I already got a job interview ....sort of

So, yesterday I decided to just apply for 3 jobs to get my weekly requirements over with for the unemployment office. I did a quick scan of job listings and sent off my resume to 3 places.

(I should note that I haven't updated my resume yet with all I've learned at my resume development class and conversations with my career counselor.)

Last night I got a response from one of them that said I was moving up the process. They wanted me to show up for an orientation / interview next Friday at 10am. But it sounds a little fishy. Apparently this is a group orientation because "nobody would be admitted after 10 am" ...? huh?

I sent off a reply that was pretty much "thanks, but no thanks". The job pays very little, so I think it qualifies as "The wages offered are lower than the wages common for that occupation in your area."

Unemployment

I decided to apply for unemployment, after being unemployed for about 10 weeks. I wasn't sure I wanted the "hassle" of applying for 3 jobs a week when I really don't want a job yet.

But we talked about it and decided that I might as well make some extra money to tuck away just in case.

I probably don't have anything to worry about - with the job market, it's not likely I'm going to find anything anyway. I've talked to some people that were released over a year ago and they've been collecting unemployment and applying for jobs, and haven't even had an interview.

Weird, but now I REALLY feel unemployed.

This afternoon I had a 30 minute phone conversation with my career counselor. I've been having a difficult time creating a new resume for myself because 1) I don't want the same type of job I had, and 2) I don't know what kind of a job I want.

She had some good suggestions including going through job listings. Open those that sound appealing or interesting and just see what kind of job qualifications or skills they are looking for. She said when she was trying to find a new career, she even went through the phone book and looked at companies and what they did, or got HR magazines and checked out the advertisers. She also did a lot of networking and talking to people who have jobs that she thought might be interesting.

She lives in Kansas City and said there were lots of job clubs and thought that there were probably similar job clubs here.

She also suggested I watch this movie, "Lemonade", on hulu.com

Encore Careers

Workers finding fulfillment in encore careers

I've never heard the term "encore career" before, but I suppose that's what I'm looking for. I tell people that the only thing I know for sure, is that I don't want to do what I was doing before.

I should have gone to college when I graduated from high school, instead of taking the easy/quick way and going to business college and becoming an "Executive Secretary" after a 1-year program. Not having that degree on my resume is going to probably keep me from a lot of job interviews, even though I have years of work experience.

I've made sure my children understand the importance of education. Two already have completed their bachelor's degrees and one is waiting to hear back from all the colleges that he sent in applications to.

I'm heading over to explore this site: Encore Careers