No Longer Jobless

I'm employed!!!!!!!  And not a minute too soon!!!  I just found out earlier this afternoon and boy-o-boy am I thrilled!  It's been such an ordeal and I'm just hugely relieved to finally have something to do!

The application & hiring process on a military post is confusing, to say the least.  First, you have to bring your resume, sponsor's orders (Eric's paperwork saying I'm allowed to be in Germany with him), and a few other things to the Employment Office.  There, they help you find which jobs on post would be the best fit for you.  You then fill out all applications and return them to that office.  I pretty much applied for each and every job at Elementary Schools, the Middle School, and the Child Development Center...then crossed my fingers!  The woman at the Employment Office told me it could take 1 week to 6 months to find out if I had an interview, so to be patient.  

I had an interview back in June for the Child Development Center and got the position, but ended up passing on it.  The hours were terrible, it was 100% on-call, and it sounded more like daycare than a position I'd be interested in.  I then had an interview a few weeks later for the Child & Youth Center.  This was only a summer position and obviously since I didn't hear back immediately I figured it was a no-go...but wasn't too disappointed because I knew I had my name out in other places.  Brent & April soon arrived for a few weeks, so I was secretly grateful to have nothing on my plate while they were here.

Then these past 2 weeks got crazy.  I had an interview at Grafenwohr Elementary School for a Teaching Assistant position.  This position would be about 5 hours per day working with select Special-Needs children throughout the school.  The interview went REALLY well, and at the end of it the Principal told me that she "guaranteed" I would either get that position or one as a Substitute Teacher (you don't need a degree to be a sub here).  So I left feeling just great…but also with a GIANT packet of information to fill out and return (like I said: lengthy process).  

If you get selected for a job, the place that hires you refers your name to Human Resources, and they contact you that you've been accepted...and there's really no telling when you will find out.  While I was waiting, I got called to have an interview this past Wednesday at Netzaberg Elementary School.  (Netzaberg is enclosed government housing area between Eschenbach and the main post.)  This was for another Teaching Assistant position, but a little different than the one before.  Here, I would be working full-time in the Kindergarten level paired with the official teacher.  The principal told me it's more of a team-teach position and requires a special person.  I would have the same schedule, and similar responsibilities, as the Kindergarten teacher and would be paired with them for the full school year.  Honestly this job sounded so perfect to me.  I told her how my goal was to become a teacher after I earn my degree and how this would be the best stepping-stone to that goal.  What's nice about getting a job on post is that they understand that we are here no longer than 2.5-3 years, so they don't/can't expect this to be a permanent job for you.  The principal really seemed to like me and definitely hinted that I should "make my dentist appointments now" to make sure my schedule is free once the school year started.  So I left in high spirits!

But that was now one full week ago, and I was definitely beginning to feel like a complete reject.  I got another call last night to interview today at Netzaberg Middle School, but it was for a Lunchroom Supervisor and really didn't appeal to me whatsoever.  I wanted to be a good sport so accepted the interview and awaited my fate.  Well this morning I woke up, still feeling totally depressed that I hadn't heard anything--and assumed I had been passed up by somebody else.  (Did I mention this has been the first time I have ever NOT gotten a job I have interviewed for?!!)  I decided to get some courage, call Netzaberg Elementary and tell them that although I assumed I had not been offered the job, I wanted to make sure all my eggs weren't in one basket before I interviewed at the Middle School.  To my COMPLETE surprise, they were shocked.  She told me that they had notified HR that they wanted to hire me, but Grafenwohr Elementary School had already claimed me and they had "dibs".  I said that that was news to me--since this was obviously the first I was hearing of it, and that I honestly would've preferred the Netzaberg position (Kindergarten) if it was still available.  They said it was, and that they had been scrambling all morning as to how to find somebody else to hire, and that they would call HR and figure it all out then return my call.


They called about an hour later with the details of both positions: finalizing pay, hours, benefits, etc.  They said I could choose either the assistant in Grafenwohr or the co-teaching spot in Netzaberg.  I took the Netzaberg position and it still sounds perfect!  I have about 2+ weeks of paperwork and background checks ahead of me, but if that all goes well then it will be official.  

I had never been more relieved!!!  I immediately called Eric and told him the great news.  I had been very mopey last night and had a miniature "poor me" speech so he was laughing at me pretty hard.  He said he knew I was going to get one of them and that I obviously should've relaxed.  But it had been soooo long!!! 

Gosh I am just so happy and proud of myself.  I start work the end of this month and I am ready to jump in with both feet.  It will definitely be a big adjustment for me (and us) schedule-wise, but it's worth it.  This year has been the longest, by far, that I've ever gone without work or school...and I've felt totally useless lately.  It feels so good to have something like this to look forward to and I'm beyond ready.

Thanks for reading my rant and letting me brag for a bit!  What a great way to start the day!  Eric has a 4-day weekend this weekend so it will be so nice to not have anything hanging over my head.

Real quick: speaking of Eric, he's started his online courses (in Criminal Justice) and he absolutely loves them.  He has Criminal Justice 101 & Sociology: Social Deviance, and he comes home full of stories and facts...it’s pretty great.  He's super smart and I know he's going to breeze through these courses.  Thanks to the Army, it's all free too.  This isn't even including his GI Bill--which he'll still have completely left to use when we get out in a few years.


I'm just feeling great about our lives right now.  God knows we haven't always done things the "right" way but I feel like things have come together our way, and that's what matters most.