Women work too!

After being laid off at the end of January, I enjoyed the time I was able to spend with my children and family, and was able to focus on school a little more. Last month I decided I should find a job soon or it might get difficult to explain to a future employer why I was unemployed for such a long time. So I found an ad on missouricareersource.com that paid much better than what I was making before I lost my job, and I had heard it had an excellent work environment for a factory. So with a little research on the company via the internet, a well written resume, and some nice attire, I went and applied at the career center. I thought I might have been a little overdressed for the position I was going for. I had on slacks and a nice blouse to apply for a welding position. I was relieved to see that they were excited to see that someone dressed up for the job. One lady informed me that this company- Modine, kept sending people away because they looked like they had just rolled out of bed.

After two weeks of waiting for the application and resume to make it from the Career Center to Modine, then sorted through and scrutinized, I finally got a call. I ended up going to an interview with HR and the Vice President, although I was screaming inside, I managed to keep my composure and impress the two enough for them to invite me back for a weld test. All I needed to provide was a pair of steel toed boots. That seems simple enough, go to almighty Wal-Mart and get some steel toed boots. Sure if I happen to be a man. They don't carry women's steel toed boots, and the smallest pair of mens boots they carry is a size too large. Not to worry, there are plenty of places that carry work boots in Joplin. Except that they all have the same situation. Among the many places I visited that didn't have adequate stock for women, Academy had a really bad example. They had a shoe labeled women's work boots; they were a little pair of shoes with absolutely no sides. They were smaller than tennis shoes. I am pretty sure that in order to be called a boot, footwear needs to have some kind of ankle support. So it was back to Wal-Mart to buy the pair of steel toed boots that are a size too large. I have been working most of this week, and I still stumble now and then; not only are they a size too large, but they are heavy and they tend to drag my feet with them as much as my feet moves them. It's aggravating.

Modine does have it's advantages and disadvantages. It is very clean and bright for one. I haven't come home black from head to toe once. They screen people very well before hiring, so the employees seem very mature and driven. And the place is very organized and automated. The lines run very smoothly. On the other hand, since the lines run soooo smooth, it is nonstop work. There is only one 15 minute break and a 30 minute lunch, if I miss even 1 day in 90 I will be fired, and since I started past April 1st, I won't see vacation time for 2 years!!! And I am already working overtime, on Night shift!