Let me introduce myself. My name is Rachel and I’m here to teach you about employment. My “day job” is as an occupational social worker for Goodwill Industries. I teach classes that help people learn the skills they need to get employed. On a daily basis I help people write resumes, practice interviewing techniques and pursue employment. I am excited about the world of job seeking because it has such a large impact on people’s lives. In my work, as well as in my personal experience, I have seen that a job can make or break your quality of life. If you’re not working or if you’re stuck in a job that you hate, then the rest of your life suffers as a result. A bad work situation can filter down into your family life, your relationships and can even impact your sense of self worth.
Since we’re hopefully going to be spending a lot of time together, let me give you a quick idea of who I am when I’m not at work or writing this blog. I live in Lubbock, TX with my husband, Scott. We’ve been married four and a half years and we are working on building our family through the adoption of a baby from Guatemala. Our son-to-be is Erick and we hope to travel to pick him up in April 2006. In my free time (what there is of it) I enjoy reading and watching movies. I also like to bake and make the best chocolate chip cookies anywhere!
So, that’s a little about me. The main thing I want you to know, though, is that this blog is supposed to be about you. I have lots of topics planned – applications, resumes, job seeking, interviews, on-the-job challenges – but I also want to include what YOU want to know. Please feel free to PM me to ask questions or to suggest topics for the blog. Hopefully I can translate your ideas into beneficial blog entries and your feedback will make sure that this blog is relevant to the challenges that you face in your own life when it comes to employment.