Tag Archives: Job

Daily Prompt: These Horns Were Made for Tooting

Posted on by Gertie

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “These Horns Were Made for Tooting.” Today, share something you love about yourself  — don’t be shy, be confident! — but that few other people know about you or get to see very often.

I realize people don’t like braggers but I want to brag about something here. Something that I am proud of. Last Tuesday, I got my annual review at work. My boss gave me a glowing review. Not only did I get a glowing review from my current supervisor for my annual review but my previous supervisor gave me a glowing review at the end of my probationary period. The review I received only reinforces the idea I a made the right decision in changing careers.

A career that I am meant to be in. I love the career I am in. Not because I got glowing reviews but I love going to work. I love what I do and enjoy what I do. I love being an example of what recovery looks like. Yes, I have struggled a little bit since being in my position but I was able to pick myself up and wipe myself off and share how I was able to get through what I needed to.

Knowing what to share when with whom is a big part of my job. Being able to keep healthy boundaries is key to any relationship especially when it comes to working with people who have a mental illness. Boundaries are not easy but if you stick to them the clients will respect you more. Keeping my boundaries and having the respect of the clients is one of the many reasons why I got such a glowing review.

I think I have done enough bragging for one day. Have a wonderful day. Try to take that time to enjoy a moment to yourself and Peace Out!!

Writing 101: Finding Your Inspiration; Day Twenty: The Future

Posted on by Gertie

Today is the last day of Writing 101: Finding Your Inspiration. I am a wee bit sad that it is the last day. I have learned a great deal from this course. One of the many things I have learned from this course is the many ways I am able to find inspiration to write, weather it is for my blog or personal writings.

Speaking of writing, todays assignment is to write about the future. We were given many different prompts to choose from to write about the future. I am choosing to not pick one of those prompts to discuss the future. I have chosen my own topic to discuss in regards to the future. I have chosen to discuss about my career and its future.

As many of you know I work in the mental health field as a Consumer Aide. I have had this position for the last year. Part of the reason why I am a Consumer Aide is because I was unable to get a job as a Peer Specialist last year (2014) due to the fact that I didn’t have enough paid experience. Don’t get me wrong I love my job with a passion. I just really want to be a Peer Specialist.

Now that I have worked a year in the mental health field, I figure that I have enough paid experience. Plus it looks better on a résumé the longer you are at an employer. I have been thinking a great deal about my future in regards to my career the last several years and the last year has confirmed that I am meant to work in the mental health field. I love being able to help people.

Yesterday, I took another step in making my dream come true in regards to moving up in the mental health field. I applied for a Peer Specialist job yesterday with my supervisors “blessing.” She said that she would be more than willing to be a reference for me “even if it is for a different agency.” In fact my previous supervisor said something similar in an email. It feels good knowing that I am good at what I do and that I have the “blessings” of both my current and previous supervisors. Unfortunately, the agency I currently work for, don’t have any Peer Specialist openings at the moment. If they did I would have applied to them first instead of a different agency. I really want the job as a Peer Specialist and hope I get the job but at this moment in time, I just want a call saying that I got an interview.

The one thing I have learned about applying for jobs is to not put your life on hold waiting for a call to see if you got a interview much less the job especially the interview. I have found out from experience that if employers like your résumé  and/or your cover letter they will call you within two weeks to set up an interview. In most cases, employers will let you know if you got the job or not within two weeks. I did have one agency interview me last year that never got back to me even when I emailed them inquiring weather or not I got the job. That’s okay because I now realize maybe its not an agency I want to work for anyway and for a multitude of reasons. I am happy with the experience I have gotten with how various agencies work in regards to their hiring process.

As I end this last assignment of Writing 101: Finding Your Inspiration can you all please send out positive energy and vibes that I get an interview. It will be much appreciated. Have a Happy Friday and Peace Out!!

Writing 101: Finding Your Inspiration; Day Eighteen: A Map As Your Muse

Posted on by Gertie

The above map resembles the path I have chosen for my career. It has taken some time and energy to get where I am at, both personally and professionally. If it wasn’t for the growth I have had in personal life, I would be where I am professionally.

As many of you already know, I am in recovery from a mental illness. The journey with my recovery from a mental illness has not been an easy process. A process that was and still well worth all the work. It is because of my journey with a mental illness, I am choosing the field of mental health as my career path.

