Time for a career change!

I have begun a new job search.

Looking for a new job is one of the most annoying tasks ever. It is an emotional roller coaster filled with so many unexpected twists and turns that, in an instant, excite, disappoint, and make me scream, "BLARG!"

An example of a twist from my first three weeks of the job hunt (I left my waitressing job on 1/20, but started looking for work two weeks prior): I found the perfect job for me. It was an editing position with the Museum of Science that required only 1-3 years experience. I have 6 years work experience, including several in administrative capacities, but none officially in writing and editing unless you consider (which you should) my volunteering and interning.

I figured I'd apply anyways because, like I said, it's the perfect job for me. I have a passion for editing after taking a Professional Editing course in my final semester at UMB. That same semester I applied my editing skills to intense peer editing in my Capstone (senior project) class and helped many classmates create clearer, cleaner, more intelligent final papers, and their appreciative responses encouraged me. Months later, I knew I would be a shining star at the MOS, and got really excited to see what kind of communications they were producing. I was thrilled that if I got the job I could spend every day hanging out with CLIFF, the triceratops I obsessed over when his nearly complete skeleton first arrived, which led to me knowing ridiculous triceratops trivia that later won me a free stuffed Cliff doll that my boyfriend and I leave in random spots around the house to surprise each other.

Cliff and me on a museum visit in 2009. Camera phones weren't too impressive back then!

So I went out and bought a suit even though I’ve never worn one before and think I look like a teenager stealing clothes from her mom and trying to pass myself off as older. I texted my brother full of excitement (he asked that if I get the job, I steal him some dino-DNA so he can create a dinosarmy). Then I took the scariest step and turned in my letter of resignation to the owner of my restaurant. (And if you’re thinking, “Letter of resignation? Weren’t you just a waitress?”, I respectfully refute that just because you don’t take my job seriously doesn’t mean I don’t. Also, there were many factors leading to my resignation, not just the exciting prospect of co-creating a dinosarmy.)

Talk about putting all my eggs in one basket! I was so sure this job was the perfect fit for me. Of course a week went by and I didn’t hear back. Two weeks went by and the job wasn’t posted anymore. Three weeks went by and now I’m not even earning an income from waitressing. BLARG!

In the mean time, I haven’t stopped the job search. I’ve applied to several other museums, half a dozen hospitals, and over a dozen non-profits. I’m learning as I go! And continuing to volunteer and intern to keep my skills sharp. More on that later!