal with my eyebrow situation
Thursday
-Change Address with
-post office
-Credit Card companies
-Pack Suitcases
-Work on Budget with Dad
Friday
-check in for flight (don't want to be in last boarding group on Southwest)
-Teach my parents how to skype (hold me)
-Gastro Appointment
-Get greek food for dinner
-Watch Oregon and find out if I'm going home for christmas or to LA for new years.
Wish me luck getting through this week!
Showing posts with label employment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label employment. Show all posts
29 November 2011
20 September 2011
Nothing is ever simple
Now I recognize that the following rant is one of those things that really is a "first world" problem or really not even a problem but rather a good problem to have like having too much money or too much fun or too many friends. Not a bad thing in and of itself but has the potential to be frustrating. Though I don't know how too much money is ever frustrating. ANWAYS...
Last week after I mentioned that I was going to hit the road come Oct 6th. That date might have been a bit premature. When I sat down with my parents (with whom I currently live...and have for the last 2 years during school) to talk about this project switch coasts or switch washington's as the case may be. They brought me back down to reality. Namely the pulled out a calculator. We determined that it is significantly cheaper to fly to the couple of main places I want to visit (Austin, Denver/Boulder and Portland) and then rent a car in WA for a few weeks then it would be to drive my car cross country on an epic road trip.
Being home for Thanksgiving is very important to me (more so then Christmas or any other time). So I came up with a plan that I would spend about 10 days traveling by air and eventually landing at my friend K's place in Steliacoom by Nov 1. And then spend basically Nov 1-21 hunting for jobs out there, making sure I actually like out west and that I haven't just spent 2 years putting WA up on a pedestal and then find out its actually horrid and the people are just as bad as the East Coast DC. I'd rent a car for the 3 weeks I'd be out there and hopefully find a job that could start somewhat after Thanksgiving. If I do find a job and I do like it then I rent a pod, pack up my car and drive it cross country at that point. But at least I won't have to dejectedly drive back for Thanksgiving if things don't work out.
Now, that all being said, I decided all this on Wednesday and went to bed for the first time in MONTHS feeling pretty zen and less at loose ends then I have in awhile. So surprise to me, when the phone rings at work on Thursday and its "Giant Reputable Veterans Organization"calling me wondering if I could set up an interview for a manager position of one of their programs for combat stress. [A time out to say that I have been applying for umpteen jobs with this organization and never heard a peep from them. I had applied to this particular position 6 weeks prior to being called.] Why yes I would like this interview Miss HR rep.
So I had the interview for that job on Friday and made it to the second round which will be conducted this Friday by Skype. (Skype interviews are strange!) The job will either be in NYC or San Diego most likely. I have a clear preference for San Diego as the job seems awesome on paper (task, salary, benefits etc) but I will turn it down if its located in NYC because I know that I will be miserable there. San Diego has a lot of the things I really like about the West Coast
I will admit that there is a part of me that won't be disappointed if I am not offered this job because I am very excited about my plan to move to Washington and begin a new life there. This makes me feel bad though because in this economy I can't afford to keep turning down jobs (6 thus far) and need to accept an offer soon rather than later so that I can begin being a real adult and getting on this journey. But I have recognized over the last few months that happiness is my number one goal right now and that my location is a big part of that.
Like I said, I'm likely just whining for whining sake. And I am going to continue to rock interviews up until plane tickets are booked. But really is nothing ever simple?
Last week after I mentioned that I was going to hit the road come Oct 6th. That date might have been a bit premature. When I sat down with my parents (with whom I currently live...and have for the last 2 years during school) to talk about this project switch coasts or switch washington's as the case may be. They brought me back down to reality. Namely the pulled out a calculator. We determined that it is significantly cheaper to fly to the couple of main places I want to visit (Austin, Denver/Boulder and Portland) and then rent a car in WA for a few weeks then it would be to drive my car cross country on an epic road trip.
Being home for Thanksgiving is very important to me (more so then Christmas or any other time). So I came up with a plan that I would spend about 10 days traveling by air and eventually landing at my friend K's place in Steliacoom by Nov 1. And then spend basically Nov 1-21 hunting for jobs out there, making sure I actually like out west and that I haven't just spent 2 years putting WA up on a pedestal and then find out its actually horrid and the people are just as bad as the East Coast DC. I'd rent a car for the 3 weeks I'd be out there and hopefully find a job that could start somewhat after Thanksgiving. If I do find a job and I do like it then I rent a pod, pack up my car and drive it cross country at that point. But at least I won't have to dejectedly drive back for Thanksgiving if things don't work out.
