Plan A

I've got an interview lined up for just under two weeks from now. a math textbook editor. I've already picked my destination, and this is in that place, so this would be nice to try for a while.

Keep your fingers crossed.

I could afford school. :)

Well, there was a bit of a pause there in job hunting, but that is not to say in overall planning. I now have two part-time jobs that can travel with me. Not the ideal, of course, because I have no health insurance, but the important thing is that even if I can't find a job, I can move and look for work when I get there. I have a back-up plan--you know I always do--in which I can move (I have a particular city in mind in which this will be cheapest), take my jobs, and still be okay, even if I don't find anything else. I am working to solidify both of them in such a way that I become invaluable... flexible, capable of doing just about anything they ask, and able to do it all competently. I'm still looking for full-time employment, but I've resigned myself to the probability that this will be it. Decisions will have to be made no later than the end of October, so I will keep looking until then.

Don't worry. The plan is still the plan. As long as I want it, nothing will keep me from it. sooner or later, I'll get what I want.

Every now and again I'm reminded of this and it behooves me to write it down so that when I really need this I won't forget it again.

The fact is, there are certain aspects of job hunting which I fear.

Oh, and I don't mean so much the meeting new people and making a good impression, or the rejection even (which isn't so much fun but livable). It's my mother's voice in my head, and the fear she projects... the fear which a part of me shares.

You know, I did all this job hunting this spring in a pretty liberal town, and when asked about diversity, the only thing I was willing to admit to was that I had been discriminated against because I was a woman?

I chose not to talk about the fact that I've also been discriminated against because I was too smart. And because I'm an atheist. And because I'm gay. And because I have a disease which freaks people out. Diversity? Gay, atheist, disabled. The only thing I'm missing is race! (and there isn't much I can do about my pale Irish skin.) Despite the fact that discriminating against me on the last two things is illegal, and the first thing, every school I interviewed with had a stated policy against it.

I hate being afraid.

Next time, girl, you better say it. Say the truth. At least then if you don't get hired you can walk away from the experience with pride, and with no regrets.

I got a third 'no' from DC this past week. Not that I'm surprised anymore. It even hurts less this far along.

This has necessitated a change of plans.

I won't get stuck in this city for another year. So, while there are some local jobs I could apply to, full-time ones, that will force me to sign one-year contracts, I'm not going to apply to them. It may be expected that people will leave halfway through contracts for other opportunities but that's not me. That's dishonest, not honorable, and why go through all that trying to keep a straight face--lying through my teeth--when they ask me about participating in the community and everything?

So, I'll work with the part-time things for now. The carryover in my last paycheck through summer will help me do this, and then I'll look for a job again for January.

My hope is that there will be fewer Ph.D.s in the market and I will stand a better chance of getting considered.

If this doesn't work.... well, then I'm in big trouble, I guess.

Well, I heard back from the second interview. They said 'no'.

I did have two more interviews the first week of April. I think they went well, particularly the one on April 7th.

I haven't heard from interview #1. I keep holding my breath, hoping that no rejection might mean there is still a chance, but mostly I've begun to write them off as unlikely. I still have hopes for the others. I think either could work. I had a good discussion with the Dean at the one place, and I really like the campus at the other... but I guess I keep my fingers crossed. The last two places only stopped interviewing last week.

Otherwise, my financial situation continues to deteriorate. I really need this job to come through. Where will I go if I don't get something? My parents'? Yuck! But my summer money keeps getting less and less... I'm gonna be $3000 short of what I had been originally planning now since I'm only getting the one class. And I don't know where I'll be in four months. This whole thing really sucks.

Well, the second interview I had, last week, went okay. I don't think it went as well as the first. The Chairman and I were talking before hand and it seemed like the conversation was going well... she's from Pittsburgh, went to school in Cleveland... and then she says "I hate Cleveland". I managed not to say "I hate Pittsburgh", but there went that growing sense of rapport. And it went downhill from there. But, I guess we'll see. They also wouldn't let me keep their list of questions... which I thought was pretty weird.

