Interview #1
Today I had my interview with the adoption agency. I think it went really well, but of course I don't know what she thought; even if she had a good feeling about it, she could still hire someone else.
One of the first or second things she brought up was the fact that my resume has public speaking as a skill. She does monthly workshops for potential adoptive parents, and she's hoping to either have someone to share those with (on one month/off the next), or have someone do one half of it and she do the other half. That wouldn't be a problem for me at all.
We also talked about the office; she said she isn't going to be the supervisor for the person she hires, and she doesn't want them to feel as though she is, either. The bosses are several states away (the main branch of the agency) and only come out here every 4-6 months; she is the only one out here (their website must not be up to date). She said that the office is pretty laid-back, so if you needed to leave early or come in late, that wouldn't be a problem. The office is about 2 block from the train station, so getting there wouldn't be difficult either.
I wanted to laugh as she was looking through her question sheet and said, "I'm not going to ask you about your weaknesses because I hate that question, but can you tell me a few of your strengths?" That is one of the questions I completely hate when interviewing, and one with which I feel I have a hard time. I talked to her about how, during my senior year of HS, we had to take something to TOK that to us portrayed 'beauty' - I took an article written by a teenager for our local newspaper. It was about how she had been pregnant a year or two prior, and what her journey was like. She felt completely detached through the pregnancy, going through the motions of choosing adoptive parents and stuff. It wasn't until the birth that she felt the full impact, and realized that the greatest way to show her love for her daughter was to give her up for adoption. The name of that article was "True Love".
It still makes me want to tear up, just thinking about it, 10 years later. I think I still have the article.
Anyway, I felt really good about how it went. It took about 30 minutes, though it didn't feel like it, so I'm hoping that will help for tomorrow - I have a half hour interview with the Director of Housing, a half hour with housing staff and other campus partners, then a half hour tour and a wrap up. I was/am so stressed out about this 2 hour interview process, but maybe it won't seem as long as I thought.
Of course I don't know yet about how well the Housing interview will go, or how it will feel. But if by some insane twist of fate I actually was offered both positions and had to choose, I feel like I might want to work at the adoption agency right now. I mean, there are perks to the university - it will be closer; I would be supervising some students, so I'd be getting supervisory experience; possibly better pay and benefits; summer hours; possibly more holidays off... but then I think, what a great feeling to bring families together. To be a source of support for a woman or couple who have to make such a difficult decision, to give away their child. To help facilitate it on both sides. When would I have an opportunity to work with such an organization again? Lots of universities hire occasionally... and the work might be mundane, and repetitive... and with the agency, there would be much more autonomy.
But, of course, I'm jumping the gun. Perhaps (probably) I won't be offered either job! So no need to count my chickens.
Still, let's keep our fingers crossed.
One of the first or second things she brought up was the fact that my resume has public speaking as a skill. She does monthly workshops for potential adoptive parents, and she's hoping to either have someone to share those with (on one month/off the next), or have someone do one half of it and she do the other half. That wouldn't be a problem for me at all.
We also talked about the office; she said she isn't going to be the supervisor for the person she hires, and she doesn't want them to feel as though she is, either. The bosses are several states away (the main branch of the agency) and only come out here every 4-6 months; she is the only one out here (their website must not be up to date). She said that the office is pretty laid-back, so if you needed to leave early or come in late, that wouldn't be a problem. The office is about 2 block from the train station, so getting there wouldn't be difficult either.
I wanted to laugh as she was looking through her question sheet and said, "I'm not going to ask you about your weaknesses because I hate that question, but can you tell me a few of your strengths?" That is one of the questions I completely hate when interviewing, and one with which I feel I have a hard time. I talked to her about how, during my senior year of HS, we had to take something to TOK that to us portrayed 'beauty' - I took an article written by a teenager for our local newspaper. It was about how she had been pregnant a year or two prior, and what her journey was like. She felt completely detached through the pregnancy, going through the motions of choosing adoptive parents and stuff. It wasn't until the birth that she felt the full impact, and realized that the greatest way to show her love for her daughter was to give her up for adoption. The name of that article was "True Love".
It still makes me want to tear up, just thinking about it, 10 years later. I think I still have the article.
Anyway, I felt really good about how it went. It took about 30 minutes, though it didn't feel like it, so I'm hoping that will help for tomorrow - I have a half hour interview with the Director of Housing, a half hour with housing staff and other campus partners, then a half hour tour and a wrap up. I was/am so stressed out about this 2 hour interview process, but maybe it won't seem as long as I thought.
Of course I don't know yet about how well the Housing interview will go, or how it will feel. But if by some insane twist of fate I actually was offered both positions and had to choose, I feel like I might want to work at the adoption agency right now. I mean, there are perks to the university - it will be closer; I would be supervising some students, so I'd be getting supervisory experience; possibly better pay and benefits; summer hours; possibly more holidays off... but then I think, what a great feeling to bring families together. To be a source of support for a woman or couple who have to make such a difficult decision, to give away their child. To help facilitate it on both sides. When would I have an opportunity to work with such an organization again? Lots of universities hire occasionally... and the work might be mundane, and repetitive... and with the agency, there would be much more autonomy.
But, of course, I'm jumping the gun. Perhaps (probably) I won't be offered either job! So no need to count my chickens.
Still, let's keep our fingers crossed.