My job at H&R Block

When I started my job at H&R Block on Jan. 21, I was full of questions about myself:

Could I really learn something new at my age? Yeah, I know I am "only" 56, but this was a big step for me, to get out in the working world.

Would my clothes be all right for office work?

How would my feet hold up from being on them all day?

Would I manage at home OK, even though Ken promised to help me?

What if I get exhausted and lose my cool?

Lots and lots of questions, and self-doubt. It comforted me a lot a week or so ago to hear the pilot who so heroically landed his plane in the Hudson had a time of second-guessing himself for several nights. It must be a trait of conscientious people, and I wanted to be a conscientious worker, so I guess I had that trait, anyways!

Now my "career" at H&R Block is coming to a close, and I have found my answers.

Yes, I can learn something new, even at my age. In fact I enjoy the challenge of it, and want to go on learning. I made hundreds of appointments over the telephone, and face to face, on Appointment Manager, a computer program, and it got to be VERY routine. Anything you do over and over again gets to be easy, even if you are almost a senior citizen!

Shortly after I was hired, they hired two young people to work part-time to help us out. They seemed to pick up the computer and phone stuff way faster than I did and I felt at a disadvantage--more second-guessing myself. After a few days I found out that my experience with people was an advantage I had, and I was more patient with the clients on the phone, etc. One day one of them said they were having a bad day because seven people had yelled at them over the phone so far. I thought about that and said, "I don't know if anyone has yelled at me or not!" So, what does that mean? Did they not yell at me, or did I not perceive it as such? People get very irate when they think they may not be getting their check TODAY simply because it is not in the drawer at 9:30 yet.

So, perhaps we older folks do not take things so personally...I don't know.

Yep, my clothes were ok, sort of anyways. Mainly they were too warm, because I was moving constantly and never, ever got cold.

My feet held up fine, even though I did not wear my favorite Easy Spirits except on casual Friday.

Yes, we managed fine at home. Since Ken got home first, he usually had supper about cooked by the time I got there. Nice! I would plan it and give him the instructions and how-to's. Laundry I did, here and there, with a catch-up on Saturday. It sure is a different life-style, though, being a working wife!

No, I did not get exhausted and lose my cool. I found I could maintain my enthusiasm for the job and the people without losing my cool. Some of the crazy things people do just made me laugh and laugh. Like the day a lady called wanting a phone number for the IRS. It was the first and only time anyone asked me for that number, so I ran around to find a tax preparer who was not busy, and could help me. He found the number for me. Back to the phone, and here the lady did not have a pencil, then she could not find a pencil, then she decided to write the number on a chalk board! I just laughed and laughed over that one! We have all kinds......

So, it has been a great experience for me and I have learned lots about myself, too. Now I am pursuing other opportunities for future employment. I am looking for receptionist work, and have also applied for a part-time bank teller job. We shall see what opens up. This Friday, Feb. 20th may be my last day at H&R Block.

What an experience!