In Fogelson Food News, the DH used up five of our zucchini (Thank God)in some delicious turkey chili he made yesterday. So yum over spaghetti and we have enough for four more meals. This whole "growing our own food" thing is an idea which might just catch on!

Everywhere? California never asked me to. There was a box on my forms, but it was not checked for me.

In NY, I had to physically go into the office every two or three weeks and talk to them. It was supposedly a random checking system, but it was very regular for me.

I looked at the article -- not so sure he should have turned down the job, but more because it sounds like he needs some experience. Not just work experience , but work wold experience.

My first years of employment were not anything that directly gave me experience in my chosen field, but they helped me develop a lot of professional skills and a basic idea of how the working world works.

My first years of employment were not anything that directly gave me experience in my chosen field, but they helped me develop a lot of professional skills and a basic idea of how the working world works.

Exactly this.

You know, I was thinking that it is unusual for a person to work themselves up from admin to something else at my uni, but I forgot that I had several years working in theatre before that, so I was not a shiny new grad with possibilities, I was lucky to get a job as an admin, what with my experience being in theatre and retail.

In higher education, I have had a lot of problems climbing out of the admin assistant field- there's a stigma there. I was at MIT for 6 years and promotions were not happening. Even with a Masters degree.

I feel somewhat toolish for giving up a soul sucking yet well paying job without something in hand, because that goes against everything I have believed, but... the soul sucking had reached a tipping point. Also, I had some unexpected money come into my life, which sort of helped make up my mind.

Also, NEW ORLEANS BAYBEE!!!

Yeah, Nora, I do think it matters what industry you're in. I could see academia is being very different.

I have to say that the anecdotal evidence I have at my University of people "working their way up" are either people who started in the early 70's or men. THey don't leave a man with a title of "secretary" or "admin assistant" for long.

THey don't leave a man with a title of "secretary" or "admin assistant" for long.

Yes.

Oh, and, for example, "Academic Counselor," "Admissions Counselor" and "FInancial Aid Counselor" are all them same level/grade as "Admin Asst" and both require the same qualifications, so you have to know to go into one of those if you eventually want to be a higher level staff member.