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Getting A Service Dog.

K and I have had a huge week which started almost two weeks ago with two unexpected deaths in the family necessitating a lot of travel and staying with family. K has been down this road several times before and was almost bored with the idea of me packing and loading stuff into the car for yet another road trip. But she handled it with grace and bounced into my car when it was time to go, allowed me to put her harness on and promptly fell asleep.

When we arrived at our destination she yawned and jumped out and went off to greet the family dogs and re-instate her superiority. They duly fell into line and a zoomie session was begun resulting in a lot of wild barking and chaos. So, all was well on the dog front.

K has accompanied me to lots of different places and we've now added cathedrals and cemetery's to the list. She's not fazed at all by the grandeur, formality and behaved impeccably. She's also met another dozen or so relatives and they have decided one by one as she greeted them that she's gorgeous and her ears are simply the softest and most sublime velvet they've ever felt. My mother who already adores K really seemed to receive a lot of comfort from my little girl snuggling into her. K was at her best and it's just as well she loves being smooched and loved up because she has received a lot.

She's asleep next to my bed right now showing me exactly what relaxing and living in the moment should look like. She's commandeered some of the other dogs beds in other rooms and amazingly there's no fuss.

My little K has been such a steadfast and dedicated support during this time and her serene disposition has been a comfort to all she has met even when she's clowning around not doing much at all.

Late this afternoon after a particularly long day I received a phone call regarding my job application I think I mentioned here over a month ago. I'd sort of given up hope and decided when I returned to my home that I'd start reapplying for jobs again in earnest.

But perhaps I will delay for a few days longer because I was invited to attend for a 'informal chat' with the director of the service. I've never heard of this kind of recruitment process before and I'm not really sure what that means. But in for a penny.... hell yes.. K and I will be heading into town for that chat. I'm fairly certain nobody can resist K's charms even if I completely botch it up lol... And he/she should meet K because she will be going to work with me every day so time to break the ice and let them see her. I did tell them at my interview that I had a service dog and they were more than happy for K to accompany me to work if I was successful.

So I'd better give the little girl a bath and wash her jacket. Running around with these trashy farm dogs - well let's just say she's fitting in well. But when we go home and go to my potential workplace she'll need to be looking and smelling her best.

I'm so excited about this eventuating into my return to the workforce after so many years away that I can barely sleep. And I wanted to let you guys know... It's such a big step for me and having you all with me feels better so I had to tell you. I'm not sure if it will work out or not but I so badly need this to happen. Having K with me is like my secret super power. I'm so fortunate in so many ways.
 
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Potential employer rang again today and fixed an appointment time.. more explanations given - it's to meet the staff, look around the office and have a chat.

Still never been asked to do this before in a gov job. But to be fair I've been with the same employers for many, many years at a time.. so what do I know.

Maybe it's this way now because I've completed all checks, interviews and clearan ces via zoom and online? And now they just have to see me for real irl?

And I guess maybe doing everything online as is the way now, if they've been burned before that asking an applicant to rock in to do a meet n greet makes sense. It's a restricted position so apart from all the usual checks there are a couple of higher grade clearances. There's also the possibility that
it's because they want to offer me a job other than what I've actually applied for. That may be the case but I just don't know. Who cares?! It's gotta be a good sign?

Both of you, really, because it's a team that's achieving all these milestones, not just K:

^Thanks but my mental health has taken a strong vertical curve towards better since she came. For years slogging it out with psych's, hospitals, drugs and working hard on myself really didn't achieve anything much. I think I stayed in a holding pattern for a long, long time and never got worse or not much worse but never made any significant steps forward either. Then along comes K and though she was so reserved and slow to trust and I was too - we now have synchronicity happening and she gets me and how I think. Our communication is getting better and better too as we spend time training, doing silly tricks and playing together. I feel like we both spoke unrelated languages but now we've developed our own language and it's becoming easier and easier to reach an understanding. But mostly she's done the heavy lifting. I guess I had to be open to her input so there's that but still...

I'm apprehensive about taking her into this meet n greet session. I'm concerned that despite all of the lip service etc that they may reject me because of my need of her. Or just because of her. It is a far cry from saying, 'yes we accept service dogs' to actually really doing that. I've got to be brave and just do it and show them that she's a quiet and intelligent girl who will support me to do an excellent job for them and that's all.

Has anyone taken their service dog to a job interview?
 
Potential employer rang again today and fixed an appointment time.. more explanations given - it's to meet the staff, look around the office and have a chat.

Still never been asked to do this before in a gov job. But to be fair I've been with the same employers for many, many years at a time.. so what do I know.

Maybe it's this way now because I've completed all checks, interviews and clearan ces via zoom and online? And now they just have to see me for real irl?