Three years ago (2012), is when I truly started my career path. In fact, that is when I started volunteering at my current employer. Then a year later, back in 2013, is when I took the forty (40) hour, one week, peer support specialist training and exam. I of course passed the exam. Then last year (2014), is when I not only got employed with my current employer as a Consumer Aide but started volunteering at the Warm Line as a caller taker. Earlier this year I started volunteering at a local young adult homeless shelter because I ultimately want to work with young adults who struggle with a mental illness. Now that I have been at my current employer for a year, I plan on applying for jobs as a peer support specialist.

I realized last year when I was applying and interviewing for peers support specialist jobs that many mental health agencies wanted people who had paid experience. That is one of the reasons why I applied, interviewed and accepted my current job. I also know from experience that many employers, know matter the company, what people who have been at their current employer for at least a year.

Now that I have the year paid experience, I have been working on updating my résumé and working on cover letters. Like many others, I don’t like writing cover letters because I don’t like “bragging” about myself. Even though I don’t like “bragging” about myself, I try to look at it this way; if it gets me the job I want along my career path then I am getting from point A to point B on my career map.

I may not be getting to point A to point B the way I thought I would career wise, I like the fact that my life has been a journey of self acceptance and resilience. A resilience that only a few know if they choose to be in recovery.

Thank you for reading about my career path and the road I have travelled to get to it. Have a wonderful day and Peace Out!!

Writing 101: Finding Your Inspiration; Day Sixteen: Search Your Stats For A Post Idea

Posted on by Gertie

I unfortunately was unable to do my assignment for day sixteen of Writing 101 yesterday because I went to work and ended up going home sick. After coming home from work sick, I ended up needing to go to the Emergency Room (E.R.). It turns out that I have a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), bladder infection and the starts of a kidney infection.

In fact as I write this particular post, I am suppose to be at work. I feel okay enough to be at work but the doctors in the Emergency Room (E.R.) told me I needed to take today off. Not being able to go to work today is difficult for me. It is difficult because I love my job. Plus, not being able to go into work make me feel like I am not being productive or being a productive member of society.

Now on to day sixteen’s assignment. The assignment ask us to look at our stats for post ideas. In fact I have done this before. I have realized by looking at my stats and reading other’s blogs that titles of the post matter. For instance last Thanksgiving I posted twice. Out of the two post, my Happy Dead Turkey Day post  received the most views, likes, comments, etc. If the title catches the eye of the reader then the reader is more likely to read the post. I also know that if you have a picture involved with a post people tend to read a post. Clever titles and/or post with pictures tend to get the most reads/views.

Now that I have accomplished day sixteen’s assignment, I need to go get my antibiotic for my UTI, bladder infection and kidney infection. Then I will do day seventeen’s assignment and maybe a daily prompt. Peace Out!!!

Weekly Goals

Posted on by Gertie

Its the start of another work week. That means it is time for my weekly goals. I am grateful that this past week my goals weren’t to difficult to accomplish. As always I will share with you on how I did with last weeks goals.

1)  Read Speaker of the Dead by Orson Scott Card. Yes, I did read this week. Not as much as liked because I spent a lot of quality time with Junior.

2)  Work on jigsaw puzzle. Of course I did this goal. This is one of the ways Junior and I spent some quality time.

3)  Color. Yes, I did color.

4)  Writing 101: Finding Your Inspiration. Yup, I did do my assignments for Writing 101 and am really enjoying the course.

5)  Blogging 201: Branding and Growth. I finished this course on Friday. I was and am sad that it finished with.

6)  Work on a self-help workbook; The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook by Matthew McKay, PhD., Jeffery C. Wood, PSY.D., and Jeffrey Brantley, MD. I did manage to do a few pages.

I am happy that I am able to make goals that are difficult for me and able to accomplish them. Now on to this weeks goals.

1)  Read Speaker of the Dead by Orson Scott Card. This is one of my favorite goals and will be completed when I am done with the book.

2)  Work on jigsaw puzzle. Like I said last week, this puzzle is 1500 pieces and will take a while to do. I love doing puzzles.

3)  Color. Of course I’m going make coloring a goal. I am currently coloring four different projects. I do multiple coloring projects at time so I don’t get frustrated or loose my creativity.

4)  Writing 101: Finding Your Inspiration. I am enjoying this course and will hate to see it end this Friday. It has helped me find inspiration that I didn’t realize I had. I’ve also learned a couple of things that I didn’t know before.