I have another interview lined up for the beginning of April. The place I did the telephone interview at. So, I suppose that's a second interview. That's a good thing. I crossed one hurdle. I may here from one of the other places before this interview actually takes place, but again, we'll see.

I've been sending out more applications as well. Another place in Maryland, in Baltimore. I have another for Michigan as well to do later today. And another for New Jersey. I set aside the ones for Washington. I decided I have enough things on the east coast that going out there to interview would be too much hassle unless that was what I really wanted. Somebody somewhere has got to want me. I need someone to want me, especially now that all my part-time jobs have been cancelled and I'm back to an unhappy level of poverty again. I don't know how I'm going to afford to move. I'd hate to have to take money from my mother for it, but things just get worse and worse, and I have no idea how much it's going to cost me for movers... and I'm gonna need $2000 just for one months rent plus deposit at least (especially if I go to Maryland).

The first place I interviewed in-person at said I might here from them the end of March or early April. We are in the latter half of March now.... it's going to become increasingly difficult to pretend I'm not watching the clock and wondering.

The interview in DC went well, the first one anyway. I think so, at least. I guess we'll see in a month.

They gave me a list of questions that they then asked me. Most of them I think I did pretty well answering, but there were a couple that I never quite know what to say for. I'm including the list of questions below. The one I think I stumbled over a little, #5, I've since finally come up with a much better answer for... so if the other place asks me these same or similar questions, I'll be ready for it. Maybe later I'll even post my answers.

1. Why are you interested in teaching at a community college?

2. What qualifications, characteristics, or traits do you have that have prepared you to be successful in this position?

3. With what types of teaching methologies/practices are you most comfortable?

4. In what ways you you used, or would you use, instructional technology in your classroom?

5. Describe your philosophy of education specifically related to teaching and learning in a diverse environment?

6. What do you consider to be your greatest strengths as a teacher? Your limitations?

7. Describe your experience and/or attributes that your possess that will help you when in a leadership role, such as course coordinator, committee chair, or department chair?

8. What efforts would you make to engage a disinterested student in your classroom? What efforts would you make to engage an unruly student in your classroom?

9. For the of the mathematics courses in the current College Catalog, state which ones you: 1) could immediately teach, 2) would need some time to prepare to teach, or 3) would not be comfortable teaching.

10. a) Tell us about your greatest/most successful career-related accomplishments. What helped you achieve this? b) Tell us about an unsuccessful career-related endeavour, and what you learned from this experience.

11. Math teachers are often challenged by students with questions/comments like, "I'm never going to need this!" or "Who actually uses this stuff?" or "There are too many steps!" How would you respond to these remarks?

12. As faculty members, we occasionally are asked to implement policies with which we disagree, such as a prerequisite policy or a curriculum modification. How would you respond to these situations?

13. Based on your previous experience, observations, and interests, what contributions outside of the classroom do you see yourself making to the college community?

Hey, got another interview in Maryland. It's for the monday over spring break. This one's in person. That's very exciting. Tomorrow is the other one. I guess tonight I'll poke around their website again and refresh my memory. And I have to remember to take my list of things community colleges look for that I got from my old boss at CCAC and see if that helps any.

I still have anotehr application or two sitting here I want to do something with, but, I keep getting bogged down in actual work!

I'm feeling better, though, with two interviews, that I'll actually have a job for the fall. I admit, not being able to plan six months in advance was making me nervous.

Telephone interview scheduled for Feb 20th at 1 p.m. with Anne Arundel CC. !!!

In addition to filling out the online application, I've been asked to complete the following questions for the three jobs I applied for. They are all the same job, basically, at different campuses, so the answers to each will be the same.

