Welderly Job Hunting

I have a new job. It’s pretty basic, nothing of any consequence, something many people could do. Why is this important to me? Why am I putting myself through the effort of qualifying for a job? Why do I want to put myself out there like this?

I’ve tried this a couple of times before in the last few years and struggle with the reality of considering that maybe I’m not good enough anymore. I have worked my entire lifetime. There were a few years where I felt I was needed more at home for my family, and I would stay home and do the homemaker thing, and for the most part, I enjoyed it. Even in those times, however, I found myself taking on the responsibilities being a PTA President, a Homeowners Association board member, an Avon lady, a welcome-basket person, a tour guide for some historical building, many things. I’ve never been comfortable staying home and making my home a castle. I’m always seeking some way to earn my keep.  My parents instilled in me that everybody needs to work.

I retired from a job I liked in 2008. Lowell and I went on a mission to the Philippines, and I’ll never be sorry for that. I loved my job with Continental Airlines. It was part-time, I worked from home, my job had flexibility, and I used my flight benefits to see different parts of the world. I don’t fraternize and I’ve never been a “joiner” and though I knew many of my fellow employees, I didn’t have to deal with them on a personal level daily. It was an ideal situation for me.

Going on the mission and being with my husband 24/7 was an adjustment, and I managed it well. When we finished our task and returned to civilian life, it didn’t take long to find another way to use my time. I volunteered to give tours of the Church Conference Center in Salt Lake City and I enjoyed it. I took the train uptown, talked with people I didn’t know and came home. We decided to do another mission, and I enjoyed that experience as well. When we got home from that assignment, I started getting restless, and found a job with a hotel chain as a customer service agent working in a call center. I was thrilled and jumped in with both feet. A week into training, I knew I had made a huge mistake on many levels and for so many reasons. I didn’t have to work, and I found many excuses to say enough is enough. I walked away from training and never looked back, but it took a toll on me to face what I identified as an “inability to follow through” at this stage of my life.

We decided to move to southern Utah so Lowell could ride his precious motorcycle more than a few months out of the year, which is what happens when you live in an area with snowfall. He found a house he wanted to see, we went to St. George, and though we looked at other places, we bought the one he found on the internet. I enjoyed getting away from northern Utah and being by ourselves. I love the house and the neighborhood. It’s been fun putting everything together, and the quiet is well worth what it cost.

I decided to see if I could find something to keep me busy. I got an interview with another call center in St. George. I would be transcribing phone conversations for people with hearing disabilities so they could read those conversations on a screen with each phone call. I was thrilled with the opportunity to serve that population and excited to have a work schedule. Up to this point, my experience in the workforce had been, if I got an interview, I got the job. I got a lesson in reality at this interview. It was very apparent that the lady who interviewed me did not like me in the least and, for whatever reason, told me “you’re not suitable for this job” summarily dismissing me from her office. I felt like she was discriminating against me due to my advanced years. That’s illegal, but what do you do about it. I’m sure she would have denied it. I walked out of that office feeling a level of humiliation I’ve never felt in my life.

Time marched on, and I busied myself with a few volunteer opportunities where I read books to people more elderly than I. I felt like these people appreciated my time since we’re all on the same trajectory of life. Since I’m an active member of my church, I also accepted various positions and extended my stride to fulfill those assignments.

One day I was listening to a local radio station, and I heard an ad for a vitamin company wanting to increase their call center, and I’m thinking, wow, maybe I could do this. After training, the job would be remote, and I liked the idea of working from my home. So, I applied, got an interview which turned into several interviews, and got the job. Good, I’m back in the game. This company has many senior citizens working for them. My three-week training begins in the middle of the pandemic. Two weeks into the training, I got sick. I didn’t have Covid, but it felt like flu, and I was miserable. The company cautions us there are no excuses for missing any days during the training period, and I tried very hard to be stoic. Part of the daily routine involved climbing a set of stairs with an unbelievable trajectory, and I pulled myself up those stairs. You see, the house we bought has the added advantage of having no stairs at all, and I have gotten used to not having to lift my body. Those stairs facing me at least twice a day were grueling. I also take one diuretic medication, and the need to urinate frequently didn’t help my self esteem psyche at all. I walked away again under the guise of being sick. They offered to bring me back with the next training group, which I accepted, determined to make it work. A day before that training, they called me and said they were withdrawing the offer.  The only explanation being, “we’ve changed our minds.”

I spent a year trying to convince myself that my life isn’t over and I still have much to offer and then hear of another opportunity. A company in northern Utah is looking to fill 800 positions in a call center. They are looking for people who can work from home. They will supply all equipment. It sounds ideal. I make an application, get an interview, get an offer for the job, set up the equipment, and begin training. Throughout the training, there will be tests to be sure we are absorbing the material. If one fails to get at least an 80 on said test, dismissal will result. I’ve never been afraid of exams, so this didn’t bother me. The training is very intense, and we are doing ten-hour days to cover all the material. I took the first test and got a 75. They allowed me to retake it, and I got 90. Another week of training, another test. Again, I get 75. They allow me to retake it, and I get 75 yet again. I’m dismissed and assured there is something out there for me.  I make a mental note, “thanks for the reassurance.”

A few months go by, and I decide to try again. If nothing else, I’m tenacious. I made an application using an online employment service and got two requests for interviews. To make a long story a little shorter, I got a job with another call center, this time for a conglomerate of storage units. The training lasted a total of about 12 hours, and I take a few calls. Hey, maybe I can do this one. This company has provided all the equipment I need. I can work as few as 12 hours or as many as 31 hours a week as a part-time agent, and I do it in my home. They are super flexible and when I told them that I had a one-week vacation planned in a couple of months, they allowed me to schedule unpaid time off for it. The pay is but $12 an hour, but it isn’t about money. I want to work.

I have worked at the storage units’ job almost a year and I’m enjoying it and doing well. Last week I adjusted my schedule so I’m currently working 15 hours a week and since I love mornings, I work from 7 am to 10 am Monday through Friday. Every other week I work a Saturday from 8 am to 3 pm.  When that happens, I get two other days off in the week. I don’t particularly like to work that many hours in one day, but that’s part of the job and the things I like about it outweigh the Saturday hours requirement. Most of the time it’s enjoyable talking with people and I’ve become familiar enough with the routine that there are few difficulties these days. The company is great.  Most of the employees are students working around class schedules. There are bonuses and I’ve qualified for those many times.  I feel valued and get regular one-on-ones with my manager to be sure everything is working to the advantage of all parties. My initial plan was to work for at least a year to show myself and the world that I could still do it. I don’t have any plans to quit at this point. I used about $4000 to rent a huge house for our combined family vacation in a couple of weeks and I’m very happy to be able to do that.  Our family numbers 36 people now and I’m looking forward to being with those I love best for four days.  I have some plans of other things I’d like to do with my earnings. I have even invested in the stock market with a couple hundred dollars. I currently own a piece of Google, it’s a small piece but it’s Google.