I've been searching for a steady full-time job since August 2009. Since then I've had a part-time job I had to leave in March 2010, and a string of temp jobs from staffing agencies which ended within a couple of months. Experiencing this sort of sling shot affect wreaks havoc on the body, mind, and soul.
I started working at the age of fifteen at an Arby's and worked a series of part-time jobs until I turned eighteen. That's when I got my first full-time job. For sixteen years I had steady income from at least one source. During most of those years I had a full-time job and at least one part-time job on the side.
Losing my full-time job last August was a shock. It was unexpected. I've gotten a lot of flack from a lot of people since then. Surely I could have found a full-time job since then? What have I been doing with my time?
The answer to that is simple: I've been job searching.
During my job search and the nearly four dozen interviews I've gone on, I've discovered something. Despite my extremely eclectic work history, which has given me experience in a variety of fields, there really isn't anything that sets me apart from others in my age group. I'm 32, with some college experience (no degree), and have worked a string of steady jobs in customer service. There are five hundred other "me's" applying for every job I apply for.
Another kick in the teeth? I'm overqualified for many of the jobs that are open that I'd be willing to take at this point. This pool of jobs includes retail, coffee shops, fast food restaurants, gas stations, and the like. They pay significantly less than what I am used to bringing in. I cannot even tell you how many coffee shops, gas stations, retail stores, and fast food places I have submitted apps and interviewed for. It's quite a shittastic experience to be told you can't have a job at one of these establishments because you're vastly overqualified.
Some days it's really hard to maintain a positive attitude that things will turn around as long as I keep plugging away, applying and going to interviews. Sometimes I feel angry at those sell drugs to make money or fuck their way into a job or those who have milked the government for welfare checks by popping out eight children. Okay I feel angry at these people MOST of the time, not just some of the time.
In some ways I am simply banging my head against the wall, though. Considering there are five hundred other Me's out there applying for every job I apply for, most of whom have extremely similar customer service backgrounds, shouldn't I be adjusting my thinking? I've considered applying for entry level positions in non-customer service fields I've never worked in ... but that presents a whole new set of challenges.
Despite what the government says, I also fear the recession is far from over. And what most people don't realize is that nearly three quarters of the jobs that were lost are never coming back. That means we have to create new jobs in new fields for those of us who have lost jobs. More evidence, perhaps, that I'm on the wrong track pursuing customer service jobs? Probably.
Alright, so, now that I've banged out this post and have expressed my feelings of utter defeatism, it's time to recharge and try again.
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