Trials and Tributions Ending?

I’ve struggled with the decision to write about my last two positions for the past 3 months because at least one of my audience still work there. The reason I post today? I’ve finally come to peace with the realization that they have already written their ending to my story. The rub? It may be completely different scenes than the ones I experienced. So here goes nothing…..

The Advertisement

I found the position for Document Production Specialist nestled in a multitude of job emails. I was flabbergasted; this sort of position is pretty specialized, and you don’t see them advertised much. It was for a large environmental engineering firm, a field I was desperately trying to get back to. I remember reading the job description off my phone to Kathi, who was absolutely supportive in her assertions that I apply immediately – now- and wait for the call. “You know you’re qualified for it. When they read your résumé, they’ll know it, too. Just do it. Don’t think about it; act on it.” (Indeed, Kathi had worked with them in Canada and enjoyed her time there immensely, which she sensed was a good omen.)

Of course, as fate would have it, my cell got turned off later that day (it was 3 days late) - thankfully, after I applied online. As a rule, I never checked my email at the shelter, but once I realized my phone was off for non-payment, I started having to check it there daily. Just 3 days later, I got an email; they had tried multiple times to call, but weren’t able to leave voicemails. The email directed me to call to set up an interview. I could not believe my good fortune. After I returned the call and the interview date was arranged, I went straightaway to tell Kathi – she was such a cheerleader and great friend to me.

The Interview

The shelter helped to bolster my confidence which I think reflected well on my recent illustriously hideous job history. As someone who had 6-, 7-, and 3‑year positions on my résumé, these little temporary positions – well, they weren’t easy on the eyes. I was brutally honest to interviewer Sharon and to Faith, an over-40 woman that I bonded with over shared 80s culture and a who’s who of the local environmental personalities we’d both worked with. In fact, I might have even teared up a bit, recalling the horror of the last few months of my life. I remember mentioning that I was looking forward to having insurance again, which took them a bit off-guard, I think.

I distinctly remember feeling “this is what it’s *supposed to* feel like in an interview” as everything I said was natural and unforced, honest, sometimes achingly close to home. I remember relaying how close I was to finishing school – at that point, I was just 5 classes shy of my Bachelors of Science in Communication. I remember that it just felt right. It’s an elusive feeling – one I’ve felt only a handful of times before and since – but difficult to describe. I knew I was hitting it out of the park, a home run. Further proof of how well I was doing was Sharon and Faith taking me into Sharon’s office and Sharon printing out the benefits package. Surely, they wouldn’t have taken the time or effort to show me that if I wasn’t doing well, right?!

I went back to the shelter and told Kathi how it had gone. She was in all-out cheering mode – relaying her positive experiences with the firm. I felt the timing of the job offer couldn’t have been more fortuitous – just over a week left of my short-term position, set to end December 31^st. Then came the wait. I knew it wouldn’t happen immediately – logistically, it was December and they were a large firm. Theoretically, I understood. But inside I was jello, doubting myself and my “feelings” for the next 4 days.

On the 5^th day, Faith called and asked to meet me to give me the paperwork for drug testing. Legally, she couldn’t say anything about whether or not I had the position until I had been drug tested. So I took the afternoon off and immediately tested. The testing facility assured me that the results would be back to the employer within 24 hours.

The very next day – 24 hours to the dot – Sharon called me to extend the job offer. The icing on the cake was the hourly rate – it would start me very close to the money I had made at my longest gig, Water & Air. After I accepted, Sharon said she would print out an offer letter which I would be expected to sign my first day of work, December 30^th. After the call ended, I did the Cabbage Patch dance at my desk in the Adoption Center, drawing raised eyebrows from browsing adopters. Kathi and Janet took me to dinner that night and we celebrated at Applebee’s.

This day last year – this exact date, actually! – I started working there. I was very excited because it was not only back in my realm of comfort – environmental engineering -– it was something I had found on my own, outside of the temporary world. It was a real position, listed as temp- to perm-, and I was going for it. The trials and tribulations of the past 8 months were coming to an end.