NeedForReed

I took the night off, dangit!~~

// March 25th, 2009 // No Comments » // Ramblings

Another night that I should have spent looking for jobs, but I needed a night off.  By writing this out I will now be able to look back in hindsight and chastise myself.  *shakes fist at self*

Yeah, over it.  Anyyywho, today while sitting in office land I realized I had overlooked the gem that is LiveNation with all of it’s employment opportunities.  Again I’m not sure if I totally qualify for these positions, but at this point an administrative assistant type position in “music land” is far superior to working crap jobs.  SO! I have laid out a new mental game plan.

I spoke about this being phase two of my job search (phase:II) .  Well, I’m going to further break that into Phase II: Month 1 and Month 2.  Month 1 being the month where I have a still have some savings and will continue to look for legitimate “real” jobs.  AKA jobs that I am wanting to work.  HOPEFULLY something will come back by that point.  I just need to keep my head to the grindstone.  Disregard my opening to this blog.  Month 2 will be spent last ditch effort style, when funds are low, seeking that “for the sake of money” job.  Dear world, let’s make month numero uno successful so we don’t resort to plan B/month2/hatelifeplan.

After watching National Geographic tonight and all the craziness that is MS13 gang activity in LA, maybe I’m not cut out for that secretary job in the ruff and tumble of that Godless town.  Prior to that I watched a pottery show and vagabond hippie type thoughts of Oregon floated through my mind.  The Fat Tire Ale next to me may or may not have helped to facilitate this.  I mean, technically I still am waiting to hear back from that farm in Oregon.

What the hell am I going to write about when (if) I find a job?  Oh yea! That’s right, music.  Check out a band called Motel Motel.  They did the SXSW rounds and are  headed to England here shortly.  I’m rusty on the wordsmithing, but with time I hope to reignite the ol’ mental work shop.  With nothing being said, they are worth a cup of coffee.

http://www.myspace.com/motelmotel

The Job Hunter

// March 24th, 2009 // No Comments » // Ramblings

Well, to all of my avid readers, an update on today’s job search!

The Agency Group wrote me a nice soft blow rejection letter.  They aren’t currently hiring, which is fine.  At least they wrote me back.

I’m trying to take a different angle on how I’ve been approaching the job search.  The past two months have been spent looking for any and everything here locally in Raleigh.   This has proved unsuccessful and I’m trying to target other geographic regions based on my field of interest, entertainment.  Austin, LA, NY, and Nashville have quickly risen in my field of vision.

I’ve spoken to some personal friends who have provided me with possible leads.  I sent out some feelers earlier today and one of the contacts actually wrote me back.  He didn’t offer a specific job, but he did offer some advice, and said I could reach out whenever I needed to.  Good dude.

I definitely feel like I’ve entered stage two of my job hunt.  I definitely feel a lot better about how I’m approaching things, I just have to continue to reach out on a daily basis.  I’m keeping notes on who I’ve reached out to, when, and how I should follow up.

Maybe a seed will take and start to grow.  Persistence I say! (Thanks Obama)

Not job related, but I am so pumped to go to the Mountains this weekend.  A much needed reprieve.

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Therapeutic Sunrise

// March 23rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Ramblings

I can’t begin to describe how therapeutic watching today’s sunrise was for me.  Last night I went into work to get my schedule and I apparently looked at the wrong one, causing me to get myself up this morning and come into work at 7:15.   There was a reason for this happening though.  I found out that my coworker Blake has been accepted to grad school in Utah for architecture.  I can’t begin to tell you how happy this makes me and how it fills me with hope for myself.  I’m sure I’ll reread the post I wrote below at some point, but right now I don’t want to because I know it is filled with anger and frustration.  It was cathartic getting it out, but now I need to continue along a path that is going to bring positive change into my life, as well as the ones around me.

Anagnorisis

// March 22nd, 2009 // No Comments » // Ramblings

This weekend I was loaned a copy of Albert Camus’s “The Stranger”.  It was a rather quick read and one passage in particular stuck out at me.  It involved the main character being in prison after having commited a murder.  Looking at the cell walls each and everyday he began to become acclimated to it, and he described how anyone can get used to any situation.  He talked about being stuck inside a tree and having to look up at the pretty blossoms, just above his reach, and how he could probably become used to that as well.  I look at my current job situation and similar sentinments pass over me.

I’m 23 years old, college educated, and I work in a coffee shop.  I work at a fucking Starbucks.  I was hired there three years ago with no college degree, yet I am still there.   Did I become complacent somewhere along the line?  Surely this is not the case.  I know it is not the case.  I was trying to make things work at another part time job that ends later this week.  Despite bitching and moaning about it, I am so glad that I have it right now.  It is going to have to be the glue right now to make other dreams possible.

More than anything, I am dealing with what my perception of success is.  There is nothing at all wrong with working in the service industry.  I guess I am just aware that better situations exists within the service industry, as well as outside of it, and this is where the problem arises.  I possess this knowledge!  Therefore I think about it, and dwell on it, and it starts to fester.  I want change so bad.

For the past two months I have been actively seeking out jobs.  Whatever tactics I have employed (ha!) up until this point have proven futile.  Of the 15+ applications, cover letters, you name it I have sent out, I have received one in person interview.  It is rather depressing and truth be told it is wearing me down.  I wish job leads would write back with a simple no so I could push their crap out of my head and move onto the next lead.

I feel as if I have exhausted all possible avenues of employment in Raleigh related to entertainment or media.  I’ve accepted that I’m going to have to move to find a job.  There are a handful of people here that I will miss dearly.

Another problem that I am running into is that I don’t feel like I have a true skill set.  If I do, it is very basic, and not specialized enough.  I think I’m going to need a stroke of dumb luck and maybe someone will take a chance on me.  I know I’m smart, I just haven’t had the cards fall my way as of late.

So badly I want to attribute my failures at securing a job to some larger societal force, but I really do feel it is up to the individual to embody the change they want in their lives.  I need to retool what I’m doing now, and make better use of my time.   There is no such thing as hypothetical priorities.  Look at how you currently spend your time.  Those are your priorities.

I should spend less time getting fucked up, moping around about my first world problems, and dedicate more time towards things I truly to enjoy: music, books, coffee (soon!), and most pertinenent, securing a job that will enable the aformentioned items.

Change is gradual.  Stay positive.

On(un) employment

// March 3rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Ramblings

It’s funny in that “oh wait, this is my life” kind of way.  Meaning, it’s not really that funny, but it is kind of interesting.  Oh 23, keep dishing it out.  More 4:30am’s, more soul crushing office walls, more apathy, more playing catch up.  I’ll get it figured out.  It’s just taking a bit and it’s kind of dishing out the downtrodden feeling more often than I’d like.