5)  Update my résumé. I am wanting apply for Peer Support Specialist jobs this week.

6)  Work on cover letter. Like goal number five (5), I am wanting to  apply for a Peer Support Specialist job.

7)  Apply for a least one job. There is at least one Peer Support Specialist job that I want to apply to. I will most definitely apply for that job and maybe another one.

8)  Work on a self-help workbook; The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook by Matthew McKay, PhD., Jeffery C. Wood, PSY.D., and Jeffrey Brantley, MD. I am slowly but surely accomplishing this goal. Its always nice to be reminded of skills that I have learned.

9)  See my therapist on Wednesday. I have a scheduled appointment with my therapist this week. We will be discussing weather or not it is a good time to start back up on trauma work.

I may have a lot of goals again this week but I have confidence that I will be able to accomplish them. Like always my weekly goals are part of a blogging event over at: http://greenembe.rs/2015/09/28/building-rome-week-39-for-2015/ Have a great work week and Peace Out.

Now That I Have My Foot In The Door

Posted on by Gertie

As I sit here at my laptop, I can’t help but think about how much I love my current job as a Consumer Aide at local mental health agency. The last year working in my current position has made me realize that I made the right choice in my career change from bagging groceries at grocery store to  being a Consumer Aide at a mental health agency. I have come to the conclusion that I am meant to work in the mental health field.

Knowing that I am meant to be working in the mental health field has me thinking about my current position as a Consumer Aide. If you been following my blog for a while you know that I had applied and interviewed for a number of Peer Support Specialist positions and no job offers till my current position as a Consumer Aide. Part of the reason why I applied, interviewed and accepted my current position is basically I needed to have my foot in the door in regards to having paid employment in the mental health field.

Now that I have my foot in the door and been in my current position for almost thirteen (13) months, I have decided that I am going apply for peer positions. Unfortunately, that means I have to look outside the agency I work for because they don’t have any open peer positions. I am hoping that since I’ve been working in the mental health field for over a year now that I will be able get a peer position.

This coming up week, I will be touching up my résumé and working on cover letters. There is one Peer Specialist I have been looking at for a while now and hope that the agency that posted the job is still looking for a qualified applicant. I hope that it isn’t too late to apply for it.

As much as I don’t want to leave my current position as well as my clients it is best for me to apply for Peer Specialist positions. It is best for me if I want to move up in my career. I also don’t want to leave the agency I work for but unfortunately, there are no Peer Specialist positions open.

As I end this post, cross your fingers for me that everything works out. Have a wonderful Sunday evening. Peace Out!!!

Weekly Goals

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Monday!!! It’s the start of another work week and as always am looking forward to it. This past week I had a number of goals to accomplish. Like always I will share with you how I did with accomplishing them, then share with you this weeks goals. This how did with last weeks goals.

1)  Read Speaker of the Dead by Orson Scott Card. Yes, I did read this week. It was a much need escape from all the difficult work with therapy and trainings I did.

2)  Work on jigsaw puzzle.  I spent time on the puzzle. It was another positive way to do self-care and escape.

3)  Color. I did a great deal of coloring. I colored for the same reasons I read and worked on the jigsaw puzzle.

4)  Writing 101: Finding Your Inspiration. Most definitely accomplished this goal. I do have to say Day Nine’s assignment was quite difficult for me. I am enjoying the course immensely.

5)  Start Blogging 201: Branding and Growth. Yup, I started Blogging 201. Like I expected, I am enjoying it. Cant wait to see what I learn this next week.

6)  Attend Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). I really enjoyed attending the training. It was an intense and tough training to attend but well worth being able to attend.

7)  Work on a self-help workbook; The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook by Matthew McKay, PhD., Jeffery C. Wood, PSY.D., and Jeffrey Brantley, MD. This goal was extremely helpful this week. It helped me remember all this DBT skills I learned in the past and am relearning doing this workbook.

8)  See my psychiatric ARNP today. Yes, I saw my psychiatric nurse practitioner. We discussed how Autumn and Winter are difficult on me in regards to my depression and how we can make sure I don’t need an increase in my anti-depressant unless needed.

