Applying Ourselves

FEB. 14: Today's Valentine's Day. I always look forward to seeing NASA's spin on the topic. 

This website lets you electronically send a space-y Valentine greeting to someone you admire: https://mars.nasa.gov/free-holiday-ecard/love-valentine/

I've included a few of my favorites below ...

HELP WANTED: A few days back, we were driving past a McDonald's close to our house and CJ wondered aloud, "Do you think they're hiring?"

"Yes. Always," I responded. That was quickly followed up by asking, "Are you thinking about getting a job?"

CJ answered in the affirmative. At that, I told him most any job is a good job, and that McDonald's can be a good first job ... but I also suggested he consider other options, and opportunities that he might be more enthused about, like working at a pet store, for instance. (A quick Google search for PetCo and employment shows they're hiring now, with immediate start dates.)

Shortly after CJ mentioned getting a job, I noticed a post on the Facebook page of the Burien location of King County Library System. The job is for a part-time, entry-level library page position. I showed the notice to CJ and encouraged him to apply. And so he did.

Naturally, it was no easy task. The application process involved updating his resume, writing a cover letter, answering supplementary questions, taking a typing test, filling out pages and pages of online forms with work history, references, certifications and more. Several hours later, he was finally able to hit "submit." 

I was able to help him through the process. Once upon a time I was, after all, a professional employment specialist who helped people write resumes and cover letters and fill out applications all the live long day.

Now that he has his resume up-to-date and a cover letter template he can use, CJ could apply for any number of jobs. But I think he's going to wait until he's done with spring quarter. The reason he applied for the library page job is because it's a plum position and rare opportunity to get in on the ground floor regarding working in a library.

He asked me if he'd hear if he's not selected. I told him not hearing anything is usually how one finds that out. ;) He also asked a few questions about job interviews. So, those skills are something we'll be practicing in the car as we drive to and fro in the coming weeks.

Speaking of applications, I actually filed one for my own self. I recently saw a post about King County Elections needing (very) temporary help with the upcoming election. Given the fact that I would like to learn more about how that process works and that King County Election headquarters is at the foot of our hill, I went ahead and applied. If hired, it could be as little as a day's worth of work, believe it or not.

I can't help but think, "What a lot of work for the county go to through for such temporary help. I wonder how much that costs taxpayers. ... " Of course the flipside of that is that elections are extremely important and need to be handled and funded properly.