Waiting for TWO jobs to start

I have been unemployed for 8 days now. On the third day I had a job interview and on the fifth day I was told I got the job. When I interviewed for the job I should have asked when the job started. When they told me I got the job they said the start date was August 11, 2 weeks later. They gave me until August 1 to accept the offer and then wanted to give me time to do the paperwork and time for them to do a background check. I asked about this and they said they wanted me to start as soon as all the preliminary was done. Three days after inputting the information they needed I am waiting to hear from them again.

At the same time that drama is going on I'm waiting for the National Guard to finish the contract for me to go back to the full time job I have had for the past 6 years. That contract was supposed to be finished written tomorrow and then it will go out for bids for 15 days then they will decide who to give the contract to and hopefully that company will hire me so I can get back to the work I really enjoy and helping the people I really like working with. Even though I don't officially have a job with the National Guard right now many people I have been working with don't know that and still contact me.

I have been called for advice. I have been called to help with paperwork. And, I have been called to supply information I have collected recently. I eagerly helped them each time I was called. I have also been called by Berlitz to teach ESL in Palo Alto. I told Berlitz I didn't think I could because I was waiting for two other job offers to come through. Since then, though, I have thought about contacting them and finding out when I can start teaching. I am tired of waiting in anticipation for possible jobs. I may also contact a prior student of mine that wants me to teach for her school in San Jose. What to do!!?!

I got a job!!

Today I got an email titled, "Highmark Companies Curriculum Trainer Offer". It said,

Scott,

Based on Susan and Donna’s discussions with you, attached is your offer letter for the Curriculum Trainer position.  Please review, sign, and return electronically as quickly as possible. Please remember, this offer is contingent on Pearson issuing a work order for the position. It also requires your consent to a background check and that there are no issues with the background check.   

I signed the offer letter and sent it back within an hour. The offer letter said that I would start work around August 11 and that I would get paid 33% more than I had been told on the phone. When I sent the letter back I asked about he start date. I added that I would like to find ways I could prepare for the work while waiting. An hour after I sent the email I got information about applying for the background check. I immediately filled out the paperwork for that and then got an email from the company that said the Aug 11 start date was only so we could get all the paperwork and background check done . 

If everything is completed before that than I will start sooner. Today I also received the paperwork for Unemployment. I don't know how that will work with my new job. If I am employed by a company that pays me when I work, do I have a job? Do I tell the Unemployment people that I have a job and not get an unemployment check even though I don't start working yet? Do I have a job before I actually do something that I get paid for? I get paid when I visit schools, but I have a job when I sign the contract. I guess tomorrow I will go visit the Unemployment Office and ask these questions.

I haven't heard anything from the National Guard about my job. I have to do what is the best for me in the situation I know about. This new job compliments the work I do for the National Guard. I work from home a lot, so the new job won't affect that work since I will be driving around the state visiting schools which is part of my job for the National Guard job also. Let's see. I really thank the people that have been praying for me to get this job and I really believe it is one of the reasons I got it!

Fourth Day of Unemployment

Yesterday I did secret shopping in a movie theater and had a job interview. Today I started the last weekend of a certification class I am teaching in Berkeley this month. On the last weekend I teach people how to do phone interviews. I used my own advice yesterday when I had a phone interview for a job for me. The day before I had talked to a lady at the company I applied for a job with and she told me they would call me on Friday. I didn't know for sure what time so I woke up early, 6:30 and took a shower and dressed for an interview. I always say that you should dress nicely even for a phone interview, you need to feel like it is an interview.

I had made an obligation to do a secret shopping at a movie theater on Friday morning and when I got there around 9:00 I got a call from the lady I had spoken to the day before. She asked if I had sent in the application she had sent me the day before and I told her I had. She said she would check with her boss and get back to me about an interview. At 10:30 she emailed me and asked me when I would be available for an interview. I told her I would be available at 11:00 and she emailed me and said I would get a call at 11:30. My last movie I had to do something at was at 11:05 so I finished it and went outside to take the phone call.

