August 04, 2020

A Leap of Faith

Hello sweeties,

so...this post wasn't on my schedule. Shocking, I know. But some stuff has come up lately (I'm not talking about the New Blogger averted disaster, which will probably call for its own post in the near future...for a couple of days, I was genuinely convinced I would lose half my contents 😱), and I've been pondering, and...I've come to a decision about such stuff.

You will probably have noticed that, while I'm posting an impromptu article, I skipped this month's installment of Tooting Your Trumpet, and for that I beg your pardon. My head has been all over the place for a few weeks now - not to mention, on July 1st I went back to my regular working hours, which resulted in reading/posting/commenting after dinner and during the weekend once again. For the record: I do have three reviews coming this month - a backlist book and two NetGalley ones - because I was ahead of my schedule, but now I think I finally managed to fit back into my old blogging habits, after 3 months of working only 2 days a week. (Ha! Who am I fooling - I'm still struggling to make things works and I always will). Anyway, here's the thing I've been racking my head about lately, and if I post it here I'm more likely to commit to it...

...I'm going to start studying for a public examination that will be hold two years from now (or maybe one), regarding a job at my town hall 😱.


Remember how I wanted to do the same thing two years ago, only I got intimidated by the subjects? After a thorough research, I learned that, for any kind of position in the local municipality - from "simple" administrative assistant, to administrative director, ending with administrative manager - most of those subjects are mandatory. Now, the 2018 examination was for a higher position than the one I was aiming for, and as I said, the subjects scared me. But I still had my sight set on the administrative assistant office, and I finally read on the municipal notice board that they plan on hiring 3 administrative directors (the position that scared me 2 years ago) in 2021, and 3 administrative assistants in 2022. So I made inquiries, and found out that the latter will be employed in the "social policies" and "culture and tourism" departments, which at least sound more accessible than others because they SHOULDN'T involve financial literacy? I think? And one of the 2021 administrative directors will get a seat in the "culture and tourism" department as well, so the specific subjects should overlap, at least to an extent...which means that the competition announcement should give me a head-start for the 2022 administrative assistant examination (unless I go mad and decide to try the 2021 administrative director examination as well, just to see how it's like...because HAHA! me? "directing" people? what a colossal joke).


Anyhow...I think you're confused now. The gist of it is - some job opportunities are coming up in my municipality, and while the 2021 ones are probably out of my league for more than one reason, the 2022 ones MIGHT be doable. Mind you, I'm still scared, because law stuff goes over my head. And even if I should take the examination and win, the working hours are brutal (6 hours and 40 minutes a day on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings; 8 hours and 20 minutes on Wednesdays, because you also have a PM shift). So, I still hope that a part-time job shows up, one that involves more than my current 15 working hours a week and pays better...but in the meantime...I have to do SOMETHING. At least I'll have two years to prepare, for goodness' sake. Though, mind you...I, the queen of spreadsheets, don't have a clue how to schedule THIS. The last time I had to study was 26 years ago - and law wasn't on the menu. But I'm running out of options at this point.

Only...in his case, a very good "it" happens 🤷‍♀️

So, basically..I'm going to give it a try. And did I mention I'm scared? And angry at myself, because I shouldn't have to do this at 54, and it's all my fault. Anyhow, I have no choice but to woman up. I'll let you know how my study plan goes (mind you...I'm not planning on starting until later, October I think. I can't concentrate in this heat, and I want to be ahead of my blog schedule before I start). Please send positive energy my way, because never have I ever needed it more (and while you're at it, please send me good luck vibes for a less demanding job to cross my path...). Thank you in advance! 💚 😘 💛

26 comments:

  1. Wow, what an exciting step!! I’ll be wishing you the best luck with it all and cheering you on!!

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  2. This is exciting. Good luck with your studying. I know you can do it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, I wish I knew too! 😉 Thank you.

      Delete
  3. I have no idea what job you are testing for, anything involves law and finance is way over my head, but I hope you get it. Perhaps you can write yourself little notes of encouragement or do something for yourself that would make you happy. I think if you are happy, you are more likely to face the task you are not so eager to tackle.

    Good luck with the studies and the test and everything. You can do it!

    Have a lovely day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Basically, the examination will be for an office job at the local municipality, either in the Social Policies or Culture and Tourism department, and...I don't really know what the tasks at hand will be LOL. Anyhow, among the required subjects for ANY public examination there are general ordinances about public administration, the code of conduct for administrative workers, the handling of personal datas, and provisions concerning administrative documentation. Finance knowledge shouldn't be required for the position I'm aiming at (in that case, they would look for a specific diploma/degree, that I don't have).

      And thank you, I'll try your method when the time comes. Thank you for the encouragement too!

