Onboarded in Current Events

It’s not on paper but I am hired. I thought I was having an interview with the programs coordinator but it was an orientation. Just the two of us. It was not communicated to me that it was an orientation. I haven’t received any offer letters but I am pretending to understand the process. He is also onboarding a part-timer and wants us to start at the same time so that we can train together. His program is completely void of any personnel. They are only restarting and their last mentor was offboarded while he was on holiday last week. He disclosed that it was because he was unreliable. (his punctuality was an issue he explained)

It’s a little building, only one floor. It somehow has a lot of rooms. I am sharing an office with somebody. That part blows my mind. I have an office space. I will not turn it into a plant jungle I will not turn it into a plant jungle I will not turn it into a plant jungle. There are a lot of activities to do there with the kids. I’ll be working with boys 12 and under. The program only has 5 kids right now. They want to build it back up to 20.

He described what it all looks like and it sounds very chill. Tomorrow he has one-on-one time with one of the kids and he is taking him go-carting. The shifts were 8:30-4:30, Mon-Fri but he is switching it to 12-8 Tues-Sat because the kids will be starting school. We pick them up and then do activities and then drop them off. We help them with their homework and work with their caregivers, social workers, educators, etc. We work with other organizations as well. The shift structure wasn’t too clear, to be honest. I am more than flexible so I left the topic alone. I get two weeks of paid holiday over Christmas break. Because I am on a six-month probation, I do have to work two of those days. I’ll be getting hampers together so it’s for a good cause. After a year, I get 10 days holiday to myself.

Andy, that is the name of my programs coordinator and he is a sweetheart. He is very nice and very kind. He’s an inch taller than me, I can finally pick on somebody my own size. He has only been there one year and is already a coordinator. He also had no experience in this workforce when he started. He also had no experience with the Indigenous culture. He grew into that through the organization the way I intend to.

My mind is already trying to find problems and things to be worried about which is annoying. They’re just thoughts. They’re just thoughts. My ADHD and anxiety will be of some service here but I won’t let it take over. If the program is restarting, why did it shut down? What happened to all the employees when it shut down? I will be keeping my resume updated and my finances ready for the rug to be pulled from under me. That’s as far as I’m letting this go.

September 16th or the 23rd is when they plan to have me start. I need to pass all the checks before I can work with the kids. Criminal record, abstract driver’s license, abuse registry, etc. I’ll start that process tomorrow. I’ll send a copy of the receipts to HR so that she knows the process has started. I have to pay for it myself but after that, the organization will pay for them going forward. I will also inquire about the status of my candidacy because that is what I am confused about. I’m not that confused but I need it set in stone. I don’t even know if I am full-time or part-time. Andy said he couldn’t confirm it but he is sure that I am full-time and replacing the guy they just offboarded last week. What’s my employment status? Am I FT or PT? When is my start date? What is my wage? Those answers will come. I’ll probably have those answers tomorrow after I ask for them.

Anyway, this is all exciting. It isn’t happening so fast which is also great. The timing is perfect because my shifts at my current job just dropped down next to nothing. I saw it coming, I am financially prepared. It will be a tight month but I got this. I can enjoy the time off. I just finished saying that I needed a holiday. Well, here we go. Once I hear or read the words you’re hired I can give my current job my two weeks’ notice. I am leaving on good terms with them so that I can fall back on them someday, should I need. Everybody there will be absolutely devastated but happy for me at the same time.