The Application Status of Her Dream Job; Did She Get It?

01 Nov, 2012

Written by Heather Riggleman

Shhh! Don’t tell Leslie and Jen but I applied for a job in Denver a couple of weeks ago. I know–I know, I hear you saying the words, “You traitor” but I had to. It was my dream job. It was the kind of job where my husband could’ve become the stay at home dad that he’s always wanted to be. It was the kind of job every woman dreams of who has the itch to write, encourage, and plan all at the same time. The salary and benefits were amazing and I would have been working for a ministry that is near and dear to my heart in the mission field of motherhood. So I figured, why not? I’m not one to let an opportunity pass and then live with the regrets of “What if?”

Even as a little girl growing up, I never imagined myself as just a mom. I dreamed of making a difference and doing something big. While I’ve been at home these last few short years, I see where I have done monumental things for the sake of my kids but I can feel the time of being home with my babies slowly winding down. Next year Tori will have another year of preschool, Elijah will be in first grade and I will be driving myself batty trying to find something to fill my time. And somehow in the midst of changing diapers, carrying on five conversations simultaneously, chauffeuring kids to games, school and appointments, I truly wondered if I would be fit to ever return to the work force.

How do you put those skills on an application? How do I fit six plus years of mothering onto a professional resume? It wasn’t easy, but the job skill section sounded a bit like this:

Marketing Strategies & Campaigns (How to make an event, boring toy or chore look fun, this includes but not limited to completing walmart shopping with two tired toddlers and one sassy adolescent.)
Corporate Communications (Scheduling, organizing and communicating all potential dates, events, outings with family and extended family around nap time and potty breaks).
Creative Team Leadership (Devising schemes and plans to make love not war against fellow rival siblings.When all else failed, implementing, “Because I Said So”).
Product Positioning & Branding (Creatively making the idea of watching kids for an overnight sound appealing to grandparents and other loved ones).
Web & Print Content Development (Keeping potential wars with family at bay through sites like Facebook, shutterfly and personal blog with pictures of kids and the things they say).
Able to lead a team to achieve results (When Mama puts her mind to get something done, it gets done, i.e. potty training spring cleaning, doctor apts, making dear hubby get a year physical and scrubbing behind the ears).
Experience with communication process (Knowing how to talk child down from temper tantrum status in the middle of Target without making a scene…sort of).
Critical thinking skills & able to execute sound judgment under pressure. (Can de-escalate a crisis like when child gets fingers stuck inside a glass bottle, gum in hair, splits open lip, or a child gets stuck in pantry. Able to execute ”fly by the seat of my pants” plan and talk the child down as if nothing is wrong).

With that said, I was nervous when I got the email about setting up another interview. I was beyond surprised They really thought I had some skill. Whoops, maybe I need to set them straight before the interview.

That afternoon as the phone rang, butterfly’s took flight in my belly as I wondered if this one single phone call would change my future. Fear from insecurities and possible sanity loss of staying at home also took flight and I barely answered the phone in time. As the interview progressed I realized how my mothering has strengthened many of my skills and abilities. Sadly I didn’t get the job…secretly, I’m relieved. How would I kept up with HVFH, my new manuscript and my family?

It gives me more time to sharpen my job skills and add a few new things to my resume, right?