You know, when I accepted that previous job offer I knew it didn’t feel right. Initially, I even turned it down because it just felt off. As my intuition is very sharp, it didn’t come as a huge surprise to me when it didn’t work out. I used the opportunity to take a step back from my job hunt and think about what I really wanted from my career. Did I want to settle? Well, yes and no. I didn’t want to settle in to a job that would make me stray too far from the path I want to take in life (for example, working front line with the homeless population), but at the same time I knew that by setting my standards too high I likely wouldn’t be getting anywhere (for example, applying for jobs that required a Masters of Social Work degree). Originally, I was only applying for jobs that were identical to my first career-type job. It was safe, and I guess I wanted to make my transition into Toronto as smooth as possible and for life to seem the same as it had been. While I did get one call back, the fact that I no longer have a drivers license was a major roadblock down that path so I stopped applying to jobs that required driving (which are common in the social work field). I had a moment a few months in to the search where I sat back and realized that trying to recreate my life in Calgary wasn’t really a good idea at all. I wasn’t looking for opportunities to grow and expand my skills and knowledge, I was looking to go back in time and potentially fall in to a position that would make life as stagnant as possible.

So I expanded my job search and instead of looking at which jobs I wanted, I researched agencies I would like to work for. It is so important to me as an individual to have a job where I am making a positive difference in my community, and I know that I need to be working for an organization or agency that I truly care about. A few weeks ago, I got called in for an interview at one particular agency that was on my list. After a computer test and two interviews, they offered the job to someone else. I was completely deflated. The interview had gone so well that I walked out of the interview on the top of the world. Then they told me that while they found someone better suited for the position, they liked me so much that they wanted to find me a job within the agency that was better suited to me. They didn’t want to lose me, and I was somebody who felt she had nothing left to lose. I had forgotten how much I had to offer, and how my personality and my enthusiasm would be an asset to an agency. They offered me another position for a similar position with a different team, and I delightedly accepted it. 

So after months and months of tears of frustration and anxiety, I was finally able to cry tears of joy and pure happiness. I immediately made a few rounds of phone calls and when I told my Mom the news I have never, ever, in my life heard her sound so happy. I have had so much incredible support and love shown to me by my friends and family over the past year. I know people often say this, but I truly don’t think I could have managed the last year of my life without my team of friends and family around me. As always, big shout out to my Timbo, who is wonderful and supportive and loving and adorable and all that nice boyfriend stuff. I’m a very lucky, blessed girl in the family and friends department.

As I currently have two part time jobs, I’ll be quitting my bartending job and keeping my job at Boots (so all of you discount abusers, you’re in luck). May 16th is the big day at the new job and I’m taking the weekend prior to that one off to come home to the Farm and celebrate and kiss babies and to drink too much beer and play golf and visit all of my loved ones.