(no subject)

[arethinn]

Now that I have a SIN I'm deep in quandary about what to actually DO. Do I try to wait for that perfect job that combines being at least related to what I can actually do (rather that trying to say "uh, sure, I can do technical writing!" when my degree is totally off compass from that and I have no prior experience in it), being local, my salary requirements, not having to get up at godawful in the morning, and not absolutely hating what I do? Am I being stubborn and not "allowing" by insisting on a certain combination of characteristics? Should I give them up one by one and take whatever I can get that fulfills the rest (assuming anyone actually even wanted to hire me)? All the other jobs I've had in my life I walked into by a combination of luck (right place/right time) and knowing someone who was able to turn me on to them (what you know, who you know). Should I try to wait until that happens again? Or because I didn't follow enotsola's advice and apply for the UoW cataloguing position despite not having a SIN (hoping to convince them that it would be here Real Soon Now), have I blown the chance I was given? Did I manage to "manifest" that and then not recognize that it was for me, or was the fact that it didn't occur at the right time a sign that it wasn't? Or have I got wrong ideas of "the right time"? Should I try for something in Toronto even though I really don't want to live there, but don't want to commute that far either? (I'd have no choice but to do so for a few months at least - hard to rent an apartment with no income and no rental history. I certainly can't move there first.) Was I, perhaps, even wrong to think I was supposed to leave the US in the first place? Am I being too hard on myself and feeling too pressured to find something immediately? Why did it seem so easy the other times and this time it's not? What am I supposed to be doing?

Comments

[unseelie.livejournal.com]

I tend to
when in the position you are in
(and i am underemployed - often)
do a quicky ritual to the effect of
1) get the attention of whom ever you are on good terms with
2) communicate 'I need growth/physical security/more cattle/money/coin of the realm/gainful employement..."
3) thanks

this usually works out to something involving your candle of color of choice, standing in a pile of coins and dollar bills... ;)

You ARE a competant human being, smart, skilled, able to use your brain, and hands, to learn, and such like.

Which is actually more valuable than you think. There are a lot of people who really ...
yeah...

Anyway:
If you know any locals - ask about "where do i job search"?
I mean
Craiglist? Dice.com? does Indeed.com do canada?

[starlightforest.livejournal.com]

Ritual/manifestation has been done, to no result or else to result I managed to blow, as mentioned.

Haven't probed craigslist yet but everything is in Toronto, very very small section for KW where I am. AFAICT indeed doesn't cover Canada but I've only given that the barest glance. Been looking at workopolis a lot - thousands of listings there. The problem is not so much "where do I find job listings?" but "where the hell do I find a job doing the only thing I know how to do?" ... just having a brain doesn't cut it. My specialized skills are in a narrow field that jobs don't pop up in that often. My broad, transferrable skills are only apparently worth about $10 an hour by themselves (and I need at least $14, better $16, especially for contract work that gives no benefits).

[unseelie.livejournal.com]

well

what did your old job descrition look like?
what software did you use?
how many people did you get to be in charge of?

part of the game is - differant companies call the same skill set many differant things.


my last gig I was the "global systems coordinator"
but - from MY desk it looked a LOT like
Account Payable

;-D

[starlightforest.livejournal.com]

Without going into too much boring detail, the stuff that's worth more money is really library specific (create records in Unicorn. cataloging.) and the stuff that's transferable (unpack arrived shipments. check off the invoice and make sure it's all in there. track stuff in a spreadsheet), as I said, doesn't appear to be worth very much money on its own. Aside from Office the only software I used was specific to the "industry" - Unicorn, OCLC Connexion, certain vendor websites, our own internal SIS/FRS system. I supervised a bunch of students in the Media Lab, but I really would prefer to avoid having to supervise anyone. It was hell.

My job was called "Senior Library Technician" and it's not really applicable to much else, I'm afraid. Hence comments about data entry, administrative assistant (which I'm doubtful of).. I've screwed myself into the ground.

[unseelie.livejournal.com]

yeah
do web searches for

Unicorn, OCLC Connexion,
and the like.

I have skills in SAP and Oracle 11i

and those pull up jobs for me.

(crosses fingers)

[tiggrrl.livejournal.com]

Here's what you need to do with your time: you must learn to knit, and then make one for Emmy (after you make your own). :)

The UoW position was a chance that you never know how it might have worked out, they could have rejected you out of hand for not having an SIN, so don't stress about the lost "opportunity". I find that when I'm in a place like that, I have to strike a balance between trying to find the perfect job and taking something right away. If you have a list of criteria for a job, don't take one that misses on too many of those, but also don't expect to get them all met. Maybe a job that's close, but doesn't have great hours or pay, or a job in Tornoto that at least gives you a fair amount of cash.

Also, it's always been my experience that smaller businesses and organizations have a lot more room for growth, so starting off in a non-ideal position can work out to your advantage as long as they have a position for you to grow into that you would like.

Dunno if any of that helps, but at least the sweater is cool. :)