To paraphrase my dear 7-year-old nephew EJ as he wrote in his journal: "Today I went to church. Did I mention that church is boring?"
Well, EJ, that's very often the case. Today, however, church was not boring for your Auntie here. It began with a choir practice that took almost half-an-hour to start because we decided to wait until we at least had a quartet and an accompanist. Once I was assured that we would indeed have a choir to sing in sacrament meeting today, then I decided it might be a good day after all.
I started by sitting on the front row to the left so as not to interfere with families and be able to walk up easily for choir. Then I noticed the woman that my friend Lu and I had sat with during a church meeting a couple weeks ago. She's from Sierra Leon (though I accidentally heard Syria the first time she said it, which confused me for a few minutes). She's going to be baptized at the end of the month, so that's exciting news. Anyway, I decided to go back and sit with her instead of letting both of us sit by ourselves.
Then a member of the bishopric asked me if I would speak about my experience as a seminary teacher in lieu of the youth speaker who wasn't going to be able to speak. So things got interesting really fast. But I was happy to be asked, and it's always fun to still be a youth speaker. ;-)
The choir almost doubled in size when it was our turn to perform. That made it very interesting for me, but fortunately I had chosen something simple. Even though some of us were shaking hands on the bandstand so to speak, I thought they sang the hymn really well.
So sacrament meeting was not boring today (at least for me -- I'm sure some people were bored). The lesson in Sunday School was about Ruth and Naomi, one of my favorite stories, so that was also compelling.
But then things started to go downhill for me. Our next hour was a combined priesthood and Relief Society meeting because it was the fifth Sunday of the month. (Normally after Sunday School, the women and men split up for separate meetings, which is usually one of my favorite meetings of the day.) I don't mind combined meetings, but then I found out that our lesson was going to be about the church's employment services and their new job search website. Enter Miss Crankypants. Don't get me wrong, I think the employment help that the church provides is fabulous. And the new website looks great. But I was having the hardest time throughout that hour.
I've done a pretty good job lately not thinking too much about my current employment situation. In fact, I've been able to see the Lord's hand in it. But sitting in that meeting, all I could think about was my resume, my failed job interviews, and all the jobs that I never even got an interview for, especially the one that was actually in my field and was asking for someone with my qualifications. I guess I'm still a little bitter about the connections aspect of getting a job. As far as I can tell, it's pretty much impossible to get a job right now unless you have the right connections. Even restaurant jobs -- most people know someone who works there or apply in person and make a good impression on the right people.
Bottom line, though, I sat there thinking about how much harder I could have worked at finding a good job. That I could have a good job right now if I had put more effort into it, been more persistent, tried to make the right connections. To be completely honest, I didn't really feel like I got much help from the church's programs, but I realize that's partly my fault. I could have probably been easier to work with if I had had a better idea of myself and what I wanted. It's no wonder employers and employment specialists all looked at me and my resume with that "What do I do with this person?" expression. I didn't know either. So Miss Crankypants sat through today's final meeting feeling just a little bitter but mostly disappointed in herself. In fact, I kept wanting to ask if the employment specialist considered me a success story. Isn't that awful of me? I think it is. Which is why I didn't say anything and wore a poker face out of the building.
I still think I could have done better and could still do better as far as the whole occupation thing goes. It could frustrate me to no end if I let it. But like I said earlier, I can feel the Lord's hand in my life. What more can I do than trust it? I have to step back and let go of the disappointment and the bitterness, so that I can listen and do what the Lord wants for me and my family. And won't that make me much happier in the end? Without a doubt, yes.
Well, EJ, that's very often the case. Today, however, church was not boring for your Auntie here. It began with a choir practice that took almost half-an-hour to start because we decided to wait until we at least had a quartet and an accompanist. Once I was assured that we would indeed have a choir to sing in sacrament meeting today, then I decided it might be a good day after all.
I started by sitting on the front row to the left so as not to interfere with families and be able to walk up easily for choir. Then I noticed the woman that my friend Lu and I had sat with during a church meeting a couple weeks ago. She's from Sierra Leon (though I accidentally heard Syria the first time she said it, which confused me for a few minutes). She's going to be baptized at the end of the month, so that's exciting news. Anyway, I decided to go back and sit with her instead of letting both of us sit by ourselves.
Then a member of the bishopric asked me if I would speak about my experience as a seminary teacher in lieu of the youth speaker who wasn't going to be able to speak. So things got interesting really fast. But I was happy to be asked, and it's always fun to still be a youth speaker. ;-)
The choir almost doubled in size when it was our turn to perform. That made it very interesting for me, but fortunately I had chosen something simple. Even though some of us were shaking hands on the bandstand so to speak, I thought they sang the hymn really well.