And I guess maybe doing everything online as is the way now, if they've been burned before that asking an applicant to rock in to do a meet n greet makes sense. It's a restricted position so apart from all the usual checks there are a couple of higher grade clearances. There's also the possibility that
it's because they want to offer me a job other than what I've actually applied for. That may be the case but I just don't know. Who cares?! It's gotta be a good sign?



^Thanks but my mental health has taken a strong vertical curve towards better since she came. For years slogging it out with psych's, hospitals, drugs and working hard on myself really didn't achieve anything much. I think I stayed in a holding pattern for a long, long time and never got worse or not much worse but never made any significant steps forward either. Then along comes K and though she was so reserved and slow to trust and I was too - we now have synchronicity happening and she gets me and how I think. Our communication is getting better and better too as we spend time training, doing silly tricks and playing together. I feel like we both spoke unrelated languages but now we've developed our own language and it's becoming easier and easier to reach an understanding. But mostly she's done the heavy lifting. I guess I had to be open to her input so there's that but still...

I'm apprehensive about taking her into this meet n greet session. I'm concerned that despite all of the lip service etc that they may reject me because of my need of her. Or just because of her. It is a far cry from saying, 'yes we accept service dogs' to actually really doing that. I've got to be brave and just do it and show them that she's a quiet and intelligent girl who will support me to do an excellent job for them and that's all.

Has anyone taken their service dog to a job interview?
Hooray! Hope K likes the place too
 
I gave K her last bath for several months last night because winter is on the doorstep and it'll be too cold.

She stood in the bath and was remarkably tolerant of the indignity I insisted she undergo. I think she's getting used to the idea? We dried off in front of the heater and she did inside zoomies for a few minutes but then tucked up in her basket bed and slept it all off. This morning her coat is like silk and she's no longer smelling like farm dog.

We're off to the vet today to get her annual vaccinations, nails and general check over. I wish I was that easy to deal with health wise.
 
Went for my second round interview that was not called an interview but definitely was damn so an interview - yesterday!!

It went for 75 minutes and was an absolute grilling at a fast paced tempo about my dog, my disability, my expectations, their expectations and a huge variety of things in-between - mostly surrounding my disability and context of where I would be working.

Suddenly extensive travel and time away from home is in the job description. Along with tonnes of over-time and working in places that are not well air-conditioned or made for purpose and on the list went. None of that bothers us because we already travel a lot and working in odd places has been a feature of all of my jobs so far.

I offered them the name or the organisation who trained K and informed them they were welcome to call or clarify with them any queries but instead they just asked me loads of questions.

I guess I'm a little shocked and puzzled by the way they advertised the position and what is seemed to be on the surface and how it then developed into an almost entirely different job.

K sat under my chair where I put her and didn't move or make a sound until about minute 72 when she got up and rested her head on my lap. Maybe she was sensing my tiredness I'm not sure. Thank God the bloody interview was winding up at that stage because my brain was a puddle and I wasn't remembering questions long enough to formulate an answer to them. Thank you ptsd brain!

It seems if I have not been successful with this position they have another position that they may offer me after they decide.

I'm beginning to get really scared that I'm not up to doing this now. Most of the questions would never have passed a HR sniff test and tbh that's okay because I don't want to start in a job that is impossible for me to succeed in and being honest is the only way I know. But at the same time..... some warning would have been good.

We got home and my brain was still buzzing. K went for a super deep sleep. Omg I envy her ability to do that. Instead I developed a headache and trudged my way through the day. Clearly my resilience needs work!
 
Most of the questions would never have passed a HR sniff
LMAO... No lie! It’s “not an interview” only because they’re not allowed to ask those Q’s in an interview.
Clearly my resilience needs work!
My exHusband worked for a company that does a 4hour+ “not an interview” marathon whiteboard session for new hires (tech company), that they’d already decided to take on, IF they passed this one. I got to watch one, with the CEO/owner, as exhausted interviewers are tagging out, and the interviewee is practically stumbling / swimming in their own sweat. What determined the winner? The first person to admit their brain was full & ask to go for a walk/cup of coffee/smoke/ he didn’t care what. Just up outta that room to reset. Sometimes they didn’t get any new hires, sometimes they got 2 or 3.

The CEO’s rationale? Interviews are gruelling. We’ve all done them, and all go home and collapse and groan into the floor, after. I want people who it’s more important to them that their work is good, and minds are sharp, rather than the impression they think they’re making slogging on making stupid mistakes or not even that, but missing the creative spark they’d get fresh. Big part of why our company is split between 20yos & retirees. Neither group gives a f*ck what they “look” like. They care about the work. So they’re stripping off suit jackets, and kicking off their heels, and and start acting like they actually work here. Done. Hired.

Most companies don’t hire like that, but I just loved the bolded section above. Cha. Long interviews suck your brain out through a straw, and squirt it back in, and blow bubbles with it.
 
Went for my second round interview that was not called an interview but definitely was damn so an interview - yesterday!!

