Back to the UCSF job hunt

I am going back to the UCSF job hunt. I applied for a couple positions a couple weeks ago, and thought it was about time to follow up. So it seems one of the positions was removed, which means it was either filled or abandoned. Another position seems to still be open.

I talked with Kerry (sp?) at HR at UCSF last week, and he said there was no way for a candidate to find out if one passed the HR screening, and were sent for consideration to the department.  He indicated that following up with the HR in the department or the hiring manager would not be inappropriate, just not a practice they will comment on or recommend. Since it worked for me in the past (twice – see below), I am not shy about doing it again.

The position I applied for is a Course Administrator for the Foundations of Patient Care. I called the HR manager in the department. To her credit, she was very forthcoming. I learned the following from her:
1. The department is not supposed to talk to candidates not referred by HR. More on that below.
2. The hiring managers for this position have rejected candidates who were deemed qualified because they are looking specifically for someone who has experience working with medical students.
3. An HR manager in a department can look up one’s resume in their system.

My issue with the first item is that I applied through HR for both positions which I held at UC – one at UCSF which I held for 4 years and the other at Cal where I spent 13 months and discovered a method to cut operating costs in half – and in both cases it was the cover letter and resume that I sent directly to the hiring managers – which was identical to the one I sent to the HR department – that got me an interview, and ultimately hired.

My issue with the second item is that to me this indicates that the job description does not accurately reflect the requirements. I acknowledge that, although I have transferable skills, my lack of experience specifically with medical students probably disqualifies me from this position. However, there was no way for me to know that without calling the HR manager.

Since I have not figured out how to revise a cover letter and resume once submitted (it is not obvious) I think I will do better revising my system.  My new approach will be to first draft a cover letter and resume.  Then contact someone involved in the hiring; revise my cover letter and resume to address the unwritten qualifications (in addition to those posted) and then submit them through HR.  Then I will follow up again to see if I passed the HR screening.

Wish me luck!

Updates

Well, I spent over an hour with a local ILSP social worker yesterday, and about an hour with the Executive Director of Foster Club today on the phone.

I knew that the biggest unknown for me are the youth, what they want, what they think they need and how to attract them to participate.  These two conversations went to the heart of this question.  The bottom line is that youth are sensitive to what exactly is being offered, and if they met someone once they are already considered more familiar than if they haven’t.

I will welcome the opportunity to gather some information, but I think I will have to do that concurrently with just trying something.

One strong possibility would be to hold group events.  These will be a little more difficult logistically, but will be safer (since we don’t want to ask our volunteers for background checks up front), and it will give youth and adults an opportunity to meet multiple people. The possibility of tapping into existing meetings – Rotary Clubs, churches, etc. – will provide an easy way to start.  These could be recurrent meetings, and would allow for multiple chances to meet the same people, and getting to know each other.

So I have already contacted someone about Rotary.  I am concerned about class being a barrier to youth, and therefore want to go through Concord Rotary or possibly Martinez, and not Lamorinda or San Ramon-Danville.

Wish me luck!

Slowly but surely…

Things are progressing slowly.  I have talked to the head of the ILSP (Independent Living Skills Program) in Contra Costa County twice now, and it seems that I will be giving a class there eventually.  First I need to go through the bureaucratic hoops – namely get fingerprinted – which should happen tomorrow.

The fact that all the supportive adults in the lives of youth in foster care are assigned, rather than giving the youth a say in whether they enjoy the company of the adult, always bothered me.  When I was young I was at a boarding school for a year, and had a very uncomfortable relationship with a teacher who liked me.  She hosted me, but I didn’t feel any connection to her or her family.  This did not achieve the result of making me feel connected, just the opposite.

In the mean time my program concept has matured a little, and my current vision is to enlist volunteers (supportive adults) who will share their hobbies, volunteer and vocational activities with young adults.  I am in the process of contacting emancipated foster youth (young adults) who are interested in gaining more experience with hobbies, volunteer and vocational efforts, and help them find interesting opportunities within my database of volunteers.  This will allow the young adults to gain experience with a variety of activities, leading them to pursue hobbies, volunteer activities or vocations they are currently not familiar with; and give them an opportunity to interact with supportive adults and develop common interests, or just an emotional tie.

I am disturbed by the reality I am encountering.  Trying to define what the areas of priority are, it seems all the endeavors I describe – identifying and developing support networks, experiencing healthy hobbies, and identifying vocational and recreational opportunities – are all equally important.  I have spoken with at least 5 people who are intimately involved in the daily work with these young adults, and still cannot nail down one to focus on.  I am not sure why I am surprised – maybe because I am encountering wonderful, competent, caring people working in this field, and yet the lack of resources and energy to implement these efforts leaves gaping holes in the youth’s experience.  These are highly beneficial but non-essential.  And I am encouraged by their agreement that if I succeed I will have done something very worthwhile.

In the mean time I start an 8-week gig with Census 2010 on Friday, and am in the process of applying for two paid positions with an organization that serves emancipated foster youth.

Until next time, enjoy!

Welcome to Seri’s eclectic blog!

Welcome to my blog.  I am establishing it to describe my travels as I try to help emancipating foster youth, find gainful employment, and do fun and interesting things.  Stay tuned!