Reply #3: I remember that stress. [View All]

I wasn't "riffed," but 3 years ago I pulled up stakes, sold my house, moved, and bought another house on the promise of a job that did not materialize.

Under normal circumstances, I would have waited for the contract before making the big shift. My mom had a health crisis, though, and needed me there to take care of her. Not a thousand miles away. So I jumped the gun, moved on a promise and a handshake, and the job fell through. I jumped into the round of interviews, etc., and sweated bullets all summer. I had a few interviews, but didn't get picked up. Not until the last minute, when a principle I had contacted about a different opening called me for an interview, and offered me the job on the spot when I showed up. It was the last contract offered by that district that year.

They told me afterwards that there were 60 - 90 applicants on file for every job opening they'd had that spring. If I'd known what the competition was ahead of time, I might never have had the courage.

I'm glad that you will not have to spend the summer under that kind of stress.