I WAS there

I have a job now, and I am told almost every day that I am fortunate to have one. ANY job.

At least once a day, I get a phone call asking why the place I work at hasn’t called them for a job. This place is a government entity, with very strict security, and that’s all I’ll say about that for now.

Why haven’t I called them for a job? It doesn’t work that way. You take a test, but passing isn’t enough. That wasn’t conveyed to the test-takers – myself included. I took the test, too. The bottom line is you needed to score 97, 98, 99 or 100%, although other factors are involved.

I received the most desperate calls a month to six weeks ago, after I WAS calling folks to work at the jobs that are available. There was one fellow who reminded me I’d called him a week before, and he was not well enough then to work. Since then, his doctor WOULD NO LONGER SEE HIM. So he was calling to see if the position was still open, as he NEEDED to work. But it wasn’t. I told him to check with his local unemployment office, and also to ask them to refer him to some kind of medical insurance. I hope he can afford it, and I wish him well.

A woman called to change her address, then told me she had moved with her children, as they were no longer safe living with her husband, and she had filed a temporary restraining order. She asked if she should wait before looking for a job, in case we called her. I said, NO, she should get to the unemployment office AND look into food stamps and other assistance for herself and her children. When I talked to a mainland friend about this, she asked: “Where can you hide on an island?” I was shocked at her cold tone. I don’t have the answer to that, but I could hear the steely determination in the voice of the woman who needed help, and I am hoping it will all work out for her.

I get at least one call a day asking how to resolve problems with the security clearance that people must obtain to work with this organization. It is a process, and I explain it as carefully and completely as I can. I assure them they can call back with questions if they don’t understand, give them an approximate – and probably too hopeful – date they can check back to see whether their status has been updated. They are usually very grateful for the explanation and advice.

If I can’t find work as a librarian soon, I am now considering another career.

I am going to be looking into employment counseling, as I already do this. Every day.