I knew job hunting would be hard, but I didn't really see myself still without any good leads 4 months in. I've been trying so hard to work towards my future that I lost myself in the present. Job hunting has taken its toll not only on my bank account, but also on my relationships and my self esteem. However, I'm a firm believer in creating your own happiness, so I'm changing things up a bit.
I've been so focused on looking forward that I forgot to enjoy now. I'm living in a beautiful town, I'm healthy and I currently have 4 part-time jobs. I want to be happy now and as long as I can start supporting myself and paying rent to my generous boyfriend who has allowed me to live free at his house, then that is enough for me right now. Of course I want to keep job hunting, but not having my dream job right away isn't failing to me. Even if I have to take another internship with an agency here, I'm fine with that.
So for now I'm ok with being a caterer, babysitter, pet accessory store, freelancer. I'm still designing and expanding my portfolio and hopefully some paychecks will start coming in as well. I'm tired of putting my life on hold for my dream job. Instead, I'm gonna start living my life again knowing that the dream job will come when the time is right.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
I heart Charleston
I apologize for not keeping my blog up to date. It's amazing how busy one can be without even having a job.
Ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved the beach. For years my family owned a beach condo in Emerald Isle and my mom, brother and I would live there every summer. Pops would come on the weekends and my favorite weekend, he brought me a kitty. Anyway, I've always known I'd end up at the beach eventually, I just assumed it'd have to be when I was retired. Oh how sweetly life can surprise you.
About 2 weeks ago I had an interview in Charleston. The interviews went well and I was offered a job. I knew it wasn't my dream job but it would get me down to Charleston where I've wanted to be since I graduated college. Not to mention my brother lives there, I already have a few girlfriends there and the boyfriend is there as well. Now I must share, however, my hilarious one day experience at my job. And by one day, I mean my first day was my last day at that job.
When I arrived that Monday morning at 8am we went to the back conference room. There were no chairs, no tables, just one small desk in a corner. They explained that this was the "Attitude" room and there was no leaning on the walls because this is where we got pumped up for the day. Yet another red flag went up, but I was already there so I figured I might as well check it out. I had a meeting with a guy who was training me. He was probably 20 yrs old and had almost graduated from College of Charleston. While writing their mottos and various other information on the white board, I cringed at his absolutely horrible use of spelling. Not to mention he moved his mouth weird and stuck his tongue out when he wrote anything. Around 9:30am it was finally time to head out to our territory. Our job, it turns out, was pretty much scamming insurance companies. In South Carolina you can get your windshield fixed for free if it has a crack (aka not free but your insurance covers it) so we were trying to convince people they needed a new windshield and should choose us.
I mistakenly wore heels assuming that one day in heels couldn't be that bad. I was seriously mistaken. We drove to a territory right near my house, parked at a gas station and started walking. We went in EVERY business. We pitched people and by lunch had made about one sale. Luckily we were close to my house so my trainer took me by the house to grab some tennis shoes. Eric was home and I gave him a quick, omg I think this job is ridiculous and told him I was excited for our dinner plans that night. Out the door and I was back on the grind. We literally walked down the highway and walked into some of the sketchiest stores ever. We're talkin about 3.5 miles I walked in a business suit.
Highlights of the day. . . This guy was outrageous and would walk into random doors and into offices. At one point he walked into this door that was obviously not a business and just had a partition up right near the door. As we walked in, two very ghetto guys were playing video games and smoking pot. He STILL pitched them. Also, he went up to an apartment building that was clearly on the wrong side of the tracks and instead of knocking on doors, he knocked on a sliding glass door. He said "Sometimes its a great way to get business." I replied "Or get shot." Towards the end of the evening when it was getting dark, we were still in the ghetto and he walked up to a group of terrifying guys and tried to pitch them. I literally started praying.
My day ended around 7:30pm. AKA I worked from 8am until 7:30pm for a whopping $90 pre tax. I left almost in tears. Eric and I didn't have dinner until close to 8:30pm and I called my sister and my parents and gave them the scoop. My sister laughed hysterically and said, um quit. My parents were pretty much in agreement so while at dinner I called my boss and said thanks for the opportunity but I didn't feel like it was a good fit for me. At least I got a good story out of it.
Family photo day at the dog park - yes, lame but totally adorable
The good news is I am still in Charleston and I have already fallen in love with this town. I'm living at Eric's house (he's currently in Chapel Hill for a few more weeks doing repairs on the house there so he can start renting it out). It's an amazing 5 bedroom house with a screened in back porch (with a HOT TUB) and a huge fenced in yard for the pup. Our neighborhood is so cute and I try to take Soco on daily walks. Right near us is a neighborhood that would rival Harker's Island with mansions each with their own docks and boats. I'm hoping someone over there has kids and needs a babysitter.
