Looking for Jobs

I'm not nervous. I mean, I certainly come across a lot of things I am not qualified for, but I come across a lot that I am qualified for. The prospects look promising.

KC is a great city to want to be in if you're looking for a job as a Technical Writer/Documentation Specialist, too. A lot of other cities don't have half as many options. I'm even seeing some positions seeking people with English degrees. Woohoo!

So far, a lot of the jobs are temporary and contract. That's one of the downfalls of looking in the tech writing field. However, I am a smart, efficient, detail-oriented professional. I know from past experience that people will be impressed with my work ethic and quality of work, so even if I move 13 hours away for a contract job, I may end up with a permanent job by the end or at least some productive experience to add to my resume.

It will probably be very competative, but the job I'm the most excited about is with H&R Block. They need someone to produce training documentation and to run trainings. That is my favorite part of my current job, and I think it's something that could be a lot of fun. Being in training is like being central to making an organization a well-oiled machine, and I think proper training and support materials can make a big difference in helping other employees to be happy with what they're doing. Frustration can ruin a workplace, and as a training documenter-editor-provider, I could really help alleviate some workplace frustration.

I dunno--we'll see if I actually have a job in a month-and-a-half when I'm done here, but I really do have a positive outlook. Any other outlook is a waste of time. If anything, seeing Big Cartel hire someone else when I really wanted that job was sad, but when I looked at the website of the person they did hire, I knew why. Her talent was immediately apparent in the web presence she had, and while I know I could have done a very good job, she was clearly going to be absolutely amazing.

If I don't get a job, it's because someone of oustanding caliber did. The only way to respond to that kind of rejection is to seek to be more awesome. Every time I am rejected, I will not whine about the system. Instead, I will review what I have and improve. Then I will try again.

Time to go to work. This evening, the application process begins.

Confession of an Aimless Wanderer

I'm 25, and I still have no idea what I want to do or to be. Let's track my goals and how long they lasted.

Tech Writer -- February 2011 to present
Copy Editor -- November 2010 thru February 2011
PhD in Narratology or Sci-fi / Fantasy--August 2009 thru November 2010
No Idea -- December 2008 thru August 2009
Database Developer -- July 2008 thru December 2008
Novelist -- First few months after finishing undergrad
Copy Editor -- Last year of undergrad
Middle School English Teacher -- Almost the full first 3 years of undergrad
No Idea -- Junior into senior year, while trying to decide where to apply for college
Medical Examiner (autopsies) -- Sophomore into Junior year (high school)
Surgeon -- Freshman into Sophomore year (high school)
Novelist -- 7th Grade
Chef -- 8th Grade
Marine Biologist -- 5th & 6th Grades
No Idea -- I'm sure as a small person I probably thought I'd be a ballerina or a vet the most often.

The career plans that recur often and fill the gaps between "big scheme" aspirations are probably chef, novelist, and copy editor, so maybe I should focus my energy there. Except I don't want the lifestyle of a chef, and I don't want the pressure to write of a novelist. I guess I'll look back into copy editing.

I need a goal right now. I need something to drive me, but I don't have anything. I have zero motivation right now. Being an adult doesn't suit me...not that I can be a child again. That won't work. I need to find something that I can be passionate about that will pay the bills. My passions do not pay the bills, but I just can't focus or stay with something reasonable.

I also need to indulge my passion for biology. Damn you chemistry for steering me away from biology!