One question that I've never gotten a satisfactory answer to is: Am I working hard enough?My goal is to send out one job application a day. But what If I'm also trying to figure out a little bit more about myself? (Like taking the StrengthsFinder test.) Or writing blog posts to exercise my writing muscle? Does that count as work? I'm not sitting on the couch watching Netflix. I'm trying to improve myself.
Then I see crap like this from Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, who thinks that people searching for jobs just are not doing enough.
You know what Scott? YOU try looking for a job in this economy. YOU try applying for a job that pays $9.15 an hour that literally hundreds of other people are applying for. YOU try navigating Applicant Tracking Systems to make sure your resume is actually seen by someone. YOU try writing cover letters for hours a day. YOU try desperately looking through piles of business cards and calling to see if "anyone is hiring."
Or this sort of crap from people who nonchlantly label unemployed people as lazy freeloaders:
I really want to see a talking head who is actually looking for a job. Talk about these people.
My situation is no where near as dire as a lot of people. I have a part-time job. I have a roof over my head. I don't have other people depending on me. I can pay the bills for now.
I'm just tired.
Governor Walker, Dean Cain, Senator McConnell, and to all others who think looking for a job is like going grocery shopping. Job searching is exhausting. It's humiliating. For motivated people like me, it's not a vacation. It's a constant strain wondering if you have sent out enough applications, if you have adjusted that cover letter enough, or if you have reached out to the right people. I've been actively looking for jobs for about two and half months now. It's really wearing me down.
I don't want sympathy, Governor. I'm not at the point where I need public assistance (I hope to never be there.)
All I want is some empathy. All I want to hear is, "Nick, job searching really sucks. You must be tired. If you need a break to talk over a cup of coffee, I'd be happy to do that."
I'm lucky that I have friends and family who will do just that. Thank you to everyone who has checked in with me, took some of their time with me, or done anything else to help me out. I really appreciate it.
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I supposed I should share some good news. I had an interview today with the staffing agency Creative Circle they are a staffing agency that works with advertising, marketing, and other creative media type folk. I went to a very tall building downtown and rode an elevator up to the 20th floor. You know you are in a big building when your ears pop going up the elevator.
I had a phone interview the previous day and filled out an online profile. I filled out some paperwork and waited for a while. For about a half hour. Normally, I get frustrated when my time is wasted. I don't know if it was the fact that I was sort of tired, the view was nice, or that I didn't want to complain in front of someone who could get me some paying work.
However, my recruiter (I think that's the title) was apologetic about the overlapping meetings. I gave her my standard response in these situations, "No worries." She was super friendly and her arms were covered in tattoos. That was kind of refreshing, actually. I liked that. She asked me about myself and guided me through the next steps. Basically, she will pitch me to some account people, who will see if I am good fit for different companies. I don't know what this will lead to, but it was nice that it wasn't just sending a resume down some black hole.
I'm excited to see where it goes.
Accomplishments for 1/8:
-Creative Circle Interview
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