I think I made an error in judgement

[Home'scool]

I have been applying for jobs closer to home but have not had any results yet. I saw a job posting for a school secretary. I have the experience they are looking for and it would only be 15 minutes away instead of 45.

Twice in the job listing it listed "sense of humor" in the requirements. It was definitely a prominent requirement. So when I was doing my cover letter I thought I would take a chance and inject some humor.

In the opening paragraph of the cover letter I wrote this:

"I am interested applying for the job of Office Secretary. I am very excited about this job opening as I believe my experience as an Administrative Assistant along with my personality make me a great fit for this job. At least, I think I am funny. My kids …. not so much!"

I don't know...... I was feeling confident that day and thought that perhaps this would make me stand out for the other applicants. But so far I have not heard anything back. So now I am second-guessing myself. I come from the old--school teachings of how to format a cover letter and resume, but everything I have read talks about ramping it up with personality and how today's world is not so formal when applying for jobs. 

ugh. So much for trying to be hip haha

 

[Bambam]

I wouldn't sorry after one day - they are still collecting paperwork and will probably sit down sometime later and look at all together. 
Any mom reading it would appreciate that statement!

 

[Carol in Cal.]

If it’s a public school job, the government IME takes forever to get back to people.

[itsheresomewhere]

I would have thought-  someone actually read the ad.  
 

Schools often take longer so I am not surprised at not hearing from them yet.  

[catz]

Those type of jobs take a long to process apps, schedule interviews, etc.  Plus sometimes they post a listing when they already have someone particular in mind.  I thought that was cute and really, if shouldn't affect your chances. I'd be very interested in a job that listed sense of humor as a requirement.  Hopefully fares well for a fun work environment.  🙂  Good luck, but don't sweat it if that one doesn't work out.  

[Jaybee]

Aw, I think you are overthinking it. Seems harmless to me. Really, there are so many ways people can read cover letters that it would be almost impossible to provide the exact tone in them to please everybody. You showed light humor that reflects your personality, but it certainly wasn't over the top or anything, so I wouldn't worry about it. 

[Suzanne in ABQ]

I wouldn't worry. It's not like you placed an actual joke in the middle of your cover letter. You made reference to the job description, and you added a bit of your personality in a relatable way.

I know waiting is hard enough, and it would be even if you had played it safe. Try not to fret about it.  {{hugs}}

[Katy]

I think you did great.  I've never worked for a school but every time I applied for a nursing job with government it took them 6 months to call me for an interview.  If they're looking now for a fall hire it might be several months before you hear anything even if they love you.

[EKS]

I agree with the others that they are probably still getting organized.

That said, it's possible that they didn't mean sense of humor in the sense that they want you to be humorous, but, rather that the job requires a sense of humor because otherwise it would be an awful experience.

[Farrar]

Agreed with all of the above about how they're probably just getting organized. Putting out there a very small joke is a mild risk, but that's what gets you noticed too. I think it was a worthwhile risk.

[Ottakee]

I agree with others that it can take forever for some to get back to you.  I applied for my job in April and got called the end of August...and started a week later.

A friend inserted some humor/personality in her cover letter for a job that listed that as a requirement and she got the job 

[Slache]

It's perfect. Don't stress.

[Dainty]

If that turns them off, then they are probably a little to formal for you anyways!  Good luck, I really think it's just to soon to have heard back as well.

[Hyacinth]

I like it. The point of a cover letter is to convey a bit of your personality, and you did that well. 

[Home'scool]

Well, I must not have insulted them too much ..... I have an interview next week!

So, can anyone give any insight on working for a school system? This position is for the secretary at the main office in the middle school. In reading their handbook I had some questions:

1. I think I will have to join a union? How much are dues usually?
2. Under vacation it says that I will get 2 vacation days a year. The work year is 220 days. How does that work? Do I have the summer off and then 2 additional days? 

What don't I know .... fill me in. I have never worked in a union or for a school. Educate me!

[Scarlett]

Wow this is exciting news!  Is this the job that would be really close to your home?  Is the pay enough you can get by on 220 days a year of work?  That would be sweet!  I have always thought that would be a good job.  

[Home'scool]

It is about 15 minutes from home vs 50 minutes now. I love the idea of the summer off but I have no idea how it would all work. 

[Kanin]

If you could afford summers off, I think it would be a fantastic situation!! Congrats!

[QueenCat]

1 hour ago, Home'scool said:

Well, I must not have insulted them too much ..... I have an interview next week!

So, can anyone give any insight on working for a school system? This position is for the secretary at the main office in the middle school. In reading their handbook I had some questions:

1. I think I will have to join a union? How much are dues usually?
2. Under vacation it says that I will get 2 vacation days a year. The work year is 220 days. How does that work? Do I have the summer off and then 2 additional days? 

What don't I know .... fill me in. I have never worked in a union or for a school. Educate me!

 

Standard school year is 180 days, so with 220 days, you would not have whole the summer off. 220 days equals out to 44 weeks (kids equals out to 36 weeks). You will probably have 2 weeks at Christmas, 1 week in the spring, and a smidgen of days that might make up another week. You would probably end up working 5ish weeks in the summer. And that is not likely to be negotiable. The week or two after school gets out, and a few weeks before school starts are very busy weeks at a school.

Edited February 20, 2020 by QueenCat

[Scarlett]

3 minutes ago, QueenCat said:

 

Standard school year is 180 days, so with 220 days, you would not have the summer off. Maybe a couple of weeks...

But a year is 365 days long.  That is 145 days of not working.....but I don't know how it all works either.

[QueenCat]

1 minute ago, Scarlett said:

But a year is 365 days long.  That is 145 days of not working.....but I don't know how it all works either.

 

I just updated my post. Don't forget that there are 104 weekend days and some holidays in that 145 days. 

