I had a really kick ass interview yesterday, despite the usual things going wrong left and right from stepping out of bed until getting there. Her opening line to me was "you've sure done a lot of stuff, huh?" and I was like, "oh, not really" because I'm extremely self-deprecating and -critical and unless it is a roaring smashing success/I have something to show for it, it doesn't count. But then, she was like "okay well, tell me about the yearbook and your temp job and your senior essay and your DC internship and radio show and ITS job and writings" and then I thought to myself, "whoa...okay, I have done a lot of stuff." She and I had a nice rapport and I realized that usually I'm extremely uptight/nervous in interviews, but this one I was just normal. I was the first person that came in to interview for it and I think she liked me, but I can't help but think that if the Yale comparative literature grad with the 4.0 GPA comes in after me, I haven't got a prayer. It was still nice though. Another one tomorrow at the place I went for one thing the other week and that HR person's opening line was basically "for what you're here for, you suck and have no real experience, but there's this other position that might fit you." She said it nicely and all. but I still felt like a kicked puppy. In that case I wanted to say, "what do you mean? Screw you, my resume is jammed packed! Of course I don't have five years of PR experience, I just got out of school! Plus it's freaking entry-level position! Sheesh!" Fucking "we want a ridiculous amount of experience in fresh faced out of school kids for entry-level positions that we can pay $2 for a 80 hour work week" economics sucks my invisible nuts. Everybody loses in this craptastic job market. I wish I could be like Alex and opt out by being in a band and doing something he's reallly connected to. I mean, don't get me wrong, I have my passions and it's not that opposed to what these jobs I'm going for are and I've got enough of that liberal idealism/protestant work ethic/respect for the capitalist system, but fuck, can we go back to 1999 when I could get paid a lot of money for doing jack all day? I'm just saying.
But back to the jobs, both are non-profits, paying okay actually (I've got a pretty easy criteria on that. I think of salaries as: 1) can I pay my loans on that? 2) can I pay rent on that? 3) would I have to spend a lot of time begging the 'rents for money on that? The answers should generally be yes, yes, and only for kicks), and the one that went really well was even in publishing. I'd feel like a good little GOSPLAC if I was at either. What would really be nice is if my temp job supervisor was installed as an editor somewhere because I know she likes me and would maybe take me with her. Or if I could get in there on my own because the place is kinda interesting in an observing the wild in their natural habitat sort of way. Or if I could become suddenly independently wealthy and take an internship which is hard to justify currently. Ah well. I'll just plug away I suppose. Being lackadaisical has gotten me this far and I don't really have a real complaint yet.
Posted by Candicissima at November 4, 2003 11:03 AMYeah 1999 was pretty awesome. Sucks to be you. I bet I can turn your resume into pure fucking gold. Gimme a crack at it (if you want, obviously). Also, I suggest turning to headhunters who specilize in nonprofits. They know about jobs that aren't advertised. I have yet to be unemployed, and its been thanks to headhunters. love love love those people. love them.
Posted by: TLL at November 4, 2003 11:08 AMDid I sound overly negative? I wasn't trying to be. My "why does stuff fucking suck" tone is a little different.
I never knew those headhunters actually worked. People always gave me the impression that those things are scams. And I'm not especially non-profit fixated, they're just the ones who called me lately.
Posted by: Candicissima at November 4, 2003 11:23 AMThere are scam headhunters -- but you know them right off the bat because they ask for money. Real headhunters don't ask for cash. Temp agencies often double as headhunters. Best way to find a job is to target. That means having more than one version of your resume in addition to personalized cover letters for each position you apply to. I suggest calling up a couple of companies that you wanna work for and askign to speak to HR. Then ask whoever you get at HR to tell you what temp agencies and headhunters the company uses.
Posted by: TLL at November 4, 2003 12:54 PMYeah I'm registered with a temp agency, hence how I got the temp job. I had a moment of calling up PR firms and asking HR questions, but it passed. I can get cracking again next week once the project I've been working on is finally over.
Posted by: Candicissima at November 4, 2003 12:58 PMLaughing at ----- > Sheesh!" Fucking "we want a ridiculous amount of experience in fresh faced out of school kids for entry-level positions that we can pay $2 for a 80 hour work week" economics sucks my invisible nuts. " How about I graduated 5 years ago and I'm still broke.
Keep your chin up and let your invisible nutz hang low. You'll make it thru. I know that's not very comforting, but at least you have your sense of humour.
Posted by: Angelique at November 4, 2003 08:46 PMThanks for all the responses, everybody! My most popular post ever. Occasionally, I like to complain and whine and navel gaze as y'all may have noticed, but they don't have me licked yet. I've always prided myself on resourcefulness when the chips are down. I've still got a good pile yet.
Posted by: Candicissima at November 5, 2003 12:23 AMyeah apparently entry level really means 2 years experience...
Posted by: jay at November 5, 2003 10:38 PM