Job search stuff

I got word from the school where I interviewed a few weeks ago (the one that I wrote about) that the position had been eliminated by the county.  Oh well.  Like I said, I didn’t think they were going to hire me anyway.  I had another interview on Tuesday with a middle school that is pretty far away…further than I really want to go.  A friend of mine will be working there next year and helped me get the interview.  She told me about the school and the principal and gave me some tips.  Although I was apprehensive about the drive, I was excited about the possibility of working with my friend, and excited about the principal.  I had heard that he was really eager to implement new counseling standards and would probably super-supportive of the type of program I am interested in running.

I got up there and felt pretty good…the drive wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be and the school is moving into a brand new facility this summer.  However, I left the interview just trying not to cry.  I spent almost an hour with the principal, and at least half of that time (if not more) he just grilled me about how I could improve test scores in his school and how I could validate what I do as a counselor.  I gave him all the right answers, everything I have been taught.  I showed him copies of my results reports, but none of it seemed good enough.  The hilarious thing is that he used to be a school counselor, so he should know better.  I know for certain that the counselors that are there now don’t do half the stuff that I have done.  I don’t think he disliked me, and I really think I held my own, but I thought he was an ass, and would not like to work for someone like that.  When I told my friend about the interview, she was floored.  Her interview was nothing like what I experienced.  All I can figure is that someone must have been coming down on him about test scores that day or something.  If they call me for a second interview, I’ll go and give it a chance, but they would really have to wow me to make me even consider working there.

After that interview I felt pretty let down and disappointed.  I wallowed for a bit, and then I emailed my supervisor from my university to let her know how it had gone.  I also asked her if she had any thoughts about other directions I could take if I did not find a position in a school for this year. I heard back from her yesterday, and she recommended that I could look into working at a college or university.  I spent some time yesterday looking online, and actually found a number of positions that I think I would be qualified for.  They don’t pay quite as well, but it would definitely be do-able, and would look good on a resume if I am applying for school positions next year.  So I made a new plan.  I decided that I will wait until school starts to see if more positions open up in the counties I am interested in (this often happens the week or two before school begins, as schools get their funding).  If nothing comes up at that time, I will substitute teach while I apply for positions in the university system.

Once I made this plan, I felt a huge wave of relief.  Just having something in mind made me feel so much better about everything.  The lack of open positions this year is unprecedented, and I am hopeful that this will change as the summer goes on, but if not, I will have something to fall back on.

This afternoon, I got an email from a principal at a new charter school who wants to interview me for a counseling position next week.  I am trying not to get my hopes up, but part of me feels like this could be a part of the plan.  Things often work out this way….as soon as I quit stressing out about something and relinquish a little control over my life, good things start to happen.  I was so excited when I got the email.  I have no idea how many people they will be interviewing or what they will be looking for, but I will definitely be giving them all I’ve got.  This school is still pretty far, but it is much closer than the middle school.  It is a new school, so next year they will only have freshmen and sophomores…I think there may be only one other counselor and a graduation coach.  I’m crossing my fingers that this works out.  If it doesn’t, it’ll be okay….at the very least I hope they like me so they will recommend me to other schools if they decide to go with someone else.