1. Why do you want to be a community college mathematics instructor?
2. List workshops, seminars, and conferences, pertaining to college mathematics, that you have attended.
3. List activities, projects, and publications that you have been responsible for or involved in that directly impact students in teh study of community college mathematics.
4. What other special experiences do you have that would enhance your ability to function effectively as a community college mathematics instructor? [e.g. working with undergraduate students in a Math Center, working with pre-college students in summer programs, teaching mathematics to adult learners or teaching mathematics to special needs students]
5. List your memberships in professional organizations related to teaching mathematics at the community college level.
6. Describe your experience with nontraditional modalities in mathematics instruction, such as distance learning, computer aided or self paced course work, etc.
7. List all mathematics courses you have taught. For courses taught within the last three years, provide dates and location taught for each course.
8. Is there anything else that you want to tell the search committee about what makes you a uniquely well qualified candidate for a position?

This is due to them by January 9. They also ask us to list any additional skills, training, special qualifications or other information about my background that I believe may have a bearing on my qualification for employment.

It's been a while since I've updated. Not much has been going on. I've still be looking for jobs in my areas. I've pretty much decided, though, that I'm not gonna apply for anything under $40K instead of $35K, and that I'm looking seriously only at things within 35 miles from a school I want rather than 60. I spend too much time in the car as it is, spending more seems insane. This will make things a little easier. Rather than living 30 miles from each, I can live close to one, or in between the two. And I've been managing with the drives I have, so at least I'll be used to it. But more than that, no. I printed out ads for two jobs that are under the $40K level, but I've left them on my desk and done nothing with them... in case I need them, but I'd really rather not. It will be a lot easier to pay bills and save for school if I've got that extra cushion, not to mention making it easier to find an apartment/condo/house I can afford without living in the boonies.

Also, I applied for three jobs over the weekend. They were all at one school, but at three different branch campuses, in Maryland outside DC. The one campus is just across the DC border, about five miles from College Park; the other two are further out, but still inside that 35 mile radius. Maryland isn't at the top of my list of places I'd really love to be, but on the other hand it's nowhere near the bottom either. The summer weather would really suck, and they don't get enough snow... but otherwise, living near DC could have it's advantages, and Baltimore isn't far and fares to and from Cleveland are cheap into Baltimore--not that I'll be flying as long as they are doing pat-downs. Plus, I can't imagine they'd be more conservative than where I am now.

well, I've got a couple more places to apply to. I'm going to apply to a job in Denver. It doesn't pay as much as some of my other choices, but it is above my designated minimum, and with summer work, it would be fine. Tri-C Western campus also has an opening, but I'm not sure I'm going to apply for that... Cleveland isn't really the ideal place. Case is a private school, and Toledo doesn't really have an astronomy program. I could make it work if I HAD to, but a state school would be so much better.

In truth, I'm getting really attached to the idea of this place in Washington state working out. That's dangerous. I hate being disappointed.

I found two more jobs to apply to. These are in Toledo, at Owens Community College. One job is looking for a Developmental Math person, and the other Developmental Math/Writing... in theory I can do both. Also, the Math/Writing person is a 12-month salaried position instead of 9, but it's at the Findlay campus. That might be a little bit out of range, but I'll have to check. The other one is at Toledo. Toledo might do minimally for my academic needs, but I'd probably have to move to Michigan and just work in Toledo (rather than on the side of Toledo near Cleveland) because Ann Arbor would be a better academic match and for in-state tuition, I'd have to live in the state unless they have an arrangement with border counties in Ohio (Toledo has one going the other way, so maybe). I'd really rather not to ALL developmental math--cutting my teeth on calc students is a nice change of pace--but I can do it, and I'm only looking at 5-6 years, not the rest of my life.

I was reading the Chronicle of Higher Education site last night looking for information on what I should put in my cover letter. I want to write a general one to put on the website, that I can then modify and tailor to adapt to specific job applications... but I had no idea how long it should be. I mean, to me, a cover letter should be brief above all things, and Amy was saying hers was 4 pages, and some people told her 10 pages... yikes!

I tried writing a statement of multiculturalism last night... I'm at a loss as to what it's supposed to say. I will probably go back to the Chronicle site and see if I can find anything on that. Maybe what I wrote is fine. When I'm sure, I'll post it I guess.

