New Job!

I started a new job today!  I am an Enrollment System Specialist at the HealthPartners headquarters in Bloomington, MN.  I am so excited to starting a new phase of my life.  I have been home, almost full-time, with my children since 1998, when my oldest was only 1 1/2 years old.  I had been working with HealthPartners under an Aetna/US Healthcare contract and was laid off.  It was perfect timing because I was really ready to stay home and raise my family.

In 2009, I went to work as a paraprofessional working with Emotional Behavioral Disorder Level 3 children in the same elementary school as my daughter.  I only worked when the children were in school so I had the summers off and every break off too.  While that job was good in terms of hours, location and time off, it was very stressful.  I was emotionally exhausted at the end of almost every day.

In 2012, I decided to take a full time, year round position with a local Little League.  At first, the job seemed too good to be true.  Less than a year later, I found out it was indeed too good to be true.  Being on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (even when on vacation) was just the tip of the iceberg of issues that made that job miserable!  One day in August of this year, my supervisor walked in and said that I should pack up my belongings.  That was the end of my employment with them.  I can finally look back on this as a blessing.

A few weeks ago, I applied for an Enrollment System Specialist position with HealthPartners.  This wasn't the first time I had applied at HealthPartners but this was the first time I had been called for an interview.  I had a phone interview with someone in Human Resources than an in-person interview with my "would be" supervisor, her supervisor and a future fellow co-worker.  A week later, I got the good news that I had been offered the position.

While it is a long commute from the north metro to the south metro through the middle of Minneapolis, I will eventually figure out how to use the commuter rail - especially when it snows!  And in all honesty, I do not mind driving.  I was actually a half hour early today because I was worried about the traffic but did not need to!

Today I went through new employee training and found out about vacation days, 401(k) plans, dental and medical insurance, life insurance, flexible spending accounts.......  My head is still on overload and I am sure tonight I will be dreaming in numbers.  Tomorrow I get to set up my desk and meet my co-workers.  I am anxious to get started on my actual job.  I feel like my life has come full circle.  It would not be happening without the fantastic support from my family.  They have all stepped up and helped out by doing the dishes, making their beds, starting the laundry.......it is just day one so I hope it lasts!!!