[Scarlett]

Just now, QueenCat said:

 

I just updated my post. Don't forget that there are 104 weekend days and some holidays in that 145 days. 

LOL....I did forget that.  

[Selkie]

1 hour ago, Home'scool said:

It is about 15 minutes from home vs 50 minutes now. I love the idea of the summer off but I have no idea how it would all work. 

Good luck with the interview!

A friend of mine works in a school office and she doesn't get summers off, because the office stays pretty busy even when school isn't in session.

[TheReader]

One thing you may ask about is whether you will have the option to receive your pay divided into the 10 months that you are actually working (or however many months) vs divided equally over all 12 months of the year so that you still receive a paycheck during the summer month(s) that you are not actually working. I know that some schools offer this, but don't know if it's an automatic, a choice, something they bring up, something you have to ask for, etc. 

I would see if you can access an online school calendar for the students/families and identify which breaks have "teacher workdays" in them (or staff workdays, etc.) so you get a feel for when your breaks will be that don't count as vacation time (I'd assume, but certainly ask to be sure, that the 2 "vacation days" per year means 2 days you can take off for things you need, that aren't already scheduled days off for the staff of the school. So, Christmas break is Christmas break....but say you want to take off the Monday after Easter for some reason, you can use your vacation day for that (just as an example, and I'm purely guessing). 

Congrats on getting the interview!  It sounds fun!

[QueenCat]

38 minutes ago, TheReader said:

One thing you may ask about is whether you will have the option to receive your pay divided into the 10 months that you are actually working (or however many months) vs divided equally over all 12 months of the year so that you still receive a paycheck during the summer month(s) that you are not actually working. I know that some schools offer this, but don't know if it's an automatic, a choice, something they bring up, something you have to ask for, etc. 

I would see if you can access an online school calendar for the students/families and identify which breaks have "teacher workdays" in them (or staff workdays, etc.) so you get a feel for when your breaks will be that don't count as vacation time (I'd assume, but certainly ask to be sure, that the 2 "vacation days" per year means 2 days you can take off for things you need, that aren't already scheduled days off for the staff of the school. So, Christmas break is Christmas break....but say you want to take off the Monday after Easter for some reason, you can use your vacation day for that (just as an example, and I'm purely guessing). 

Congrats on getting the interview!  It sounds fun!

 

As a school secretary, she'll likely be working those teacher workdays. At least in the school systems around here.

[Ausmumof3]

Well done!

lol my worst application stuff up was addressing Mr Orchard as Mr Orchid.  Needless to say I didn’t hear back!

[Ottakee]

Likely the 2 days are 2 personal days in addition to your sick days and days that are not scheduled.

[Ottakee]

1 hour ago, CuriousMomof3 said:

People often ask why teachers and other school employees need vacation days when they have so many days off already, but the reality is that most people will find within the course of a year that something comes up where they need a few hours off that don't count as sick or bereavement or FMLA.  

Examples of things I've taken a vacation for

-- adoption homestudy

-- closing on a home

-- taking the dog to the vet for an emergency

-- family member's high school graduation

-- broken pipe flooding the house

None of these things could wait till spring break.  

 

 

Exactly.  Or an out of town wedding, etc.

I honestly hope to use one my personal days for heading north this spring and hiking with a friend.  Her schedule doesn't allow for weekend hikes so I will take a Monday to go.

Since it will be in May though I will know that I do didn't need to use those days for something else earlier in the school year.

School schedules are great for extra days off but they are NOT flexible at all.  Almost never can you take the day off before spring break or the day after memorial day off, etc.  

I get paid 20 pays....2 per month...for the year.  That means I need to budget well so I have money in the summer.  Also some pays are only 3-4 days and others are 16-17 days just depending on how the holidays falls

 

[Tap]

7 hours ago, QueenCat said:

 

Standard school year is 180 days, so with 220 days, you would not have whole the summer off. 220 days equals out to 44 weeks (kids equals out to 36 weeks). You will probably have 2 weeks at Christmas, 1 week in the spring, and a smidgen of days that might make up another week. You would probably end up working 5ish weeks in the summer. And that is not likely to be negotiable. The week or two after school gets out, and a few weeks before school starts are very busy weeks at a school.

I used to work for the school district. This is on par with what I would expect.  Some office staff worked all summer, but very few. (Typically in district offices to accommodate student transfers, new school or college request for records, questions and employees immediate needs).  Most office staff in the actual schools worked 5 weeks or so in the summer, split between the end of year and beginning of new year.  A few minor employees only worked on student days, and had the same summer vacation as the students plus a couple of days to wrap up tasks related to their position or training. 

This position sounds like the middle option. The extra 2 days are so you can take a couple personal days in the school year as you wish.  

[Reefgazer]

I don't think you made fatal error, but in the future, I would just stick to the standard formal cover letter and let humor come across as anecdotes or examples in the interview.  Humor and tone come across better in person.

[Mothersweets]

I'm so excited for you! I know you'll do great in the interview! 

[Ali in OR]

In the high school where I work, the secretary and administrative staff work most of June and all of August but have the month of July off. I bet your schedule would be similar.

[Alicia64]

Based on your post, I was prepared for a cring-y "maybe you went too far" sort of letter, but your letter is cute. Nothing to be concerned about at all.

I think injecting some personality into a cover letter is a kindness given how many bland cover letters they have to wade through!

Alley

[ThisIsTheDay]

Yay, congratulations on getting called for an interview!

I work for a county government. It is only possible to apply online via an application, and you can submit a cover letter and resume in addition. I've had the privilege of reviewing applications for two different job postings. The person who gave me that duty only printed out the applications--no cover letter, no resume. Those were not considered, not seen at any point during the application/interview/hiring process.

I think it's crazy, but no one asked for my opinion.