9)  See my therapist, Diana, on Friday. Yes, I did see Diana. We discussed how the ASIST training was triggering as well as some intense trauma history stuff. As difficult as it was discussing some of my trauma history with Diana, I felt a sense of relief talking about it. (SIDE NOTE: Diana is a pseudonym for my therapist. It is for the protection of her past, current and future clients as well for her privacy.)

I am really proud of myself for accomplishing my weekly goals for last week. They wear extremely difficult to do, due to not having much time or being emotionally difficult and draining to do them. Now on to this weeks goals.

1)  Read Speaker of the Dead by Orson Scott Card. This is a no brainer. Hopefully, I will be finished with the book soon.

2)  Work on jigsaw puzzle. Another no brainer goal. This particular jigsaw puzzle is 1500 pieces, so it will take some time to finish it.

3)  Color. For me coloring helps me a great deal. It allows me to connect with my inner child.

4)  Writing 101: Finding Your Inspiration. I am really enjoying this course. This course is helping find inspiration in everyday things to blog about.

5)  Blogging 201: Branding and Growth. I am grateful for what I am learning through Blogging 201. It’s hard to believe this is the last week of the two week course. I wish it was longer.

6)  Work on a self-help workbook; The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook by Matthew McKay, PhD., Jeffery C. Wood, PSY.D., and Jeffrey Brantley, MD. As you can tell this is going to be my goal for a while. This will be goal of mine till I am finished the workbook.

My goals for this next week are being kept simple since last weeks goals were emotionally draining. I need to get ready for work but before I go, I want to give a shout out to: http://greenembe.rs/2015/09/21/building-rome-week-38-for-2015/ because I am a part of his weekly blogging event. Have a wonderful work week. Peace out!!

Weekly Goals

Posted on by Gertie

Happy Monday!!! As another work week starts I cant help but think how happy I am with my current career path. A career that has many possibilities and opportunities to grow in. As I think about my career, I really need to focus at the task at hand, my weekly goals. As always, I will start with how I did with last weeks goals.

1)  Read Speaker of the Dead by Orson Scott Card. Of course I read this week. Not as much as I had hoped to but I did read.

2)  Work on jigsaw puzzle. Yup, I did work on my puzzle. Only spent fifteen minutes working on it but that’s okay.

3)  Color. I most definitely colored this week. I think this is the goal that worked the most this week or at least close to it.

4)  Start Writing 101 Finding Your Inspiration. I spent a great deal of time doing this goal this week and loved it. I am enjoying it a great deal and look forward to the next three weeks of this course.

5)  Work on a self-help workbook; The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook by Matthew McKay, PhD., Jeffery C. Wood, PSY.D., and Jeffrey Brantley, MD. I did finish chapter two this week.

I did pretty well on my goals this past week. My goals for next week might be a little more difficult to do and am up for the challenge to work on them. Next weeks goals:

1)  Read Speaker of the Dead by Orson Scott Card. I will need to make sure I take the time to do this goal this week because it is going to be a busy week for me and will be attend a training that most likely will be triggering for me.

2)  Work on jigsaw puzzle. Just like the reading, I will need to make time to do this goal and for the same reasons.

3)  Color. As with both the reading and jigsaw puzzle, I will most likely need to make time for this goal as well and for the same reason of it being a busy week with a training that most likely will be triggering.

4)  Writing 101: Finding Your Inspiration. Three more weeks left of this wonderful course. I look forward to what this weeks assignments are.

5)  Start Blogging 201: Branding and Growth. Blogging 201 start today and is a two week course that goes through till Friday, September 25th. I am looking forward to what I have to learn. Even though I’ve been blogging for close a year and half, I have a lot to learn about blogging.

6)  Attend Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). This is a two day training that cost $300 to attend and am able to attend it for free because of being a Warm Line volunteer. This is the training that was mentioned in other goals that could be triggering for me. It could be triggering but am looking forward to attending it.

7)  Work on a self-help workbook; The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook by Matthew McKay, PhD., Jeffery C. Wood, PSY.D., and Jeffrey Brantley, MD. I will make time for this. It will help me keep focused on my skills this week especially attending a training that has the possibility of being triggering.

8)  See my psychiatric ARNP today. I need to see my psychiatric ARNP today before I go into work. He only works Mondays now so I have to start work late and because of that I will stay at work late. I am okay with going into work late to see the person who prescribes my psych meds. My recovery is important to my career.