Now, that all being said, I decided all this on Wednesday and went to bed for the first time in MONTHS feeling pretty zen and less at loose ends then I have in awhile. So surprise to me, when the phone rings at work on Thursday and its "Giant Reputable Veterans Organization"calling me wondering if I could set up an interview for a manager position of one of their programs for combat stress. [A time out to say that I have been applying for umpteen jobs with this organization and never heard a peep from them. I had applied to this particular position 6 weeks prior to being called.] Why yes I would like this interview Miss HR rep.
So I had the interview for that job on Friday and made it to the second round which will be conducted this Friday by Skype. (Skype interviews are strange!) The job will either be in NYC or San Diego most likely. I have a clear preference for San Diego as the job seems awesome on paper (task, salary, benefits etc) but I will turn it down if its located in NYC because I know that I will be miserable there. San Diego has a lot of the things I really like about the West Coast
I will admit that there is a part of me that won't be disappointed if I am not offered this job because I am very excited about my plan to move to Washington and begin a new life there. This makes me feel bad though because in this economy I can't afford to keep turning down jobs (6 thus far) and need to accept an offer soon rather than later so that I can begin being a real adult and getting on this journey. But I have recognized over the last few months that happiness is my number one goal right now and that my location is a big part of that.
Like I said, I'm likely just whining for whining sake. And I am going to continue to rock interviews up until plane tickets are booked. But really is nothing ever simple?
26 April 2011
Green Monster
I've always had a jealousy problem. Never about material things. I was lucky to grow up in an upper middle class family where I never wanted for material things that I needed but there were always intangibles that I wanted and never got like a sibling.
Now I'm feeling jealous as my grad program winds down about people who are settling into relationships, jobs, futures and I'm stagnant sitting on my bed in the house I've lived in for the last 12 years. I know that things will work out but I'm jealous of the people who its working out for sooner.
Yesterday was one of the first nice days in a really long time in DC so I decided to eat my lunch outside instead in the Dining Facility. The perimeter of the hospital doubles as a walking/running track for physical therapy as well as any employees who are more motivated then me and go running on their break. As I was sitting eating my wrap a couple walked by. They weren't much older then I was if they were as old at all. They seemed to just be taking a break from appointments and the hustle and bustle of the hospital. They walked for awhile and then as they walked past me I watched the husband reach for his wife's hand and give it a gentle squeeze. It was incredibly sweet. He glanced over at here every once and awhile and though said nothing I could see how much he loved, wanted and desired his wife.
I want that. Its not that I think they deserve it any less or I deserve it any more. But I feel like I deserve it also. That want of another person, to spend time with, to touch, to reach over and grab their hand because in that moment I can't and they can't imagine not touching even a little bit. Its been exactly a year since I've been with someone who has wanted that. Perhaps thats what has set off this bit of jealousy.
The other thing that has set this off is that a girl who will be graduating alongside me this spring just announced that she'd accepted a full time job as a therapist. I looked up the organization and I'm not even remotely jealous of what she'll be doing but I'm jealous that her life is settled. That she knows where she'll be working. I've sent out hundreds of resumes and thus far had 1 offer (that I had to turn down) and 2 phone interviews and thats it. I'm still waiting for the Army fellowship I've been told about and asked to apply for to figure out their damn application process. Its what I really want and what I hope that the fates are pushing me towards by not giving me other opportunities.
The Green Monster is a terrible beast
Now I'm feeling jealous as my grad program winds down about people who are settling into relationships, jobs, futures and I'm stagnant sitting on my bed in the house I've lived in for the last 12 years. I know that things will work out but I'm jealous of the people who its working out for sooner.
Yesterday was one of the first nice days in a really long time in DC so I decided to eat my lunch outside instead in the Dining Facility. The perimeter of the hospital doubles as a walking/running track for physical therapy as well as any employees who are more motivated then me and go running on their break. As I was sitting eating my wrap a couple walked by. They weren't much older then I was if they were as old at all. They seemed to just be taking a break from appointments and the hustle and bustle of the hospital. They walked for awhile and then as they walked past me I watched the husband reach for his wife's hand and give it a gentle squeeze. It was incredibly sweet. He glanced over at here every once and awhile and though said nothing I could see how much he loved, wanted and desired his wife.