But what I discovered while reading about cover letters, and general interview type things at two-year colleges is that search committees consider blogs a bad thing. They are afraid the candidate will air departmental dirty laundry in public, or that some of them just aren't professional... and no amount of past good behaviour is considered any indication of future good behaviour... why does this sound like a bunch of older, less technologically sophisticated people judging the younger generation on what they don't understand? Well, I certainly won't point mine out to them like some people might, but at least the primary one will not be hard to find... and if they poke around my website, they'll certainly find them all. But, folks, I'm not going into hiding. I hope that if they are really going to hold it against me that they have the sense to ask about it.

no Yahoo listing for Wisconsin

West Virginia has a listing... one school out, the other school not responding

now, still need to look for branch campuses and other online programs

Lake Washington Technical College (16 miles from Seattle) http://www.lwtc.ctc.edu/contact/

Bellevue Community college (10 miles from Seattle) http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/

Eton Technical Institute (28 miles from Seattle) http://www.etontech.com/

Everett Community College (28 miles from Seattle) http://www.evcc.ctc.edu/

Bates Technical College (33 miles from Seattle) http://www.bates.ctc.edu/

Pierce College (35 miles from Seattle) http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/

Tacoma Community college (33 miles from Seattle) http://www.tacomacc.edu/

Edmonds Community College (16 miles from Seattle) http://www.edcc.edu/

Shoreline Community College (11 miles from Seattle) http://www.shoreline.edu/

Cascadia Community College (15 miles from Seattle) http://www.cascadia.ctc.edu/

South Puget Sound Community College (61 miles from Seattle) http://www.spscc.ctc.edu/index.html

South Seattle Community College http://www.southseattle.edu/

Highline Community College (15 miles from Seattle) website not responding

Green River Community College (26 miles from Seattle) http://www.greenriver.edu/

North Seattle Community College http://www.northseattle.edu/

Clover Park Technical College (40 miles from Seattle) http://www.cptc.edu/

Seattle Central Community College (website not responding)

remaining: Wisconsin? and West Virginia?

Northern Virginia Community College (22 miles from College Park, MD) http://www.nv.cc.va.us/

ECPI College of Technology (several campuses) http://www.ecpi.edu/

Virginia Community College System http://www.so.cc.va.us/

Stratford University (20 miles from College Park, MD) http://www.stratford.edu/

Piedmont, Virginia Community College (in Charlottesville) http://sapphire.pvcc.cc.va.us/

Germanna Community College (55 miles from Charlottesville) http://www.gc.cc.va.us/

Blue Ridge Community College (51 miles from Charlottesville) http://www.br.cc.va.us/

next Washington

Houston Community College System (in Houston) http://www.hccs.cc.tx.us/ http://www.nhmccd.edu/Templates/Content.aspx?pid=1880 http://wwwmc.nhmccd.edu/Templates/Content.aspx?pid=1929 http://www.bradfordschoolhouston.edu/

Lee College (26 miles from Houston) http://www.lee.edu/

Austin Community College (in Austin) http://www.austin.cc.tx.us/

El Paso Community College (46 miles from Las Cruces, NM) http://www.epcc.edu/

Brazoport College (44 miles from Houston) http://www.brazosport.cc.tx.us/

Alvin Community College (31 miles from Houston) http://www.alvin.cc.tx.us/

San Jacinto College District (16 miles from Houston) http://www.sjcd.cc.tx.us/

Texas Chiropractic College (16 miles from Houston) http://www.txchiro.edu/

Galveston College (51 miles from Houston) http://www.gc.edu/

College of the Mainland (42 miles from Houston) http://www.com.edu/

Virtual College of Texas ??? http://www.vct.org/

next, Virginia

Columbia State Community College (46 miles from Nashville) http://www.coscc.cc.tn.us/

Nashville State Technical Institute (website not responding)

National College of Business and Technology (campus in Nashville) http://www.nationalbusiness.edu/

Volunteer State Community College (29 miles from Nashville) http://www.vscc.cc.tn.us/

Community College of Rhode Island (60 miles from Boston) http://www.ccri.edu/

only CC in RI