The Job interview invitation!

It’s been a long winter in New Jersey. Lots of snow, lots of work. I have been interning several hours per week, working in Real Estate to pay the rent, and going to graduate school at night. I am lucky. My husband does the laundry and the grocery shopping and he and the kids cheer me on when I question my efforts.

But every morning, the first thing I ask myself is “how am I going to get everything that needs to get done today?” I am tired. Reading the headlines from the Chronicle or CNN doesn’t help. Gloom and doom. Will I get a job? Will someone hire a mid-life career changer? With wrinkles? Is this investment in time, money, and loss of living a normal life worth it? All my mid life friends are busy socializing. I am too busy with Power Point. Doubt haunts me at inopportune hours, wee in the night.

But today, Joy snuck up from behind and gave me a desperately needed shot in the arm.

If I played the lottery, I’d play the number 41111, today’s date. I would play it because today was a three star date for this mid-life career changer. As a mom, I was thrilled by my 16 year old daughter’s great news. She got accepted into a summer program she has been obsessed by. Witnessing her joy was a gift. She navigated the entire admissions process on her own and did herself proud. Made my heart squeeze with happiness!

An hour later, my cell phone rang, and it was an invitation to interview for a job I had applied to! Even though I have 18 credits to go in my graduate program, my internship supervisor, the Dean at the Center for Student Success, suggested that I start sending my resume out now. I am so glad I took her advice. The position is temporary (just for the summer) but it is in my area of choice as an educational counselor working with Educational Opportunity Fund students, (a NJ program with amazing support for low income college students.)

If I am lucky enough to get the position, you will hear my shouts of joy across the land. If I don’t get the job, it will be a great start. To get the phone call, validating my choice to go to grad school is fuel enough for today. And tomorrow. And hopefully enough to get me through the semester and beyond.

The third star? I logged into my email, and found an invitation for a telephone interview for an internship position for next fall. I applied three weeks ago, and had just about given up hope. It is with a wonderful college and is my absolute first choice. I am jumping around all over the house!

Joy, joy, pure joy. Hard work does reward. Developing great references pays off. Joining professional associations and volunteering for them makes a contribution, builds your resume, makes you feel good, and helps others who are dedicated to your field of choice.

My dad was right. Just keep plugging away. It will pay off in the end. If you are feeling discouraged, contact me. Right now, I have enough enthusiasm to raise the Titanic and will gladly help you build up enough juice to do the same! Peace out!