work permit and SSN aftermath

Ok, so I got my work permit in April and my social security number 2 weeks ago. Meaning, I can finally look for a job that I want! No. My work permit just simply means I need to work on my desired career and not just any other job. Since I got my work permit, I've always had at least one interview every week. Praise God for that! With the recession and rising unemployment rate in California, my pace is not bad. I give God all the glory for that.

So what is my job now? Well, I am working on becoming a certified teacher. I need to take exams and education units to reach that goal. While I am doing that, people who know me very well know that I cannot just sit down and wait. I need to do SOMETHING. I need to WORK!! So I applied and applied, resulting to interviews scheduled week after week after week.

Week 1 - I was in Oakland with my husband for a job teaching interview. The Oakland Teaching Fellows invited me for a 6-hr interview. After two weeks, they told me I am on the waiting list because the Oakland School District made some budget cuts, but they encouraged me to continue keeping in touch with them because once a slot is opened, they will offer me a teaching position.

Week 2 - I was interviewed for a Receptionist/Marketing Assistant position for a skin care clinic in Glendale. A Filipino aesthetician owned the clinic. They hired me right on the spot. It's part-time and I get to write press releases, assist in marketing, invite more clients to come and avail of our services, etc.

Week 3 - I was interviewed by a staffing company for a Receptionist position at a medical office. The doctor really wants a Filipino receptionist. The interviewer really liked me and he already oriented me how the job should be, the pay, and the employer but...I changed my mind. After all the orientation, he told me I will be working on a Saturday and it is required. I politely told him I am not able to do it for religious reasons. We called it a day. Until now, the position has not been filled up yet.

Week 3 - I went to a building near my husband's workplace. A Marketing firm called me the day before for a Receptionist position but the guy said, my personality fits more for a Marketing position. Two days later, he called me and said I got the job and I will do marketing FULL-TIME. Waaah. I do not think I still want a marketing job. Enough is enough.

Week 4 - I had an interview yesterday for a Teacher Assistant position at a school in North Hills. It's high-performing, especially in Math and Science. Out of almost 20 Teacher Assistant job applications I did last week, only this school replied. This is how hard it is to find a job right now. Anyway, the interview went well. The Principal and the School Coordinator were basically asking me about my teaching experience in Palau. They said I am qualified. They will let me know next week what are the next steps to do. The school district has requirements I need to comply. School starts in September and so I still have time to do all the tests and they still have time to do background checking.

Week 5 - Interview on Monday next week for a Hotel Clerk position. Instructional Aide Test with Burbank Unified School District on Friday.

There you go. I really do not know where will I be in the next days/weeks. Let God lead me. I enjoy doing interviews and jobhunting. How I wish there's a job that entails jobhunting and be paid for doing it forever. I would love to have that job. I love jobhunting so much, but I just hope and pray I will not get stuck doing this for a long time, unpaid and unemployed. Of course, I want to have a stable job with benefits and retirement plan.

Let us wait and see. All I can do is do my best and let God do the rest.