Friday, July 31, 2009

Another Day


I applied for another position.

Reread a cover letter for networking - need to send it next week.

Question:

Should one apply for jobs that they are not sure

they want?

Would love to hear people's experiences on this one.

I am beginning to talk out loud about the fact that
my lease is up in three months.
(Two months notice needed in Ontario, meaning I would move
December 1st).
When do I stop looking at jobs mainly in Ottawa?
This is no simple matter.
More prayer needed and restful thoughts.
Uncertainty is hard
but God is in it with me.

12 comments:

Mimi said...

He is indeed! Hugs and prayers. I hear good things about Vancouver, and we'd be in meeting distance :)

elizabeth said...

Thanks Mimi...

yes, Vancouver is nice... but jobs not as plentiful...

TeresaAngelina said...

Yes, definitely, apply to jobs you are not sure you want. First it builds strength into you for the hunt at all. Second it allows you to see what you do and do not want. Remember that as much as they are determining whether or not they want you as an employee, you in turn are determining whether or not you want them as an employer. They are as much being examined as you are.

Michelle M. said...

Praying for you as you make these big decisions. I would say apply for any jobs that you are even remotely interested in. You never know if you will interview for a job somewhere and they see you as a perfect fit for another job within the company/organization. Getting your foot in the door is always a good first step.

Meadowlark Days said...

I would agree to apply for jobs even if you're not sure you're interested - it never hurts if you're interviewed to find out more and to keep your interviewing skills sharp! Belated happy name day!

RW said...

I vote with Teresa and Meadowlark - apply - apply - apply - it gives you the opportunity to narrow down what you really want in your next position.

One of the realities of our time is that people do not stay in the same job forever - so - you take a job that is not your favourite thing but you have a job and you can stay in your apartment.

Will keep praying.

elizabeth said...

Thanks RW and everyone else.

The hard thing in Ottawa is that many of the library jobs I cannot apply for as I am not biligual.

I need your prayers - thanks.

Athanasia said...

I agree with all the others...apply. Flood the market.

Look at it as networking. If the job is not offered, then politely ask them to send your resume on if they see something they think you would be well suited to.

I would also suggest that you meet face-to-face and resume in hand with anyone you know, or who knows someone else. It puts a face and qualifications together. Most jobs today are gotten by networking and not cold calls.

elizabeth said...

Good points, thanks Phillipa!

biss said...

Yup.
Apply for jobs even if you aren't totally sure about them. Another friend of mine recently applied on a whim for a job she wasn't sure about and it ended up being her "dream job." Sometimes the job descriptions don't portray the reality.
Also, why _not_ apply for jobs that require bilingualism? It's possible that they might want you anyway and pay for language training. I know it happened the other way around with Francophones in Ottawa who needed to learn English. It's scary, but worth considering, I think.
Glad your church picnic was so good. We've actually had a nice day here for once (22 degrees..so sad that that's NICE).

elizabeth said...

Thank you Biss... yes... many things to think about...

22 degrees is not bad at all... beats the West Coast upper 30s!

I love you Biss!

Michael Hermann said...

Hi Elizabeth
I agree, apply for these jobs. I have been told that I need to apply for those "stop gap" jobs. A job to have as I retrain for and look for the dream job. Can you apply for a job, that you can get, even though it isn't the ideal where you can build skills, language skills perhaps as you go for the next one.

The book, "What colour is your Parachute" is worth every penny for job search advise.

Finally, I've heard it said many time, apply for the jobs for which both French and English are required. They may interview you, and if the other serious candidate has French but does not have the perfect skill set they may chose to hire you. Being Bilingual is an ideal, it is on almost every job posting in Ottawa, don't let that stop you. They are looking at the qualities that make the best candidate for the job they will weigh your education, skills and experience against other candidates. For many jobs, posting that you need to by bilingual is posting the ideal wish list. I heard one HR professional say that they ask for the sky in the job posting hoping to weed out candidates. They regularly ask for more than they really want. Are government jobs different? Maybe? But maybe not all of them.

Apply even if they said, French and English is required. At what level, and how does it relate to other job requirements.

Applying for those jobs you don't really want, and getting an interview builds your confidence and interview skills. You can think about them as practice interviews. Have fun with some of them. And ask for feedback afterwards. Can you tell me anything that you would think I could do differently in an interview?

Your in my prayers.