It starts.
I have a job interview on Monday.
Which means I have to find something to wear. I have a lot of clothes, but they're all casual. Jeans and t shirts mostly.
I am not a dress up kind of person. If the occasion requires formal wear, I don't go. Which is certainly one way of handling it.
I have one pair of shoes. Yes, really.
When I find a pair of shoes that will accommodate my orthotics, I buy all of the ones in the store that are in my size.
And right now I can't even wear a whole pair of shoes, although by Monday I am sure I can get a shoe on both feet for at least a little while.
So here's the plan. I am certainly willing to get a new job, although it's not my first choice. I would prefer to stay in my current one. But because they choose to pay newly hired people better wages than what I make after twelve years with the company, I am looking. No one likes to be shit on. You'd think they'd know that. Assholes.
I may find something that I think is going to be a perfect fit and just... quit.
Or, I may apply for a few jobs, consider what they're offering and give the company I work for an opportunity to correct the wage inequity. Based on the way they've acted, I doubt that they're willing to do that. They would rather look bad (and believe me, I will tell everyone exactly why I am leaving) than do the right thing.
Before I accept any sort of job elsewhere, I will need to get out to my site and retrieve the items I have there that are important to me.
I will offer to sell my books to the company, if they say no, then I will take them. I have more than 300 of them on my book cart.
I have a ton of things that belong to me personally out there at my school, and it will be a major pain in the ass to find a place for them all here at home. But I'll be goddamned if I will leave them for the company. They didn't want to buy me the things I needed to run an effective program, so *I* bought them. No way in hell will I leave that stuff for them to use. Let them figure it out. I won't take everything I own, I will leave some of the things the kids love. But the big ticket items and the things that I have contributed far beyond what anyone could reasonably expect? Mine. And I will bring them all home even if I have to stack them in the living room.
What if they do offer me an equal wage?
Well, I'll stay. But I won't be happy in my job again until Fluffy and her Cavalcade are gone. I stayed through the end of the school year because I am better than they are. But I have limits to my patience. And exactly as much dedication to the company as they have shown to me.
Now. I need to zip out to Goodwill and see what I can find to wear on Monday.
I wish I didn't have to do this.
A suggestion from someone who has hired a lot of people. Wear a clean and presentable outfit exactly as if you were going to work. Tell the interviewer something long the lines of, "I am a hands on person and this is how I look when I am working". You will feel more comfortable and assured. After all, they are not looking for someone to staff a table at a trade show.
ReplyDeleteTrue. Although dressing 'up' doesn't mean formal wear, at least not for me. If I can't find something exactly right, I will wear my usual.
DeletePerhaps my ideas about what to wear are old fashioned when it comes to the job search thing.
I always bring copies of my resumé, references etc, and always have a pen, my social security card and all the phone numbers they might want for contacting people. In other words, show up and act like I want the damn job.
I figure I'm already ahead of a great deal of the pack, what I give them will be neat, spelled correctly, grammatically perfect and I'll attempt to be the human equivalent of all of the above.
I've seen several people who have applied with our company. And I've read their resumés, too.
One does not have to be brilliant to do this job, not at all. But when you look at a stack of applications, the ones who stand out are the ones who act like they give a shit.
Once was hiring for a production job (late 70's). Woman came in for an interview wearing jeans, work boots, work shirt, and had gloves in her back pocket. She went to work that morning.
ReplyDeleteI can understand that.
DeleteAnd I won't go crazy. But all factors being the same, the person who shows up well-dressed and prepared for an interview has an edge.
When I've had an opportunity to talk with people who've hired me and find out why, dressing nicely was a factor.
I am not going in like the queen, believe me. No hat. No crown jewels.
I agree with the comments above.....I don't think there's any need to dress beyond what you would normally wear for work. Although I would research if they have a dress code.
ReplyDeleteAnd good luck! They would be lucky to have you!
I wear jeans. Athletic shoes with tie dyed laces. And generally a tie dyed shirt, too. That's too informal for me. And wearing black pants won't work with the athletic shoes. So I have a long skirt and black sandals. NOT fancy. But clean and neat.
DeleteGood luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I really don't want to do this. Add looking for a new job to my list of 'shit I really resent'.
DeleteClean and neat wins the day. Hope it works out for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI'm hoping for a good outcome, too.
If the company I work for does the right thing, it will be fine.
I wish you didn't have to do this either, but you have the right to be treated well and to be appreciated and adequately compensated for your work
ReplyDeleteYes I do. One way or another, I will get that. If not where I am, then somewhere else. I was nowhere near as talented at what I do when this company hired me. I appreciate the opportunity to have learned so much. But they're stupid if they can't see that losing me would cost them a hell of a lot more money than just matching the compensation they're giving to new employees.
DeleteLooks like you have plenty of comments. I was going to suggest just using a black blazer and different shoes to jazz up what you normally wear. Blazers are pretty easy to find, but looks like you've already found something, so... never mind. Ha.
ReplyDelete:) Well at least you care. More than I can say for SO MANY people in my life these days!!!
Delete