Nepotism
I just need to vent a bit. I am getting aggravated with my job search. We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s not what you know – it’s who you know” The truth behind that is biting me in the ass. My ideal job would be teaching preschool disabled. I have experience, I’m certified, blah, blah, blah. Anyone who hasn’t tried to find a special ed teaching job will naively tell you that teachers (like us) are in demand. Sure we are. If a family member has a high standing somewhere in the educational field.
Nepotism – gotta love it. Three classmates with whom I graduated have jobs. One acquaintance decided not to break up with her boyfriend but to get engaged to him. His mom was some hot shot in the school district where she lives. Sweet enough girl, but when we ended up as lab partners in Bio II I realized she was, um, “retarded.” Wait, no – I can’t say that. Intellectually challenged. So she didn’t have a learning disability, she was not too bright. Who knows if she stayed with the guy, but good move on her part. She got the job.
Another girl and I became friends immediately. We were both nerds, I guess. When you go back to college you take it a bit more seriously. Anyway, her brother-in-law was the superintendent in the district where she was subbing. She eventually told me that she really just had to get her certification because the job was already lined up for her. Yes, I was happy for her, but if she and I went for the same interview she would get the job because of her connections regardless of such minute things as experience!
My third former friend should be in a special ed class, not teaching one. Not to be mean, but he really has some issues. (Dissident, I’ve told you about this winner!) I took him under my wing at school, just because the poor guy was such an outcast. He cannot retain any info, and after several classes with him I realized he used to leave the room for exams. Special needs. He has no social skills whatsoever, and I think he has some anxiety disorder with a touch of stupidity. Anyway, “Mommy” keeps getting him interviews and short term jobs. I don’t think he could last for too long. I think his mom still writes his lesson plans. (She’s a teacher). Point is, I would feel very uncomfortable having this guy teach my special needs child or a “normal” kid, for that matter. But he has a job thanks to his mother.
I have a cousin (well, my mom’s cousin’s husband) who lives in Tallahassee. He’s a principal and he told me if I moved down there he could get me a job teaching preschool disabled in a heart beat. Very generous. Especially considering I’ve only seen him four times tops, and he really has no clue what kind of teacher I am. Maybe I would give it some consideration if it weren’t for my tres petit family. My nephew is the best (2yrs. in April) and I couldn’t bear not watching him grow up. So back to the drawing board.
I recently learned a friend of mine got a certain position because she used to sleep with some guy. Maybe I should start scoping out the superintendents. Hmm, perhaps I don’t have the scruples to be a teacher after all!
Storm
Nepotism – gotta love it. Three classmates with whom I graduated have jobs. One acquaintance decided not to break up with her boyfriend but to get engaged to him. His mom was some hot shot in the school district where she lives. Sweet enough girl, but when we ended up as lab partners in Bio II I realized she was, um, “retarded.” Wait, no – I can’t say that. Intellectually challenged. So she didn’t have a learning disability, she was not too bright. Who knows if she stayed with the guy, but good move on her part. She got the job.
Another girl and I became friends immediately. We were both nerds, I guess. When you go back to college you take it a bit more seriously. Anyway, her brother-in-law was the superintendent in the district where she was subbing. She eventually told me that she really just had to get her certification because the job was already lined up for her. Yes, I was happy for her, but if she and I went for the same interview she would get the job because of her connections regardless of such minute things as experience!
My third former friend should be in a special ed class, not teaching one. Not to be mean, but he really has some issues. (Dissident, I’ve told you about this winner!) I took him under my wing at school, just because the poor guy was such an outcast. He cannot retain any info, and after several classes with him I realized he used to leave the room for exams. Special needs. He has no social skills whatsoever, and I think he has some anxiety disorder with a touch of stupidity. Anyway, “Mommy” keeps getting him interviews and short term jobs. I don’t think he could last for too long. I think his mom still writes his lesson plans. (She’s a teacher). Point is, I would feel very uncomfortable having this guy teach my special needs child or a “normal” kid, for that matter. But he has a job thanks to his mother.
I have a cousin (well, my mom’s cousin’s husband) who lives in Tallahassee. He’s a principal and he told me if I moved down there he could get me a job teaching preschool disabled in a heart beat. Very generous. Especially considering I’ve only seen him four times tops, and he really has no clue what kind of teacher I am. Maybe I would give it some consideration if it weren’t for my tres petit family. My nephew is the best (2yrs. in April) and I couldn’t bear not watching him grow up. So back to the drawing board.
I recently learned a friend of mine got a certain position because she used to sleep with some guy. Maybe I should start scoping out the superintendents. Hmm, perhaps I don’t have the scruples to be a teacher after all!
Storm
I've gotten my last two jobs because of both indirect and direct nepotism. Interviews are for chumps
Of course, it is easier for me because I'm a jack-of-all-trades as apposed to being highly skilled and educated in any one thing. I'm also not too picky, so my opportunities to "get an in" somewhere are greater.
Maybe you can get a job through one of your friends listed in your article?
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I feel your pain Stormy girl. Unfortunately I'm selfishly a fan of nepotism because in my lifetime, I think I've earned two jobs based on my resume and qualifications alone. All of my clients or past jobs have been obtained through my family or friends and then the trickle down word of mouth effect. But for someone educated and with your qualifications, it must be hard to bite the bullet when some nymrod is getting a job because of who they know or who they're sleeping with. Hang in there...my horoscope not long ago said, and I quote, "don't find the job, let the job find you". It sounds like a bunch of bullshit but the next day, I got a call from the father of my niece who was never married to my one sister who we don't speak with anymore anyway because she's a horrible human being (did you get that), to do his books for a restaurant he just bought in Manhattan. So I thought, hmmmmm, maybe my horoscope was right. It's great money for about 10 hours worth of work per week and I do it from home with the exception of occasionally going into the city to pick up work or for meetings (which is kinda fun actually). You'll get there. Have faith in yourself. I do!!
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