Interview with A Squirrel

This evening finds the Squirrel household in the middle of Fall Break.

Do you get a "Fall Break"? I know there are a lot of schools that are out just for the Columbus three day weekend.

Not us- they give us a whole week.

That is one weekend + a school week + another weekend = 9 days.

Nine days that we are home together.

This time last year,  I was singing the praises of this break. I couldn't wait to have the time off after the nine weeks to recuperate. And the Littles were uber excited, too.

 

This year has proved to be the same- for them. They could not wait to get off the bus Friday so they could have these nine days to sleep in, stay up late, and hang out. And they have done exactly that.

They sleep pretty late. They stay up way too late. (And I am also up late- so that is some super quality time that we are having together (insert sarcastic face here)).  And they are hanging out. At home. In the house. 

It is chilly and drizzlely and cloudy and drab. So no one comes to the door to invite them to go OUTSIDE and play. Boo. I mean, I am all about friendship and bonding time. And I am sorry that they are not getting it because of this wretched weather on this nine day break that we are having together.

Do you see where this is going? I'll just end that with, It's been a long break so far.

 

I have made use of this time at home looking around online for jobs that are available in my area. I have gotten my resume all pretty and professional. I've even uploaded it to a few openings. I even got a "first round interview" for a state job that looked pretty good.

Have you looked for a job lately? Whether it's a teaching or non teaching position? Have you put yourself out there? It has been a long time since I have - and it is a little different.

 

For example, this "first round interview" that I speak of is what they call it. What it really is though is a list of 20 questions that enable you to shoot yourself in the foot and disqualify yourself from the position immediately so that they don't have to meet with you.

Some of them were your run of the mill things I remember hearing while sitting across from a real live person a million years ago like "What do you think your best quality is ?"

I thought that was easy enough.

I am a brutally honest person. (I left out brutally). But that's a pretty good quality to have  in an employee, right? I threw in few other descriptors so that it sounded cool.

And then I was stopped in my tracks by some of these other questions.

 

What type of supervision do you like? What frustrates you most with a supervisor ? How do you handle it? What type of person is the hardest to work with? Why do you think that is? How do you stay organized? How do you feel about deadlines? What is your working style? And then the dreaded- What do you consider to be your two biggest weaknesses?

 

What the what?

 

Let's take this from the top.

 

What type of supervision do you like?

Well, honestly, (I already said that I was honest) I kind of like to be unsupervised. And is it really going to matter? If I say I don't like them, will they go away?

 

What frustrates you the most with a supervisor?

Um, the part where they are supervising me- we established that, right? I mean, tell me what you want me to do, then let me be and if I do it- we'll be happy together.

 

What type of person is the hardest to work with?

The one that's always hanging around- you know, the supervisor guy.

 

Why do you think that is?

Cause he's creeping me out.

 

How do you stay organized?

Depends, what am I organizing? Seriously, are we talking writing down appointments, or am I sorting beads? Am I taking notes? Writing a grocery list? Or organizing my thoughts? Cause I can write a hell of grocery list- the kind that takes The Mr. down every single aisle and the items seem to fall into the cart because I have organized this list so flawlessly. On the flipside, I can  forget what I am saying 12 times in the same dinner conversation because there a million thoughts in my head and I cannot express one coherently.

 

How do you feel about deadlines?

Well I'd rather they not be so concrete. I like a little leeway in my deadline. I like terms like "around 12:00" and "near the 16th" and "some time tomorrow". Those are all perfectly good deadlines.

 

What is your working style?

Um, I'd say I am "Glitzy Transitional". I figure it's MY style and I can call it what I want.

 

And then comes the question that ensures you will receive the "While we thank you for your application....." email....

 

Your weaknesses.

I HATE this part! I have always hated it!

It never fails that I would sit across from admin during an eval and throw myself under the bus!

"What do you think your weakness was for this lesson?"

And then I would INEVITABLY say something that she hadn't noticed!!! (Way to go, Squirrels!)

 

It's the worst to have to think of things that are wrong with you and then tell them to other people who do not know you.

I should have put something like "I have a need to become closely attached to my supervisor". Maybe that would help me out in that department. Because no one is going to write "I have a tendency to be late three or four times a week and I like to steal post it notes for my collection in my junk drawer at home." Ugh.

 

I am very curious to see what the "second round interview" is like. Will I have to get out of my "kajamas" for it? That would be pretty sweet if I didn't. I also can't wait to find out how many rounds there are! And is there a bonus round? A speed round? If so I will just yell BIG MONEY! NO WHAMMIES!!! That should make me a shoe in, huh?

 

 

Who knows? It's a crap shoot.

We'll see what they all say when they write me back and thank me for being so honest!

 

Well it's time to start thinking about how the Squirrels are going to spend DAY SEVEN of our WONDERFUL Fall Break together! Hope you have a great weekend coming up!!