The Job Hunt

I can't think of anything worse than looking for a job. I can handle a visit to the doctor's office, shots and all, and I actually enjoy resting my bones in the dentist's chair, but there's something about having my abilities judged solely on a piece of paper that makes me uneasy. I always feel that my applications and my resume do not do me justice... how could they when all they show is that I've worked crappy part-time jobs and am trained in a field that won't even give me a second glance right now?

The job hunt has been particularly hard because there are very few jobs in this small area and loads of people just as qualified as me trying to find employment. Unfortunately, a lot of employers won't give us a second glance because we're military spouses. I don't want to lie about being an Army wife and even if I wanted to I couldn't - every single interviewer I've met has taken one look at my resume, seen that I'm from NC, and has said, "your husband must be at Fort Rucker." It's obvious.

It would be awesome if both he and I could work at Fort Rucker since we're here. I've put in loads of applications to work on post. However, I don't have this important little thing called "spouse preference," which makes it basically impossible to get a job there. And it's all because Sean and I didn't get married before he was stationed here, so I'm not on his orders to come here, and there's no way to amend those orders, so there's no way for me to get spouse preference while we're here. I've been told that I'm qualified for the positions that I've applied for, so I keep hoping that they go through all of the spouses and veterans without any luck and finally get to my application. I'll take the job!

I've also put in applications at schools, medical facilities, offices, clothing stores, Wal-Mart, Target, etc. without a single call back. I may just be too picky, but I don't want to work at a fast food place - been there, done that, and it sucked - and I don't want to work at a gas station or somewhere I wouldn't feel safe. I feel that something is going to come along sometime, I just hope it's sooner rather than later. I also hope it's somewhere close to home and that it doesn't, you know, stink.