It went for 75 minutes and was an absolute grilling at a fast paced tempo about my dog, my disability, my expectations, their expectations and a huge variety of things in-between - mostly surrounding my disability and context of where I would be working.

Suddenly extensive travel and time away from home is in the job description. Along with tonnes of over-time and working in places that are not well air-conditioned or made for purpose and on the list went. None of that bothers us because we already travel a lot and working in odd places has been a feature of all of my jobs so far.

I offered them the name or the organisation who trained K and informed them they were welcome to call or clarify with them any queries but instead they just asked me loads of questions.

I guess I'm a little shocked and puzzled by the way they advertised the position and what is seemed to be on the surface and how it then developed into an almost entirely different job.

K sat under my chair where I put her and didn't move or make a sound until about minute 72 when she got up and rested her head on my lap. Maybe she was sensing my tiredness I'm not sure. Thank God the bloody interview was winding up at that stage because my brain was a puddle and I wasn't remembering questions long enough to formulate an answer to them. Thank you ptsd brain!

It seems if I have not been successful with this position they have another position that they may offer me after they decide.

I'm beginning to get really scared that I'm not up to doing this now. Most of the questions would never have passed a HR sniff test and tbh that's okay because I don't want to start in a job that is impossible for me to succeed in and being honest is the only way I know. But at the same time..... some warning would have been good.

We got home and my brain was still buzzing. K went for a super deep sleep. Omg I envy her ability to do that. Instead I developed a headache and trudged my way through the day. Clearly my resilience needs work!
72 minutes of grilling. Anyone would be exhausted, anxious and developing a headache! Don't understand why you wouldn't be successful. You handled a grilling just fine. Don't know the job but seems you showed resilience, persistence, competence. So did K! Hope you get the job *you* want.
 
No lie! It’s “not an interview” only because they’re not allowed to ask those Q’s in an interview.
^Yes I knew this whilst I was being asked the questions. But at the same time this job requires a certain type of person so I get that these questions couldn't be asked in formal setting by a panel. I mean we've covered all of the 'hard' skills in a previous interview and this was more about 'soft' stuff. Very much like what you ExH's CEO was seeking out. If it had gone much past that point I would have asked for a break and resume afterwards. But fortunately it wound up.

It's disappointing that we've become so politically correct etc that potential employers have to bend rules and call interviews chats etc when I reckon there's a lot more clarity in being upfront and saying what you mean etc. I also know that there are a lot of employers out there who will discriminate so I know why the rules are there in the first place. I actually don't know what the answer really is. But I do know that either way getting the right person for the job from my side and the employers side is much harder than it used to be.

The problem with a lot of the questions I was asked is there's no right or wrong answer but it's more about my personality and unique traits I have. I can only answer honestly because the amount of detail they wanted would require a pathological liar to get through if I started making it up. lol :)

Hope you get the job *you* want.
^Thanks.. I'm not sure if I am up to this job now. They truly did make it sound pretty tough and quite different from the advertised vacancy. But on the other hand they wouldn't say hey... this is a breeze come on over and settle right in. I think they've been burnt by perhaps someone with a disability like mine or even somebody with a disability of another kind and they truly didn't know what to expect and needed to clarify.

I'm having nightmares about it now... Anyway they're going to let me know sooner than later so that's a relief. If I didn't get it I'll keep looking.
 
After that type of thing are you sure you want to work with them? I mean, they sound kind of like asshats. 75 minute interviews, "illegal" questions, job not as advertised. If they treat you like that at the interview how awful would they be to actually work for?
 
No they're not 'asshats' and I think I understand where and why the questions arise. But yes I do agree the recruiting process about the job is quite puzzling. The intensity of their questions may have been designed to scare me off or test me out as @Friday suggested. With the former I guess I am definitely a little scared. With the latter I won't know till next week.

I'm not completely disillusioned because the interviewers were executive level bureaucrats. Generally in my life experience they don't bother getting involved in recruitment at all so there's a reason this happened. And it may be a good reason I won't know unless I get the job. :)

My mental resilience is the main concern I have. I handled the interview okay... just.....despite it's length and nature. It was the way I pulled up afterwards that needs work. I think if I do get the job I'll be wrecked for a long while. Work hardening is a process that I've not undergone for such a long time. But having my dog there will be a huge bonus. I hope I can manage her in a work environment okay too.

I had my influenza injection yesterday at a pharmacy. Walked into the little room with my dog and she sat down looking very comfortable and relaxed. I promise you I wasn't stressed about it. But the needle pinched a little going in and I tensed up. Immediately K sat up and rested her head on my legs. The pharmacist commented on how quickly she responded. She said she knew dogs would do this but seeing it in action was an education for her. There are lots of service dogs about but I don't know where they are because K and I are one walking talking promotion team for the organisation. :)
 
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