GinaFish.com

Well…as I mentioned in the last post, my family is going through a bit of a time financially. Originally, I was seeking a part time job last Fall so that my husband could concentrate on his pastor job. Meanwhile, he has been doing the pastor job (full time with part time pay) and working with a yard company part time. (Two part times equals one whole salary) Throughout December the yard work became more sporadic because of the weather, grass isn’t growing and the holidays are off days, but we were able to trudge along fine.

However, due to something unforeseen in early January, my husband is now unable to work with the yard job at all. (Blog entry for tomorrow will explain that!) So four people and one part time job does not make for easy budgeting. However, we are very blessed to have a wonderful church family that gives the pastor an end of the year gift. And with Christmas, we were also blessed to have a few family members give money as presents instead of gifts. So for January we have been secure in the knowledge that God has watched over us.

Of course, this is the reason I was VERY grateful to work 40 hours last week. It helped me feel like I was helping the family. But at the same time, I knew that substituting was not a permanent position and that the hours were very sporadic. Even with the staff knowing my name does not guarantee I’ll get called three times a week because some days the school teachers are actually all there!

So I was still looking for a job. In desperation, I applied for a job with a company I never really gave much thought to before. But I figured it was better than nothing. So I applied at Walmart. I checked off every department on the online application except for bakery, automotive, and electronics. I filled out that I was available for every day except Sunday at any hour of the day and even Saturday until noon.

Being available almost 24/7 I figured I’d get a phone call and perhaps an interview. And I did. I just didn’t really think they’d offer me a job. But they did. And I accepted.

So yesterday I went and did my drug test and now I’m waiting to find out when my orientation is. It’s a part time job which means anywhere from 28-32 hours a week. No later than 9 p.m. thank God. I was willing to work overnights, but at my age, don’t know if I could really handle it.

The pay isn’t great, it is above minimum wage, and if I consistently work 28 hours each week, it should be enough for us to be fine.

If you have never been interviewed at Walmart, I found it very interesting that they have a lead manager interview you, and if you pass, then a higher level manager interviews you.

The higher level manager felt compelled to tell me a personal story while interviewing me. She was a ‘mature’ woman probably in her 60s. She had worked for herself her whole life, first as the owner/operator of a hair salon, and then she owned a video rental store. She retired with her husband and after one month of being at home was frustrated because her husband was perfectly content to spend his days at the house, while she wanted to get out and meet people.

So she applied to work at Walmart because after her long career, she was tired of telling people what to do, and just wanted a job where she was told what to do. She got hired to her husbands surprise and she became a stocker in the sporting goods department. After a year and a half, management approached her and asked if she’d like a promotion to the personnel department. She told them “only if I don’t have to tell people what to do” and they assured her they would still be telling her what to do so she said okay. Then another year went by. Upper management came to her again and said “We can see that we are wasting your talent in the personnel department, will you consider a promotion?” She once again asked if she would have to tell people what to do. They conceded that yes, for this position she would and after much thought, she accepted it. Her nametag said “Assistant Manager”.

She told me that there was a reason she was telling me this story about herself. Because it was obvious from my application that I was overqualified to work at Walmart. Looking back, I wonder if my eyes popped out of my head…

However, I did pray to God to give me a part time job that I could leave at the end of the day and not think about once I got home. So He gave me what I asked for I suppose. I wish he had heard the part about wanting to make a certain wage. LoL!

So we’ll see how it goes. I have to go through orientation before they give me a work schedule. I’m nervous about many things. The woman said that she likes for people to work 4 days, 7 hour shifts. So that might be Tuesday through Friday evening shift and I might not see the kids which I would hate, but know that it might have to be that way for awhile until we get out of the rough patch.  I don’t know how it will work out.

Meanwhile, school was out on Monday for Martin Luther King, Jr Day. Tuesday, I had to put a non-working day on my Subteach calendar for a dr’s appt. Wednesday (technically today but I’m not letting this post just yet), I was promptly called at 6:10 a.m. to substitute for an agri teacher. I have no clue what agriculture teachers do! But right at the end of my shower, my husband comes and tells me that the tv says the schools are closed because of a water main breaking, and sure enough, 20 seconds later, SubTeach called and yep! No subs needed because school was closed for the day! I can’t believe it but I said “Woohoo” on the phone! I’m still really worn out from last week!

So since I haven’t heard from Wal-mart about orientation yet, if SubTeach calls tomorrow, I guess I’ll go. I would really like a chance to talk to the principal because a part of me wants to ask him what are my chances of working three days a week until the end of school or until I find a different part time job.

I can’t tell you how felt to go to Walmart for a job. Walking in, I wanted to turn around and not even do the interview, but I’m not that kind of person. I’m not the kind of person who doesn’t show up for an interview, or when asked in person if you’d like the job, says no. Sometimes I’m too much of a pleaser. But at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel like God was talking to me through the Assistant Manager’s story.

I feel like He was saying “Here’s what you asked for. No responsibility, part time hours. But know this. I know you aren’t living up to your potential and you know it to. Even the people hiring you know it. What are you going to do about it?”

The answer is, I don’t know. I really felt good working as a secretary last week. I really felt helpful. I know that I don’t really “enjoy” substituting so far, but after only two days of classroom experience, how can I really be sure.

Well…it will all work out in the end. I have been inbetween jobs before. One year, I held about four jobs testing the waters through a temp agency until I finally found a job that I enjoyed and was paid well for.

This job at Walmart may be just the thing. I might only last two weeks. We’ll see.

Next blog, roller skating.