My How The Times Have Changed

For the past 4 months I have been back in PA looking for a job.  I am a certified Art teacher, from Kindergarten to 12 grade.  When I was in Arizona for 2 years I taught art to 7-10^th graders.  The 2 years before that I was getting my teaching certification from Arcadia and working at my Dads chiropractic office.  I have worked in a Bicycle shop for the summer before college.  I worked at an Italian market each summer and winter break during college and I also worked at a clothing store while at college.  I then moved home and was a Nanny for a while, worked at a before and after school program, then in an office setting.  Like many others, I’ve had a lot of random jobs.  It seems to be the trend these days.

The way I got those past jobs was because I knew someone who could put in a good word for me.  I was just happy to be making some money while going to school.  And knowing the right people helped.  It seems like these days, trying to get a teaching job, knowing the right person will give you a step ahead.  Well that’s what everyone tells me.  I actually know a lot of people in different school districts.  But here I am, not teaching, no matter my past experience, all the extra curriculum activities I helped with, all of the hard work and determination.  Now don’t get me wrong I love working at my Dads office.  I enjoy what I do there and of course I do enjoy working for my boss.

So for the past 4 months I have been applying to every job that I think I am qualified for.  Teaching, office work and even retail.  I have yet to find anything full time.  That is what I want so badly.  I have so many people come into the office complaining that summer is over and they have to start teaching again, or that their days are so long at the office, or that they are so busy at work they feel like they have no time to do anything else.  When they say this I just smile.  They don’t know how much I am yearning inside to be in there place.  Teaching full time again after a summer break, or working long hours at a job that is a perfect fit for me or being so busy with something I love.  I want that back.

That, I don’t think has changed with many people.  There are so many unemployed people right now it’s sad.  Sad that there are people out there that want to work, to contribute to society, to wake up every day and go to some sort of job.  The unemployment rate is at 9.1%.  That may seem low but that means that there are 14 million people without a job.

What has changed is the way that people are getting jobs and marketing themselves.  Blogs were started in December 1997, LinkedIn was launched May 2003, Facebook was created in February of 2004, Twitter was created in March of 2006 and Tumblr was created in 2007.  All of these networks, whether they are social, professional or both, have become the way to show case who you are.  I am not saying this is a bad thing by any means, just very different then what it was 10 years ago.  You used to have to mail in or walk in your resume.  You would be able to get a interview to even be considered for the job.  Things seemed to be more personal, face to face.  I am on all but one of those above mentioned sites.  I was against it at first.  I did not jump on the Facebook band wagon until 2006.  I am slowly but surly expanding my web base.  I like the challenge of creating something new on something that everyone is on.  I want someone to read my blog and get an idea for something, read a Tweet and laugh out loud, see a picture on Facebook from a great day or find a work connection to advance their career on LinkedIn.

So, times have changed.  Are they for the better?  Have they made meetings less personal or more informative?  What will be the next Twitter, Facebook, Blog, LinkedIn or Tumblr?  A site that gives you all in one.  Only time, and the innovations of yourself and others, will tell.