I have a job . . . for five days

I headed up to my advisor’s office this afternoon to pick her brain about undergraduate research. She was the only one there and we talked for a bit. Not too long after my arrival...

LINDA: What’s your job?

ME: I...don’t have one.

LINDA: Well then I have a job for you. It’s only a week and it pays ten bucks an hour, but we’re looking for students who can help with the math refresher course.

Of course, I was interested! She said that I can come in on Monday to get signed up for payroll and that she’ll give me a spot.

I took the math refresher course the week before spring semester started this year and it was very helpful. It’s for students who have been away from math for a while and need a reboot. It’s five hours a day for five days toward the end of August, which is a lot more than I have right now in terms of employment. And it’s math experience, which is a plus in any form. And it’ll pay for the new tires I bought at Sam’s Club today, so I’m all for it.

Basically, I'll help the professor during class when he or she takes breaks for students to work on sample exercises. I'm supposed to make myself available to answer questions and work out problems with people.

Probably the most casual job interview ever

The interview for the math-and-stats peer advisor position went well. I think the second question they asked me was "What kind of music do you like?", which turned into a discussion about what kind of music was best. And that's pretty much how we spent the entire 50 minutes.

There were five of them—Linda, three peer advisors, and one former peer advisor. Maybe half of the questions were personal and the others were about what I can handle job-wise. (Like, "How would you handle a very angry student?". I said something like, "The best thing to do with an angry person is to treat them with kindness. Ignore the anger and proceed with courtesy.") They were very relaxed, very friendly, and they all love their jobs. They spoke highly of the reward of seeing a student succeed in math and stats classes, of seeing the happiness they feel in getting through a subject that is so stressful for so many people.

They ended by asking me about my wife and son, and they wanted to see some pictures. The peer advisor who is being replaced was especially interested in pictures of Rich because she is pregnant right now. It was a very fun interview, they are all very fun people, and I look forward to hearing about their decision on Monday.

Somehow, I now have a job interview on April 5

So I wake up this morning and find a voicemail from Linda Skabelund, my advisor. She asked me to giver her a call on her cell phone and made the point that I should call back today.

LINDA: Hey, what're you doing?

ME: Just about to swaddle the baby!

LINDA: You're going to see an email soon about working as a peer advisor in my office. I don't know if you're interested, but it can be kind of intense. Angry parents, four-year plans, lots of laughter. You've been in here before, so you know what it's like.

ME: Yes. It seems like a...generally happy environment.

LINDA: Yes. And the email will say something about math ed majors, but you can apply if you think it's something you'd like to do. Just respond to the email and we'll set up an interview.

ME: I am definitely interested, so I will respond to the email.

LINDA: I know you said you were laid off recently and I know you're trying to take care of your family, so I want to take care of you.

ME: I really appreciate that! Thank you very much.

LINDA: Okay. And give that baby a hug for me.

I have never—repeat, NEVER—had an advisor who cares this much about her students. I'm still in shock that she called me personally to encourage me to apply for a position.

More flames, please

Calculus let out early, so I headed back to Lund Hall to talk with the math department about employment. Linda Skabelund, my advisor, had another student show me down the hall to talk to someone about getting on the list of graders for fall semester. It turns out that the list is probably not very long and I probably will have a good chance at being a grader, especially because math and stats majors are preferred over others. The only requirement is that I get an A- or better in the class I want to grade for. And then if I’m chosen, the professor and I arrange how it all works out. That’s in the fall, so it doesn’t solve my employment problem right away.

But I did tell Janice about my unemployment this morning, and another grad student overheard me. She said that a woman emailed her about tutoring a high school algebra student, and she said she'd respond with my contact info. We got on USU's website and she showed me how to sign up as a tutor. She said she had about three students, at $10 an hour (a standard rate), when she tutored. So...at least I have a few irons in the fire.