9)  See my therapist, Diana, on Friday. Seeing Diana will be a necessary this week due to the training I will be attending this week. I find it kind of cool starting the work week is starting off on a recovery note as well as ending on a recovering note.

This weeks goals are going to be difficult to do because have how many there are as well as how busy I am going to be. I am looking forward to the challenge. I have confidence that I will be able to accomplish all of my goals this week. I will end this post for now because I need to ready for my appointment and work. Like I have said before I am happy to be apart of this blogging event over at: http://greenembe.rs/2015/09/14/building-rome-week-37-for-2015/  Have a good week. Peace Out!!

Daily Prompt: First

Posted on by Gertie

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “First!.” Tell us about your first day at something — your first day of school, first day of work, first day living on your own, first day blogging, first day as a parent, whatever.

Since today is my one year anniversary at my current employer, I thought I would do this particular daily prompt about my first day on the job. I remember my first day at my current job like it was only yesterday. My first day at my current job included two orientations. Yes, two. My first orientation was at the main office of the agency I work for. That was the Human Resource (HR) orientation where we were told about the mission and vision statements as well as Union information. We also went over the polies and procedures and got our picture taken for our badge. (SIDE NOTE: I really don’t like having my picture taken but was able to deal with it.)

After my Human Resource (HR) orientation, I went to my job site. There I had my on the job training. I met some of my co-workers that I would be working with on the everyday basis as well as meeting a handful of residents (clients). I was nervous as hell for this particular part of my day. I was worried that I wouldn’t fit in with my co-workers. Granted, I am still trying to fit but at this point in time it is because of the combination of a lot of new staff and my lack of self confidence. For the most part the clients like me. I have two out of forty-one clients that don’t like me at the moment and I am okay with that. I am also okay with the fact that I am not going to be liked by all my co-workers but it is nice to be liked.  Anyway I have gotten off track. My supervisor at that time basically told me what my job duties were and what was expected of me. It wasn’t till my second week on the job where I was in the full swing of thing and the daily functions on what my job entailed.

As I mention in the last paragraph about my co-workers. Most of them do enjoy working with me. Most of us do try to hang out once to twice a month. It is always nice to get included on outside activities with my co-workers. I lack self-confidence and am working on it.

Over the last year I have made my job as a Consumer Aide into my job. My current boss is thrilled with the fact that I have made my job it into my own. As time continues, I hope that I can set the Consumer Aide position to a higher standard. I say this because once I get my annual review (in the next week or two), I will be applying for jobs as peer support specialist within the agency I work for as well as peer jobs at other mental health agencies.

With all that being said I am beyond grateful that I have the job I do. I love my job more today, year later, than I did on that very first day. In fact I love it more and more each day.

Now that I have told you about my first day at my current job, I am going to end this post. I do have to get to the job I love with all my heart. Have a good day at work everyone and peace out!!

Trainings, Work, Volunteering & Other Related Stuff

Posted on by Gertie

Good morning everyone!! Yes, It is still morning in my neck of the woods. I am looking forward to this afternoon. I am going to a training about youth specific suicide prevention. The best part of this training is that it is being offered by the Crisis Clinic and I am able to attend for free because I am a Warm Line volunteer. (Side Note: The Warm Line is under the umbrella of the Crisis Clinic.) Being able to attend training for free at the Crisis Clinic is one of the many awesome benefits I have for being a Warm Line Volunteer. I love being able to attend the various trainings because it helps me learn new skills that I not only need for my volunteer jobs but my career. It also looks good on the résumé.

Speaking of careers and résumés, I am going to be working on my résumé tomorrow. I have to update it with a couple of things including my volunteer job at the young adult shelter and the training I am going to today. I am updating my résumé  because once my one year anniversary is up at work, I am going to apply to peer specialist positions. Like I have said in previous post, I applied and accepted my current position as a Consumer Aide to get my foot in the door. Yes, I will be applying within the agency I work for but there is only one position posted at this point in time and it is not a guarantee that it wont be already filled when my year is up. I am hoping it will still be up so I can apply for it. I will also be applying at other mental health agencies. No need to be picky on where I apply at this particular time in my career because I am just starting out in the whole grand scheme of things.

I am looking at the time and realize I need to cut this post short. I need to cut it short because of the training I am attending this afternoon. I have to take the bus and am planning on eating lunch near by the training before it starts. I hope to blog about the training later on today. Have a wonderful day everyone. Peace out!!!