James Island County Park
Also, the dog parks are ridiculous down here. Soco and I love James Island County Park best because it's 3 acres and has a huge lake for her to play in. She sort of escaped yesterday by swimming across the small part of the lake and not coming back, but I was able to find her. My days pretty much consist of job hunting, nesting in this big old house and spending some quality time with Soco. I'm hoping to get Tiger down here soon too, it's been too long since I've gotten to snuggle with my kitten.
Today I'm off to apply for some more catering jobs and start researching Advertising agencies that may potentially be hiring. Let the job hunting continue . . .
Ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved the beach. For years my family owned a beach condo in Emerald Isle and my mom, brother and I would live there every summer. Pops would come on the weekends and my favorite weekend, he brought me a kitty. Anyway, I've always known I'd end up at the beach eventually, I just assumed it'd have to be when I was retired. Oh how sweetly life can surprise you.
About 2 weeks ago I had an interview in Charleston. The interviews went well and I was offered a job. I knew it wasn't my dream job but it would get me down to Charleston where I've wanted to be since I graduated college. Not to mention my brother lives there, I already have a few girlfriends there and the boyfriend is there as well. Now I must share, however, my hilarious one day experience at my job. And by one day, I mean my first day was my last day at that job.
When I arrived that Monday morning at 8am we went to the back conference room. There were no chairs, no tables, just one small desk in a corner. They explained that this was the "Attitude" room and there was no leaning on the walls because this is where we got pumped up for the day. Yet another red flag went up, but I was already there so I figured I might as well check it out. I had a meeting with a guy who was training me. He was probably 20 yrs old and had almost graduated from College of Charleston. While writing their mottos and various other information on the white board, I cringed at his absolutely horrible use of spelling. Not to mention he moved his mouth weird and stuck his tongue out when he wrote anything. Around 9:30am it was finally time to head out to our territory. Our job, it turns out, was pretty much scamming insurance companies. In South Carolina you can get your windshield fixed for free if it has a crack (aka not free but your insurance covers it) so we were trying to convince people they needed a new windshield and should choose us.
I mistakenly wore heels assuming that one day in heels couldn't be that bad. I was seriously mistaken. We drove to a territory right near my house, parked at a gas station and started walking. We went in EVERY business. We pitched people and by lunch had made about one sale. Luckily we were close to my house so my trainer took me by the house to grab some tennis shoes. Eric was home and I gave him a quick, omg I think this job is ridiculous and told him I was excited for our dinner plans that night. Out the door and I was back on the grind. We literally walked down the highway and walked into some of the sketchiest stores ever. We're talkin about 3.5 miles I walked in a business suit.
Highlights of the day. . . This guy was outrageous and would walk into random doors and into offices. At one point he walked into this door that was obviously not a business and just had a partition up right near the door. As we walked in, two very ghetto guys were playing video games and smoking pot. He STILL pitched them. Also, he went up to an apartment building that was clearly on the wrong side of the tracks and instead of knocking on doors, he knocked on a sliding glass door. He said "Sometimes its a great way to get business." I replied "Or get shot." Towards the end of the evening when it was getting dark, we were still in the ghetto and he walked up to a group of terrifying guys and tried to pitch them. I literally started praying.
My day ended around 7:30pm. AKA I worked from 8am until 7:30pm for a whopping $90 pre tax. I left almost in tears. Eric and I didn't have dinner until close to 8:30pm and I called my sister and my parents and gave them the scoop. My sister laughed hysterically and said, um quit. My parents were pretty much in agreement so while at dinner I called my boss and said thanks for the opportunity but I didn't feel like it was a good fit for me. At least I got a good story out of it.
Family photo day at the dog park - yes, lame but totally adorableThe good news is I am still in Charleston and I have already fallen in love with this town. I'm living at Eric's house (he's currently in Chapel Hill for a few more weeks doing repairs on the house there so he can start renting it out). It's an amazing 5 bedroom house with a screened in back porch (with a HOT TUB) and a huge fenced in yard for the pup. Our neighborhood is so cute and I try to take Soco on daily walks. Right near us is a neighborhood that would rival Harker's Island with mansions each with their own docks and boats. I'm hoping someone over there has kids and needs a babysitter.
James Island County ParkAlso, the dog parks are ridiculous down here. Soco and I love James Island County Park best because it's 3 acres and has a huge lake for her to play in. She sort of escaped yesterday by swimming across the small part of the lake and not coming back, but I was able to find her. My days pretty much consist of job hunting, nesting in this big old house and spending some quality time with Soco. I'm hoping to get Tiger down here soon too, it's been too long since I've gotten to snuggle with my kitten.
Today I'm off to apply for some more catering jobs and start researching Advertising agencies that may potentially be hiring. Let the job hunting continue . . .
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