I want that. Its not that I think they deserve it any less or I deserve it any more. But I feel like I deserve it also. That want of another person, to spend time with, to touch, to reach over and grab their hand because in that moment I can't and they can't imagine not touching even a little bit. Its been exactly a year since I've been with someone who has wanted that. Perhaps thats what has set off this bit of jealousy.
The other thing that has set this off is that a girl who will be graduating alongside me this spring just announced that she'd accepted a full time job as a therapist. I looked up the organization and I'm not even remotely jealous of what she'll be doing but I'm jealous that her life is settled. That she knows where she'll be working. I've sent out hundreds of resumes and thus far had 1 offer (that I had to turn down) and 2 phone interviews and thats it. I'm still waiting for the Army fellowship I've been told about and asked to apply for to figure out their damn application process. Its what I really want and what I hope that the fates are pushing me towards by not giving me other opportunities.
The Green Monster is a terrible beast
16 April 2011
Finding Employment
Before detailing my woes of finding employment lets pause a minute for some background. Unlike a lot of professional masters level programs like teaching or business, social workers don't walk off the stage on graduation day allowed to do everything we've been educated to be able to do. There are two tracks in social work one (the one I am doing) that is clinical work doing the things that you assume social workers do--therapy, case management, foster care work etc. and a second track that does more macro things like policy, advocacy, program management etc.
In order to clinical work you have to get a license. When you graduate you can sit for the Graduate exam and become an LGSW aka Licensed Graduate Social Worker. But the license you really want is the LICSW--Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. And herein lies the problem, In order to get that license you need a job (for at least 2 years with a supervisor who is registered with the state). But most places want licensed social workers (in my cause read: the army). Its the same dilemma most of us had after undergrad where in order to get a job you had to have had a job but you need someone to take a chance on you.
I have the job experience to land a job in the policy/advocacy/management world. I don't however have that clinical work experience that everyone wants other than my 2 field placements for school (year long internships required in order to graduate). Most of the jobs I'm attracted to want that dang LICSW. Its frustrating to say the least.
My other struggle is I don't know where I want to live. I fell in love with Seattle when I was out there in the summer of 2009 but I am not sure I want to be that far away from family--My grandparents and an Aunt and Uncle are in the Bay Area but I'm not super close to them and everyone else is on the east coast. But its been all I've been dreaming about for the last 2 years. However, I am not committed enough to move across the country with no job to do it. But most of the jobs I've applied to out there don't want to hire me since I'm not local.
Other places I've been thinking about are Austin/San Antonio/Killeen, TX; Jacksonville/Fayetteville, NC; Colorado Springs, CO; and Boston, MA.
I want to live somewhere with a decent cost of living, minimal traffic, temperate winters and summers and in a military community. Any ideas?
In order to clinical work you have to get a license. When you graduate you can sit for the Graduate exam and become an LGSW aka Licensed Graduate Social Worker. But the license you really want is the LICSW--Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. And herein lies the problem, In order to get that license you need a job (for at least 2 years with a supervisor who is registered with the state). But most places want licensed social workers (in my cause read: the army). Its the same dilemma most of us had after undergrad where in order to get a job you had to have had a job but you need someone to take a chance on you.
I have the job experience to land a job in the policy/advocacy/management world. I don't however have that clinical work experience that everyone wants other than my 2 field placements for school (year long internships required in order to graduate). Most of the jobs I'm attracted to want that dang LICSW. Its frustrating to say the least.
My other struggle is I don't know where I want to live. I fell in love with Seattle when I was out there in the summer of 2009 but I am not sure I want to be that far away from family--My grandparents and an Aunt and Uncle are in the Bay Area but I'm not super close to them and everyone else is on the east coast. But its been all I've been dreaming about for the last 2 years. However, I am not committed enough to move across the country with no job to do it. But most of the jobs I've applied to out there don't want to hire me since I'm not local.
Other places I've been thinking about are Austin/San Antonio/Killeen, TX; Jacksonville/Fayetteville, NC; Colorado Springs, CO; and Boston, MA.
I want to live somewhere with a decent cost of living, minimal traffic, temperate winters and summers and in a military community. Any ideas?
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