Sunday, July 6, 2014

My two jobs

I have two jobs: archaeologist (full time) and community living assistant (CLA, 11 hours/week). The first, for 22 years, the other, just over one year.

As an archaeologist, I mostly manage surveys of areas that will be disturbed by construction--roads, bicycle trails, cell towers. Then, I write up the results of the investigation. I prepare budgets, hire people, train people. Working with volunteers is a big part of the job, too. Lots of folks are interested in archaeology and willing to lend a helping hand in research, excavation, or lab work.

The other job involves working in a group home where five adults with disabilities live together. CLAs do all the tasks these folks cannot--cooking, cleaning, getting them out into the community, helping to keep them active and safe, teaching social and day-to-day skills, and giving medications.

These two jobs couldn't be more different. However, to be successful in either job, you must be able to:
  • prioritize,
  • follow-through,
  • work with all kinds of personalities (both clients and co-workers),
  • do the drudgery in order to get to the good stuff,
  • communicate well, and
  • get dirty.

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