blah blah blah, you suck, we'll keep your resume in some imaginary file, blah, learn to sing, blah, you shouldn't be around children"
Ah well.
Back to the drawing board.
or the job board. Whatever.
26 September 2008
23 September 2008
Time for a change?
So, I had an interview at Gymboree tonight. For those who don't know what Gymboree is, in short, Gymboree is an atmosphere for adults and children to take part in interactive classes that build children's cognitive, social and physical skills. It's geared toward children 5 and under (which happens to be what I'm planning on going back to school to teach).
Anyway, I was invited to take part in the group interview tonight at the location in Lincoln Park. The invite included the following points:
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR THE INTERVIEW!
1. Please come prepared to sing a children's song (a capella). Any song - you do not have to have a great voice.
2. Wear comfortable clothes - this is a very hands on interview.
3. Bring a schedule of availability - days and times that you would be able to work.
4. Bring any requests for time off from work in the next 6 months.
5. Bring socks. We are a shoeless environment.
Singing? I'm not sure anyone should be subjected to my voice, let alone, my singing voice. The "you do not have to have a great voice" was encouraging though, so I didn't think much of it.
I arrive to a room of about 20 people. As I'm filling out the application and other paperwork, roughly 10 more people filter into the room. We're asked to sit in a circle on the mats in the middle of the room. Easy enough. We're asked to state our name and our favorite television show. The key here is to distinguish yourself from others, so the interviewers are able to remember you. Luckily, I have many different favorite shows, so when it was my turn, I didn't have a problem (my favorite "show" ended up being "anything on HGTV" and/or "whatever reality show happened to be on at the time").
After this, we learn that we will sing our song later. We will also learn a song & have to sing it back to the interviewers in another room. Cool. I might be able to do that.
Before songtime, we had to give a quick presentation, mirrored after the one given by one of the instructors. We went to one of the play stations, learned what concept development the children would learn, and then present it back to the group. There was a tambourine involved. In our presentation, we had to pretend as if the group in the room was children and grown-ups. Now, I'm normally pretty outgoing, but in an attempt to do a good job, but not look like a total dufus in front of my peers, I think I did ok. Most going up were nervous, a little repetitive, not that enthusiastic, so that helped. I made sure to use different wording and energy than the ones before me, so I think I did an ok job there.
Now it's time for songs. It started off with 6 people in a row singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider and The Wheels on the Bus. This calmed me down quite a bit, since I planned on singing a song I hadn't heard before doing Teacher for a Day. The song I chose is loosely called "The alligator and monkey song" - here's one version of it on youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M2rmDe8ASY (she uses crocodile, but essentially, it's the same thing). As I said, I'm a fairly bad singer, so this song afforded me the opportunity to use a fun, interactive song while talking the lyrics. The interviewers seemed a bit refreshed to have a new song.
Finally, one of the interviewers taught the group a song, that we would eventually have to sing to the other interviewer. We sang it 3 times & then had to go sing it to the other interviewer, I assumed in another room. Nope - just right across the room, where everyone could hear you. Now, this song required a little more ability. Yikes.
I decided to be one of the first to go, mostly to get it over with. As I walked up, the owner said, "Amber, right?" That gave me a little bit of confidence, as there were 30 people they needed to remember, obviously I did something memorable prior to the atrocity that was about to happen. The song ended up coming out a little better than planned, so I was able to walk out with some sense of confidence.
Now comes reality. This job will definitely be a significant paycut (assuming I'm offered or asked back for a second interview). I will likely struggle with the decision, and I'm certainly not looking forward to that step in the process. That said, I want more than anything to get out of where I am, and doing something with children would be a good transition & one that I might be willing to take a cut for.
All I can do now is sit and wait.
Anyway, I was invited to take part in the group interview tonight at the location in Lincoln Park. The invite included the following points:
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR THE INTERVIEW!
1. Please come prepared to sing a children's song (a capella). Any song - you do not have to have a great voice.
2. Wear comfortable clothes - this is a very hands on interview.
3. Bring a schedule of availability - days and times that you would be able to work.
4. Bring any requests for time off from work in the next 6 months.
5. Bring socks. We are a shoeless environment.
Singing? I'm not sure anyone should be subjected to my voice, let alone, my singing voice. The "you do not have to have a great voice" was encouraging though, so I didn't think much of it.
I arrive to a room of about 20 people. As I'm filling out the application and other paperwork, roughly 10 more people filter into the room. We're asked to sit in a circle on the mats in the middle of the room. Easy enough. We're asked to state our name and our favorite television show. The key here is to distinguish yourself from others, so the interviewers are able to remember you. Luckily, I have many different favorite shows, so when it was my turn, I didn't have a problem (my favorite "show" ended up being "anything on HGTV" and/or "whatever reality show happened to be on at the time").
After this, we learn that we will sing our song later. We will also learn a song & have to sing it back to the interviewers in another room. Cool. I might be able to do that.
Before songtime, we had to give a quick presentation, mirrored after the one given by one of the instructors. We went to one of the play stations, learned what concept development the children would learn, and then present it back to the group. There was a tambourine involved. In our presentation, we had to pretend as if the group in the room was children and grown-ups. Now, I'm normally pretty outgoing, but in an attempt to do a good job, but not look like a total dufus in front of my peers, I think I did ok. Most going up were nervous, a little repetitive, not that enthusiastic, so that helped. I made sure to use different wording and energy than the ones before me, so I think I did an ok job there.
