Saturday, September 01, 2007

The Summer of Unemployment Comes to an End

I know summer doesn't officially end until September 20-something, but I made my peace with the season over the last 7 days. And now, as I get ready to start life as a 20-something of my own, I think this pivotal week deserves a review.

It's a little bit ironic, you know. I was starting to think I was never going to find a job. You know that Train song? "Calling All Angels"? Where the guy starts out by shouting, "I NEED A SIGN!" I'd been looking for a sign all summer, something that could re-assure me that I wasn't a freak and that I'd find a job soon.

But at the same time, I was really beginning to like my life as an unemployed, beach dwelling, restaurant-only eating, responsibility-free college graduate.

But then I realized there's a name for people like that: trust fund babies.

And that's not me.

























So after a summer's worth of job interviews and uncertainty, I am finally a member of the gainfully employed. And what a relief, because if this went on any longer, I'd have to dip into the trust fund.

Looking for a job is hard work. I spent so many days this summer scanning the job postings of Craigslist, CareerBuilder, Monster, Media Bistro, Entertainment Jobs, sending out cover letter + resume after cover letter + resume.

In the beginning, I got a few interviews, and was quick to get my hopes up. I had my first interview at Hungry Man and THAT was my job. Then I interviewed with 21c, Rubenstein, Creative Group, Gilla Roos, and more, and I planned on getting all of them. Turns out getting a job isn't as easy as getting an interview. It also turns out you can't get a job just by BEING easy either. Some HR people don't like that, I learned.

In the end, I replied to an ad for a marketing position at a boutique fashion agency that represents stylists and the like, and I just had a feeling, a hunch, that this would be good. My first interview took place at a cafe in Chelsea, with the head of the agency. We talked for about a half hour about my resume, and about the position. It went well, and he told me to expect a second interview sometime near the end of the month.

Last weekend, I made the first trip up to Boston since leaving in May. I stayed at Maura's place and spent the weekend visiting with Karen, Kevin, Kara, and other people whose names start with a K, among other letters.



























It was strange being back by BU. As comfortable as I was walking around my old neighborhood, I felt out of place. I went to bars expecting to know so many people, but it was a lot of new faces. Here I thought I OWNED this town, but then I remembered I'm not a tool, and only tools say stuff like that.

It was a very relaxing weekend, and I'm glad I got to catch up with so many people. It made me look forward to going up to visit every once in a while, but at the same time, confident in my decision not to seek employment up there. Sometimes, you just have a hunch about what's right for yourself, even if you can't find the words to express it out loud.

I took one last look around before getting in the car to take off, and in the street below me, I spotted a sign:














With that, I knew everything was going to be just fine. I'm not stupid or ugly. This sign was obviously false.

And that's the truth isn't it. Signs and hunches are completely different. Signs come from anywhere, and can be easily misinterpreted. That's how psychics make money. People go in looking for a sign, and will find a way to somehow relate to anything broad they might say. Hunches we create for ourselves, because sometimes we just know.

A few days ago, I went back in for a second interview at the fashion agency, to meet with the other agents in the office. And while sitting on the bus on my way home from the interview, I got the call. They were making me an offer, and I was going to take it.

So now I have a job, although I haven't started yet. I'll let you know when I do though, and will keep you posted on everything as it happens. I know nothing is certain, but I have a feeling this is going to be a really great opportunity.

I don't know, it's just a hunch.


-evan

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I'm going to sound like a dork by saying this, but this blog entry was a really enjoyable read. Stay cool.