I tell my students to stand when they do a phone interview so their voice sounds stronger. I found a quiet place I could stand and do the interview. I tell my students to do research on the company they are interviewing for so they can ask intelligent questions. The should have 3 questions prepared for the end of the interview when they are asked if they have any questions. I had the three questions written down. I also had information written down from research I had done the night before. So, I was prepared and waiting for the phone call.

I finally got a call at 11:45 and the interview went very good. The lady had 5 questions she asks everyone. One of the questions was how I approach something new that I had to do. I told her that I was often in that situation when I did substitute teaching. When I had to teach an AP History class I have the students help teach the class because I don't want them to think I am more knowledgeable about the subject than they are. I needed to talk about my substitute teaching experience since one of the negatives I have for this job is my K-12 teaching experience and I hadn't talked about substituting before.

When questions were asked I wanted to tell her certain things about me rather than only answer her questions. I tell my students that the longer the interview the better the chance of getting the job. I wanted the interviewer to "feel" my passion and not just hear my answers. I think I was very effective doing that. At the end she asked me if I had any questions and I had one left that I hadn't asked before hand. I asked how long in advance I would know my schedule. She said she wasn't sure, but expected I should know a week in advance. They needed me to start next week if I was hired.

Another question she asked me is what my teaching philosophy. I told her I really think you can't learn if you can't laugh. I think it is important for students to enjoy your class and will pay more attention to what you are teaching if you don't take things so seriously. I am hoping I hear from them soon. The last question she asked was one I wasn't prepared for. She asked me what question she should have asked. I told her that I wanted her to ask me how I felt about driving around California so much as then I told her I was excited about that part of this job because I have been doing it over the past 6 years and I enjoy it because I travel with my camera.

Second day of Unemployment

Two days ago was my last day of work for a national contract with the California Army National Guard. On that day I drove to Sacramento to give the keys to the supply room that is responsible for the car. While I was there I talked to my military boss about the prospects of coming back to the same position. She told me the contracting office needed another week to prepare the contract and then they need to put the contract out for bids for 15 days and then the contract will probably be given to the same company I have been working for and they say they will rehire me so I should be re-employed in 4 weeks.

I had two other questions when I talked to my military boss. My first question was what would happen next year, would my job be in jeopardy again. She said the contract should be a 5 year contract, but each year they would have to request money and it might be a problem, but probably not. If that sounds confusing to you it does to me also. In other words every year my job will be "iffy". My second question was if the pay would be the same. I make less than anyone else I know in this area. My pay is good compared to people in Alabama and Arizona, but not compared to this area.

She said she didn't know and that would be determined by the contracting office. I was hoping that my pay would be adjusted according to where I lived, but talking to my civilian boss he said he had never heard of that kind of contract before. After he said that I realized I may have a reduction in pay rather than an increase. I was hoping this change to a state contract rather than a national contract would make my pay more relevant to where I live, but I'm not sure it will help.

 

 

My first day of unemployment I first filed for unemployment and got a call from them and began the process. I then had a tutoring gig to try to get some money coming in. I have been advertising to do tutoring over the past week and have 2 students already. In the evening I continued looking on employment websites for a new job. I would rather get paid a wage that is good for this area rather than a wage that is good for Alabama. I at least need employment for the month I am waiting for my re-employment. On www.monster.com I found a job that looked like it was made with me in mind.

Pearson publishing company is looking for people in California to travel to different schools around California to teach teachers how to use their products. This job is only to be done from July - September. The job is 100% travel, like my present job. If they have me visit schools in Northern California then I will visit many schools I have been to over the past 6 years. They are looking for someone that has been teaching in K-12 classrooms for over 5 years, but I only had 2 years experience. I think I meet every other criteria so hopefully they can overlook that.

They are supposed to be calling me for an interview tomorrow, if they can waive the 5 year teaching in K - 12 requirement. I think my passion will show over the phone when they talk to me. It is a little ironic that on Saturday I will teach my class how to succeed in phone interviews. Let's see if I can take my own advice. Tonight I will study about the company and I will have 3 questions to ask when they call. I will also get up before they call and get dressed. When they talk to me on the phone I will stand up since my voice will be stronger and sound better than way! Pray for me :).