So sacrament meeting was not boring today (at least for me -- I'm sure some people were bored). The lesson in Sunday School was about Ruth and Naomi, one of my favorite stories, so that was also compelling.
But then things started to go downhill for me. Our next hour was a combined priesthood and Relief Society meeting because it was the fifth Sunday of the month. (Normally after Sunday School, the women and men split up for separate meetings, which is usually one of my favorite meetings of the day.) I don't mind combined meetings, but then I found out that our lesson was going to be about the church's employment services and their new job search website. Enter Miss Crankypants. Don't get me wrong, I think the employment help that the church provides is fabulous. And the new website looks great. But I was having the hardest time throughout that hour.
I've done a pretty good job lately not thinking too much about my current employment situation. In fact, I've been able to see the Lord's hand in it. But sitting in that meeting, all I could think about was my resume, my failed job interviews, and all the jobs that I never even got an interview for, especially the one that was actually in my field and was asking for someone with my qualifications. I guess I'm still a little bitter about the connections aspect of getting a job. As far as I can tell, it's pretty much impossible to get a job right now unless you have the right connections. Even restaurant jobs -- most people know someone who works there or apply in person and make a good impression on the right people.
Bottom line, though, I sat there thinking about how much harder I could have worked at finding a good job. That I could have a good job right now if I had put more effort into it, been more persistent, tried to make the right connections. To be completely honest, I didn't really feel like I got much help from the church's programs, but I realize that's partly my fault. I could have probably been easier to work with if I had had a better idea of myself and what I wanted. It's no wonder employers and employment specialists all looked at me and my resume with that "What do I do with this person?" expression. I didn't know either. So Miss Crankypants sat through today's final meeting feeling just a little bitter but mostly disappointed in herself. In fact, I kept wanting to ask if the employment specialist considered me a success story. Isn't that awful of me? I think it is. Which is why I didn't say anything and wore a poker face out of the building.
I still think I could have done better and could still do better as far as the whole occupation thing goes. It could frustrate me to no end if I let it. But like I said earlier, I can feel the Lord's hand in my life. What more can I do than trust it? I have to step back and let go of the disappointment and the bitterness, so that I can listen and do what the Lord wants for me and my family. And won't that make me much happier in the end? Without a doubt, yes.
7 comments:
Our employment specialist was useless. He kept sending jobs to Matt that were in Utah. We never figured that one out. I do truly think that job searching is better when you aren't committed to one spot (like you and he are).
Plus I think they're better for people who have a chosen career but no job. For people who have an education but just need any job...they don't really know what to do for you. But I totally agree that it's much harder to find the right job when you're bound by place.
BTW, I heard a statistic the other day that said that only 1 in 4 of last year's college graduates have found jobs.
Good thing I never got a college degree.
Your employment search was hampered by 1. the economy, 2. the economy and 3. location.
Scotty was the employment specialist and would call the places he knew and help people get employment. He actually was helpful with people.
But your right, bottom line is that good or bad economy, networking is the best way to get a job.
I think Miss Crankypants has often paid me a visit for this topic. : ) I've been notified of various job offers in any number of distant cities located around and out of the state, but, like Frau's dilemma, we can't relocate.
Der Meister took part in the church's employment services. He seemed to find people who needed people, or who knew who needed people, but not people like Der Meister. He learned that networking is vital, but not for his type of job.
I'm told networking is necessary in my career. However, my connections, no matter how wonderful, can only do so much for me. I turn my application into various databases. I tell my contact where my application is. Then I sit and wait and check out their openings. I have to wait for them to contact me. (I'm not allowed to contact anyone; it's stated specifically on their HR website.) An employer might tell my connection that they're looking to fill a certain position, so he'll speak well of me and tell them to look for my application in their database. Then even if my contact does help me get that interview, in that interview, it's all me. It doesn't matter who I know or what that interviewer has heard. I'm the one who has to get the job. And in the end, even after a great interview, even after speaking to your mutual contact (who is also one of your greatest references), they may still tell you no. And you start again.
Like you, I listen to the Lord because He knows what I want, but He also knows what I and my family need. If we follow Him, it will work out all right.
I totally feel ya' on the choir thing. This past Sunday we sang for sacrament meeting and had 4 people show up for practice before hand. Wouldn't be so bad since we were singing a hymn but there were a few minor changes that you kind of needed to be there to hear. And then when we get up to sing, someone came up that hadn't even come to a practice! Really?
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