Now it's time for songs. It started off with 6 people in a row singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider and The Wheels on the Bus. This calmed me down quite a bit, since I planned on singing a song I hadn't heard before doing Teacher for a Day. The song I chose is loosely called "The alligator and monkey song" - here's one version of it on youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M2rmDe8ASY (she uses crocodile, but essentially, it's the same thing). As I said, I'm a fairly bad singer, so this song afforded me the opportunity to use a fun, interactive song while talking the lyrics. The interviewers seemed a bit refreshed to have a new song.
Finally, one of the interviewers taught the group a song, that we would eventually have to sing to the other interviewer. We sang it 3 times & then had to go sing it to the other interviewer, I assumed in another room. Nope - just right across the room, where everyone could hear you. Now, this song required a little more ability. Yikes.
I decided to be one of the first to go, mostly to get it over with. As I walked up, the owner said, "Amber, right?" That gave me a little bit of confidence, as there were 30 people they needed to remember, obviously I did something memorable prior to the atrocity that was about to happen. The song ended up coming out a little better than planned, so I was able to walk out with some sense of confidence.
Now comes reality. This job will definitely be a significant paycut (assuming I'm offered or asked back for a second interview). I will likely struggle with the decision, and I'm certainly not looking forward to that step in the process. That said, I want more than anything to get out of where I am, and doing something with children would be a good transition & one that I might be willing to take a cut for.
All I can do now is sit and wait.
15 September 2008
Caribou Coffee
I don't know what it is, but for some reason I find it to be my civic duty to help people navigate Chicago. The latest adventure isn't all that exciting or really blog-worthy (but really, what is?). As I walked back from my lunch at Barnes and Noble (bought a book so I could sit inside the cafe portion and eat my Jimmy Johns), I hear a thick-accented fellow asking a Traffic Management Authority figure (you know, the ones in the bright yellow vests who stand at intersections "directing" cars) where the nearest Caribou Coffee is located. This particular TFA figure didn't seem to knowledgeable about the coffee in the area, so as she sent him off to River North (like 10 blocks away), I stop him to ask if he's looking for a Caribou Coffee (knowing there was one within 2 blocks). He explained that he was, and that he googled it before coming downtown and knew there were 2 in the area. He kept pointing that out to me. I only knew of one, and if he'd stop pointing out that he knew there were 2, I could get on with giving him directions.
We had walked almost half a block at this point, so I figured I'd just walk him to the Caribou Coffee, rather than explain where it is. By "walk him to the Caribou Coffee," I mean that we walked back to my office and I pointed down to the Italian Village sign and explained it was right before that, on the left.
Why I didn't just quickly explain that it was one block west and one block north is beyond me. It's just what I do. I think the more details I can give about the walk ("oh, you'll pass a Walgreens and then it's a quick left. If you pass another Walgreens, you've gone too far" - are details people probably don't need). Granted, Mr. I know there are 2 Caribou Coffees nearby didn't give me a chance to give the quick directions, but still.
There was no reason for me to feel bad that he was about to wander 10 blocks north to River North, but I did and I wanted to help.
We had walked almost half a block at this point, so I figured I'd just walk him to the Caribou Coffee, rather than explain where it is. By "walk him to the Caribou Coffee," I mean that we walked back to my office and I pointed down to the Italian Village sign and explained it was right before that, on the left.
Why I didn't just quickly explain that it was one block west and one block north is beyond me. It's just what I do. I think the more details I can give about the walk ("oh, you'll pass a Walgreens and then it's a quick left. If you pass another Walgreens, you've gone too far" - are details people probably don't need). Granted, Mr. I know there are 2 Caribou Coffees nearby didn't give me a chance to give the quick directions, but still.
There was no reason for me to feel bad that he was about to wander 10 blocks north to River North, but I did and I wanted to help.
12 September 2008
McCain: Mayors and Governers can't handle national security
I don't know how to embed this into my post, so I'm linking it below.
McCain: Mayors and Governers can't handle national security
Transcript:
"I have had a strong and a long relationship on national security, I've been involved in every national crisis that this nation has faced since Beirut, I understand the issues, I understand and appreciate the enormity of the challenge we face from radical Islamic extremism," the Senator declared. "I am prepared. I am prepared. I need no on-the-job training. I wasn't a mayor for a short period of time. I wasn't a governor for a short period of time."
McCain: Mayors and Governers can't handle national security
Transcript:
"I have had a strong and a long relationship on national security, I've been involved in every national crisis that this nation has faced since Beirut, I understand the issues, I understand and appreciate the enormity of the challenge we face from radical Islamic extremism," the Senator declared. "I am prepared. I am prepared. I need no on-the-job training. I wasn't a mayor for a short period of time. I wasn't a governor for a short period of time."
04 September 2008
This is just sad
I don't have the time to get into my thoughts on the GOP ticket at this time, but I will say that Palin was a great choice for McCain. That said, it's pretty hard to believe that McCain would select a woman for his running mate, in hopes of wooing former Hillary supporters. I can only hope that those undecided women voters take the time to learn about Palin & understand that her politics are nothing like Hillary's, and are not those that support women's rights.
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