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lynn09 · Oct 06, 2009, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zen888

Thank-you so much for all your advice and words of wisdom!

I don't want to come across as rude or pushy but no one answered my concerns regarding the criminal record check and the child welfare check. If somone could go read it and share their thoughts I would greatly appreciate it.

(((Zen))), Sweetie - Catherine 2, mlpHolmes, Berries, I, and everyone else have all said it - RELAX! Understand what is happening here; your anxiety is being triggered by the interviews, criminal record check, and the child welfare check - all three of these make you feel like you are being examined under a microscope for the tiniest flaw that would reduce your value and worth as a human being. If there were anything "bad" in either of the background checks, you would already know about it. What you really want those reports for is to make certain that they are accurate - that information regarding some other person has not been accidentally applied to your history - just like checking your credit report. You are not going to be "interrogated" - you are simply requesting the printouts. Make certain that you retain copies of these reports for yourself - and if there are any discrepancies in those reports, get them corrected.

As for the interviews, don't feel that you have to launch into detailed explanations of every facet of your life - just answer the interviewers' questions as honestly and briefly as possible - don't let your anxiety push you into "explaining" or "defending" yourself - you have nothing to explain or defend - you do not have to justify yourself - you are not on trial.

You are an educated, trained, and experienced childcare professional. Sit down with yourself and pretend that you are the one interviewing someone for a position at YOUR childcare facility (maybe do this in front of a mirror). YOU become the employer - how would you conduct yourself as the interviewer? What would you want to hear from and see in the individual you are interviewing for the position? The only thing you would be interested in knowing is whether or not the applicant is qualified for the position and has provided all the necessary paperwork.

I worked in Human Resources for many years - for the most part, employers aren't interested in hearing a bunch of "gossip" from previous employers about prospective employees because they realize that just because things didn't work out for an employee in a particular position for whatever reason, that doesn't mean they won't be a good "fit" for the new employer - all the new employer wants to know is if you provided accurate information regarding your dates of employement, duties, salary, attendance, etc. If you had absences or had to leave a position due to medical reasons for which you have since received treatment, then those matters are no longer relevant. Employers know that employees have medical problems - all they want to know is that whatever those problems are or were, they are not going to prevent you from fulfilling your duties in the new position.

Again, regarding the CPR training - it is TRAINING. You are not there to be "judged" - it is required training for your position just like any other part of your childcare education and training. They do not expect you to be a "paramedic" - they just want you to know the basics and be able to handle such an emergency should it arise - not just for the children in your care - but for your co-workers, as well.

You are allowing your anxiety to control your perception and thought processes - it is a petulant child - and, of course, anxiety always paints the darkest picture imagineable - always sees the worst-case scenario. Tell your anxiety to go sit in the corner and take a time out! You are an intelligent, educated, trained, capable, loving, and caring person, (((Zen))) - do not allow your anxiety to tell you otherwise because it lies. Hang in there - you're going to get through this just fine, and we will be here to support you.