The Job Hunt (cont.)

Alright, well, I have decided that I don't want to sell insurance. So, even though I was offered the Aflac job and offered another interview at Bankers Life and Casualty, I have decline and cancelled, respectively. Realistically and financially speaking, it would be very hard for me to get started as an insurance agent right now anyways. I would have to magically create front money for tests and classes to get licensed and still pay rent while taking tests, classes, and training. So, economically, not the best option for me. Needless to say, my morning was spent dreading the awkwardness that is inherent within rejection. I have been noticing that being the one doing the rejecting isn't quite as powerful as one would think. One is in control, this is true, but my human nature still feels sympathy with the other party, and even though I know I am better off in the end, I still feel as if I led them on subconsciously.

Anyways, after making the awkward phone calls, I received a paper wedged in my door notifying me that my rent would be increasing to $710 dollars, and that I would have to decide today whether or not to renew or not renew my lease. Of course this puts me in panic mode, so I'm searching google, craigslist, etc. for cheaper, decent 1 BR apartments in Wilmington. I find one, make an appointment to go see it and type up my notification letter stating I will not be renewing with Cape Harbor Apartments. When I go to turn it in, I find out that I have the amazing super power to negotiate, so now, not only do I not have to move, but after I stop paying rent for a washer and dryer (I, with Mom and Dad's help, have decided to buy my own) I will save about $40 each month in rent.

Now, all I have to do is find a job. I have a meeting with a temp agency tomorrow, so hopefully that will go well, so tune in next time when perhaps we will learn Super LoBay's masterful plan to conquer the job market and eventually save the world.

The Job Hunt

Okay, so I've basically been given an ultimatum: Land a job within the next two months or go back home to Nashville, NC. Realistically, I don't think this is a hard goal to attain. However, I would like to have a job that I can get something out of, a job that I can feel like I'm making a difference, in my life as well as others. I don't necessarily want a career right now, but I do want to be challenged and away from retail.

I have interviewed for two different insurance sales position. Both are straight commission jobs, so I would be directly responsible for my income, which ultimately can be a good thing. I am a hardworker and it would be nice to know that my income is actually reflective of my work effort. The first interviews were with Alfac. I should hear back from them today or tomorrow. My interview this morning was with Bankers Life & Casualty. I'm leaning towards Bankers because it seems a little more structured. I'm pretty sure that my mom doesn't want me to accept either, but that's another issue I'm dealing with that I won't bore y'all with. I have a second interview with Bankers in a week.

I'm not giving up on the film industry either, trust me. I'm actually volunteering for the WiFi Conference (Wilmington Film) at the end of June so hopefully I will make some connections there, and I'm still teaching classes for Maultsby Talent Agency.

I'm still not digging the real world though. Job hunting is never fun. Plus, I'm pretty sure Shane gave me a cold this past weekend. Fun stuff. I wish I could be more witty with this post, but my brain is congested with real world gunk right now. I'll keep y'all updated on everything!

It's been awhile...

since I've updated. No particular reason, just pretending to be busy.

Well, actually, I have been kind of busy. I went to DC a few weeks ago to check out some neighborhoods and visit the law school. It was great. The weather was great (I know, it is spring and completely unrepresentative of what the next few years will generally be like). I met Obama. The neighborhoods were cute and the school was awesome. It was so much nicer than Stanford's musty law school building. I mean I love me some Stanford, but wouldn't you describe the law school as musty?

I feel like time is flying by. I am moving in about two and a half months, so I have been trying to squeeze in as much precious California time as possible. I've gone to San Francisco after work just about every other day for the passed couple of weeks. My brother was visiting San Francisco, so we had dinner. I had drinks with some of my future classmates, and I went to celebrate my newly acquired right to marry my girlfriend. Perfect timing. I mean, I wasn't going to get married now anyway, but right before I'm moving away. If the rest of the country doesn't catch on in the next few years, maybe I'll move back...

My apartment is in complete disarray. Lee is halfway moved out. There are boxes everywhere. Just crazy. My attempt to clean is completely futile because things will get moved around again in about a second, but I'm compulsive, so I try anyway.

I'm pretty tired now.

Feminist Rant #147 of 89,403,287

I realized last week that I don't have a lunch break unless I physically leave the building with my friends, and that made me upset. Then I got angry, then I got embarrassed about overreacting, then I ate lunch, and now I'm practically wanting to write a book about it. I have no doubt that women at every level of employment from personal assistant to CEO are tasked with being the office mom on top of the their official responsibilities, and that it is seen as only appropriate since the men in those same offices just "wouldn't be good at it." Few men have a trained listening ear or the eye for a good gift, and so apparently it is my freelance job to babysit coworkers during my scheduled and unpaid "me" time.

My number one issue is planning all of the office parties. It is literally not in my job description. If included in my contractual agreement was an obligation to "foster community" or "ensure that every superior has a fancy cake for his birthday" then I would gladly be baker, deliveryman, and financier every single month. I would accept it as part of my job and a necessary evil, and then I would move on.

However, not only is it not my job (I checked), but I doubt that it would be expected of a male manager and apparently I don't have a right to not want to do it. I've field tested complaints to a few coworkers and the general response is a resounding "I totally understand not wanting to pay for it out of your own money, but are you also saying that you don't want to do it AT ALL?" What if I said NO, I don't? That shouldn't automatically mean that I don't like my coworkers or that I'm displacing bitter feelings about my job onto undeserving birthday guys and girls. It simply means that I am exercising my right to be a normal person untethered to any gendered responsibility to wait on people hand and foot. I deserve to be allowed to make that choice for myself, and I don't appreciate being characterized as a boor for not wanting to be a pro bono personal assistant. When it's someone else's birthday, every other member of this office just drops by and signs a card, maybe contributes a couple dollars, and then goes about their merry day. They don't order the cake two days in advance. Or pick out the card. Or front the cash. Or organize and motiveate the troops. Or hound the free-riders. Or set up the decorations. Or pick up the cake. Or bike with the cake balanced delicately in one hand to the bus stop . Or ride the bus with it sitting next to them.

Nor do they have to plan their own birthday parties!

Experience, my ass!

Okay, so first of all I thought long and hard about the insertion of that comma in the title of this post because I don't necessarily want you guys to experience my actual rear end, only to experience my frustration at the employment market.

I interviewed last week for a teller position at Sun Trust Bank. A job that I'm confident I could perform with flying colors. I felt really good about my interview, and really thought that I could actually have a job before I lose my job at The Sharper Image on May 24 (I realize this is still possible). Anywho, as you may have guess already, this morning at 9am I received a phone call from Sun Trust informing me that I did not get the job. They said that my interview went excellently, but that ultimately they had to give the job to an applicant with banking experience. Experience, my ass!! I have a degree from a top 5 university. I am a minority (I hang on to this whenever I can), and how can I ever gain experience if I'm never given an opportunity!? Obviously, I'm frustrated. They told me I was their second choice. That's supposed to make me feel better. I can't decide whether it does or not. It doesn't change the fact I didn't get the job.

Okay, I'm done...not with life. Don't worry. I'm not that discouraged. I'm just done with this angry post. It's Friday, and you guys should be happy and looking forward to the weekend. I'll be working, like always. Have enough fun for me!

Yamanda, I hope you stop itching.