      Delete
  4. Roberta that is soo exciting! You've definitely got this, it'll just be a change in your regular routine. I don't know why, but I've always found studying exciting. Like a challenge or something.

    Anywho, I'm rooting for you from my corner of the world!

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    Replies
    1. Exciting? More like terrifying LOL. And I'll have to figure that new routine out. But it helps that my internet friends are rooting! 🙂

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  5. Taking big leaps can often be scary. But they are always worth a shot. I commend you for working hard and taking this risk. No matter how young or old, everyone can make big changes. Good luck, Roberta!

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    1. "No matter how young or old, everyone can make big changes."
      I needed the reminder. Thank you!

      Delete
  6. Good luck! Definitely sending lots of good vibes your way- sounds like exciting possibilities!!! Hope it all works out. And be well!

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    Replies
    1. Why are you all so excited...I'm scared beyond myself LOL.
      Thank you!

      Delete
  7. You can decide to try new things at any age, lovely. You've totally got this! It's awesome you're giving yourself so much time to prepare. Whether the job opportunity works out or not, you're learning new things and pushing your boundaries, and that's great. Sending you lots of luck! 💛

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    1. I'm not so keen on learning new things, I'll have to admit...not of this kind. Law stuff is so arid. And the worst thing is, I don't "want" that kind of job, because it would swallow my life with its brutal schedule. But I have to try something, because money's a joke right now, and my current job isn't very secure anymore anyway after the Covid debacle. Thank you hon!

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  8. This is exciting! I think it's great you're gonna try for this. *Sends positive vibes* Though I can understand why it's scary. But you've got some time, and I feel like, once you take first steps and get the ball rolling, it gets easier. Good luck :-)

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    1. "once you take first steps and get the ball rolling, it gets easier."
      I hope it will! Thank you 😘.

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  9. You got this! Good luck and I hope the studying goes well.

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    1. Thank you! I plan on starting in October, and I'll record my progresses on here and/or on Twitter.

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  10. Aw you GOT THIS! It is okay to be scared, new things can be scary, but you'd likely regret it if you didn't at least try, right? And I KNOW you can do it! It sounds like it would be awesome, and you seem really excited about it, and we'll all be here cheering you on!

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    1. I sound excited? Are you sure? Because I'd do anything not to have to do this, and instead get a quiet part-time job (with more than my current hours involved) that doesn't involve studying laws or taking examinations! But as you said, I'd regret it if I didn't try. It's not like I have many options left. So, starting in October, studying it is!

      Keep cheering please! Thank you 😉.

      Delete
  11. You've got this! You re-read books before reviewing them, so I know your dedicated! Just treat your classes the same way. ;)

    Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬

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    1. LOL - books aren't exactly like law stuff, are they? 😉 But here's an idea! Thanks!

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  12. I know how much you want this and I think it will go a long way in keeping you motivated and conquering it like a champ!!

    You know you always have my good vibes coming in your direction.

    It really is scary to undertake new things at our age.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. You know...to be honest, I don't "want" this at all, but I have to try because there are so few roads still open for people my (our) age, and because I can't keep with my current situation anymore - financially and on a personal level. And yes, I know your vibes are always coming my way 😘.

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  13. I'm so late to commenting - and nearly didn't come here, because I've already read this post and thought I commented, but alas, no. Anyhow, I'm wishing you *all* the luck, and please don't be daunted! I'm bringing this story up because it might encourage you a bit (I hope so, at least.) Here it goes - my mom's workplace is pretty good about supporting the education of its workers, and they've paid courses and university costs for multiple people in the past few years. Some of them were freshly out of uni, wanting to start a new course or continue their studies, but there were multiple people around and above 50 who haven't studied in ages, and they also graduated successfully. One of the women graduated with honors and was invited to present her dissertation at a conference.

    So, even though your studies don't involve university, I think this still shows that people of all ages can still start a course or study for something and succeed. I hope this helps a bit and doesn't make your worries worse somehow! Best of luck, and feel free to DM me if you are struggling and want to rant. (Can't actually help you, sadly, but just ranting can be helpful, I think.)

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    1. That's an encouraging story! (and you mom's workplace sounds awesome BTW). Of course, I have a set of problems of my own at home, so I'm not looking forward to studying in my free time (and blogging less!), plus the subjects are keeping me at an arm's length LOL. But I need to try this. Right now, I'm waiting to have a good start on my blogging for the rest of the year (I'm getting there), and of course I'm ALSO waiting for the weather to cool because I'm suffering enough as it is at the moment 😓 😂. But I'm planning on starting in October. And if I ever need to rant, I'll take up on your offer 😘 - maybe you can even give me tips on how to organise my studies, after all these years 😭.

      Delete

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