A New Gig

Here we go again…starting a new job.

I don’t know what to expect. It’s a new, grant-funded program, so myself and two others are basically contracting our services for a year. Then, if we’re “lucky,” as our supervisors inform us, we may be hired on.

I was raised when you worked a job for 30 years and retired.

That was shot when my reporting job of 16 years ended in 2010; 40+ jobs were eliminated in the newsroom alone. It still exists, but the paper is only a shell of itself, run by a handful of just-out-of-college kids.

I’ve never quite bounced back from that financially. I’ve had one full-time job in the past eight years, piecing part-time work together with teaching college courses (the pay, nationwide, is dreadful, but that’s a whole other blog), subbing, and the like.

As mentioned in the last blog, the last gig was retail. And it wasn’t the greatest, but I believe that we learn from life situations, and from that I learned to appreciate those who work in retail.

I also learned that I needed to do something different. I needed work that challenged my mind, used my skills, and gave me some creativity and flexibility.

I think I’ve found that in this new job. As I haul items from home to personalize my cubby (yes, a desk job!), I have a new joy.  

But this is no time to relax. I’m challenged to show what I can do, to sell myself, of sorts, on how valuable I can be. I know I’m being watched by others in the department. I’m careful to be pleasant, to dress appropriately even when some of them are super casual, and to look as if I belong there among my full-time, benefitted and vested co-workers.

I am no less than them. There are people who have said they would not do this job because it doesn’t pay enough. I heard someone once say that sometimes you have to make a lateral move, or a move that appears to be taking a step down, when it’s really in preparation for propelling you forward.

Yes, I am the woman for the job, which provides a steady, consistent check for my household, as well as an opportunity to show my talents and hone new ones.  

 The contract is for a year. The ball is in my court. This is my time to shine.

Prayer of Gratitude

Father God, thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ. You are my strength, my Rock and my Redeemer. I am indeed grateful for this new job, which is another stop in my life journey. I’m excited about the untold opportunities You are giving me through this job—Thank You! You see everything. You see those who are struggling on the job hunt. You see those who are piecing work together just to keep their households afloat. I ask you to strengthen those who are heavy and burdened (Psalm 119:28). You see people who are miserable on their jobs, who believe their choices are limited. But in YOU, oh God, we can have hope! (Psalm 31:24, 38:15) Jesus died so that we may have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). Part of the abundant life is joy and peace, and living, working, and doing what we are purposed here on earth for. Work is important to You and it’s important to us. Please bless those who are seeking a change in their work lives, and may they give You the glory, honor and praise. In the all-powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Retail...Really?!

"Sometimes to get what you want the most, you have to do what you want the least." -- livelifehappy.com

Until December, I spent a better part of the year working three jobs.
Third shift at a women's shelter, freelance writing, a shelver at a library, and teaching a class at a local college. (Yes, there is an inordinate amount of college instructors/adjuncts who often hold down more than one job because they are part time with inadequate pay and no benefits. But that's a whole other blog entirely)
Oh, and hosting a radio show once a week.

In December, I quit the shelter due to a health scare. Also in December, the contract for the college teaching job ended. Thus, I needed to find work.
Quickly.

So I applied for "easy" gigs, places that I thought I would have no problem getting hired.
Never worked retail before...but, I asked myself, "How hard can it be?" Wrong.

I was hired at a local big box store and I politely asked for a certain department because I was sure there would be low foot traffic there. Wrong again.

The nice ladies in personnel were only too happy to oblige my request. After all, I overheard them during our training say that they had no-shows left and right. It was the height of the holiday season, and they just needed warm bodies, at that point.

And I should have known when my department manager only asked me one question during the interview and then said, "Ok, you're good."

So after an inordinate amount of mind-numbing training, I found myself, at age 47 and with no prior retail experience, thrown to the wolves during the holiday season.

After one full day, I learned that working retail is not for the squeamish, nor the soft.
My back ached. My feet throbbed. My ample derriere was accustomed to seated office jobs--in no way was I ready for 8-hour days on my feet. Not to mention other associates informed me (regularly) that no one ever stays long in my assigned department because it's so chaotic.

Hang in there, my friends said. Put your big girl pants on, my mom said.
And my sister said with a bite: "You've got bills to pay."
So I went back, but after the first week, I made up my mind. "I'm out of here."
I wanted to scream.
How did I get here? I wanted to tell everyone I ran into, "I'm not like these other workers, I'm not cut for this! I'm not supposed to work retail! I am college educated! I have experience in an array of areas!"

Then I wanted to cry and went into full pity-party mode.
"Doesn't my expertise count for anything anymore? What's wrong with me?
Why can't I do what I want to do? Why can't I find a job that's in my purpose?"

Then a friend reminded me gently but firmly, "Teresa, you're not any better than anyone else."

That was a turning point for me.
I began observing the other associates. They were from all walks of life. Some looked as exhausted as I felt. Some looked like zombies, the walking dead. Others were chipper and seemed good with their job.

I decided I had to find a way to make the best of this. I prayed about how I could treat this job as a new challenge.
I asked the Lord to help me see this job with fresh spiritual eyes, to help me to be a light for Him in my department. How would I do that? By smiling, helping customers as best I could, and keeping any negative comments to a minimum.
I pledged to avoid looking at the clock so often, which only made me wish my day away.
I also brought a small notebook and Bible to my lunch breaks. I needed strength from His Word to help me to endure this.
I also reminded myself that this is only temporary, a point during my life journey to get me through to the job that I really want.
It helped.
I guess it's true: It's all in our outlook, how we choose to see things.
Make no mistake, I'm not thrilled about retail. But it's a job. For now.

If you're in a similar job situation, here's a prayer starter: 
Lord, thank You for giving us strength, and humbling us. Thank You for blessing us to work to sustain ourselves, even if it's a job we only tolerate, do not like, or even despise. Helps us to remember that our hope is in You. You want us to work, because there are many references in Your word about working. Hear our prayers to endure, and hear our prayers to obtain jobs and/or careers where we find meaning, impact and purpose. Refresh and strengthen us to do what we must to sustain ourselves and keep our households afloat. Thank You in advance for hearing and answering our prayers, and for shining Your light through us. In the name of Jesus, Amen.