Job Hunting

[tchamberlain1]

I thought this posted earlier but I can't find it...forgive me if you've already seen this...

I've been working as a resource aide since school started. I did this last school year with an older child who was in an inclusion program. We had a one-to-one relationship in the classroom and I was basically his teacher for core 7th grade subjects. This year I am working with kindergarteners as an aide for 3 special needs' kiddos in the same class. It is challenging to say the least and I'm afraid it isn't my cup of tea. I feel like I have 15 children with the added stress of juggling the needs of the emotionally/cognitively delayed children. I'm also on lunchroom and recess duty and help with occupational/physical therapies for the kiddos.

Long story short, I'm going to look for a new job. I would like to send out resumes and fill out job apps for 3 jobs that close this Friday. I know this is short notice but I wonder if any of you have been able to translate your abilities as a professional quilter into real world positions.

I sent out resumes and applications a year ago and was interviewed for a couple of salaried state jobs but I don't have much work experience.

Here are my details...

College graduate with a BA in English

Air Force wife and volunteer in spouse groups for 20 years

SAHM for 12 years

LQS Assistant Manager (we didn't part on good terms - she never gave me a reference last year)

Sole proprietor selling polish pottery and Homemade Gourmet

School volunteer

Professional quilter for 3 years

Quilt teacher for last year

Para-professional in Resource Department

All totalled, this doesn't add up to whole lot when I'm looking for positions with state Human Resources or county Human Resources/Communications Specialist.

With the economy the way it is, I'm sure I'm not the only one in this position looking for a good job without a lot of experience.

Can any of you help me or give advice?

Thanks so much!

[DoryJM]

Tina, I would change Quilt Teacher to Quilt Design Instructor or something like that. Instructor sounds much more formal. With an HR/communications job, go into depth with your ablility to "teach" and get along with others. Perhaps you could have some of your students write a recommendation?

Just trying to think of something...hope my ideas give you some better ideas

[Quilting Heidi]

Don't forget to include your communication skills and writing skills! In HR you want to be sure to include your personal skills. Do some homework on benefits, labor unions and interviewing. Time management is another one to include. I'll keep thinking about it. It is very early here and my brain isn't awake yet!

[Gail O]

The pottery and LA professional were small businesses that entailed, purchasing, inventory management, scheduling, customer service, accounts payable and receivable, tax prep.. Expand on your knowledge of those very useful skills.

Good luck with your search.

g

[kennan100]

Teaching anything involves complete knowlegde of the subject and techniques, (what they are is irrelivant), and the ability to communicate that information to a diverse group of individuals with mixed levels of skills. (Now, if you can't use tat line in a resume I don't know what to tell you!). That also would include preparing for the class by compiling the list of tools and equipment each student would need to bring for the class, selecting patterns and preparing instruction handouts with variations that would be at the skill level being taught and yet accomidate those in the class that are not quite as skilled as they thought they were and yet challenge those who are at level or above. As an Assistant Mgr in an LQS you would be required to help with merchandising the store, inventories, receiving in new inventory, customer service, filling in for absent employees, possibly phone or internet sales, and booking classes. As a spouse volunteer you would have to ???. As far as duties in the school system I have no clue, but I am sure you can express your duties in a way that translates easily from just pertaining to children to addressing similar situations in relating to adults. Special needs = difficult adults to me. And I know that running your own businesses involves a lot more record keeping that you can break down item by item to actually say more than just "quilting for others for pay". This was already mentioned.

Your have a lot more experience than you think you do. Being a voluteer only means you worked your tail off doing things for free that other people get paid big bucks to do, and they needed your help to do it. Don't sell yourself short, you are very qualified for many things, so put on your big girl panties, hang some self confidence on your lapel and go for it!

[LadyLake]

Have you looked at obtaining a graduate degree or licensure to boost your marketability? There is a graduate degree in management, with a human resources emphasis option, that can be obtained in 16 months (all evening classes -- geared to the working professional) in our area. There is probably something similar available in your area or on-line.

[Terri S.]

You actually have a wealth of experience to draw on, the only problem I see is that you need the right resume style to highlight your accomplishments. A functional resume lists your qualifications and experience before it lists your employment history. An example can be found at the bottom left of the page at the following website: functional resume. I've used this resume quite successfully when I was first starting out as an engineer, and didn't have a lot of engineering experience but had a whole lot of other real life experiences working here and there. Good luck and your job search, and if you need any help writing a knock-your-socks-off resume, just let me know.

Terri S.