Oh how the mighty have fallen.

[suspectclass]

Right now I am writing a cover letter to the registrar at my high school. For a job. At my high school.

Worse yet, I don't think I'm qualified.

Comments

[szymanski.livejournal.com]

Hey, this is actually Shannon, Amber's friend -- not Amber. I sometimes log in under her account, and I saw your post in her friends list. Hope that's okay.

Anyway, I wanted to respond because I too have felt the post-graduation joblessness/job search pain -- and I feel the need to tell you that despite the presently bleak outlook, it all will be absolutely fine. It really will. Don't stress too much or doubt yourself or run for the hills. I swear, it all works out. I was unemployed for almost a *year* after graduating (okay, that's not the reassuring part of my post), felt like a piece of crap, applied for a zillion receptionist positions and a job going door-to-door selling knives (that job I actually did get - but it was a scam. Stay away from knife-selling jobs). By the time my birthday came around in March, I didn't even want to acknowledge that I existed.

The happy part of the story is that I now have The Best Job In The World (working as a graphic designer for the ultra-progressive Media Education Foundation in Northampton). I got it through informal networking. I made it known to everyone I knew that I was looking for employment, and I even contacted people from my past to tell them of my availability (and gave out resumes). I randomly talked to people I didn't know but who had cool jobs. I discovered that many of the good jobs never go in the paper, and that people will hire you even if you don't presently have all of the skills they want, as long as they want *you.* I did not have the stated qualifications for my last job (which I landed through informal networking). And I certainly didn't have the qualifications for my current job (I didn't even have a portfolio!). But my current employer was one of the people from my past to whom I sent an email and resume, and because of that, he knew that I was available and when an opening came up he contacted me. I am now convinced that contacts, not the newspaper classifieds that I spent so much time reading, are the key. For whatever that's worth. And, keep in mind that your first job will not be your last job. So if it doesn't rock your world, just bring in the cash, and keep putting feelers out until you do come across something great.

Anyway, your post just made me remember the depressing and demoralizing time I spent job hunting after graduation, and I hope that maybe I could be of some encouragement to you. You are an intelligent, well-spoken, thoughtful and highly capable person who will be snatched up by an employer (hopefully soon) who will be lucky to have found you. And until that happens, don't let yourself start thinking that you're anything less than awesome. I don't know you that well, but I wish I had had the opportunity to spend more time with you, because you seem like an incredible person.

/end of the longwinded commentary

Best of luck!
Shannon
shannon@psychocreature.com