Reworking thought

I have an appointment with a temp agency later this week. I wish temping resembled the old time secretarial pools a la Mad Men, but without all the starch and affairs.

One thing I remember from previous temp ventures is the horrifying computer aptitude testing. Let's be serious here -- no journalism major is going to be handy on Excel. I was the star of my assistantship when I was able to compose e-mails and file things in alphabetical order.

My father lent me a book today: Rethinking Work. It basically says that you have to find your passion, which frankly I could have realized without reading graphs about my motivation, but this kind of thing is interesting nonetheless. According to the book, I should not be going to the temp appointment because if offends my inner motives. I admit, I have an intense desire to get some hotel job in the Rockies and never look back.

So I am indeed rethinking work. What if I just don't do it at all?

The ones that got away

After being turned down for a part-time sales position by Spirit! The Halloween Store, I've realized that getting a job is all about who you know. Fortunately, everyone I know seems to be adept at career counseling! Here are a few golden opportunities that were presented to me, but have regrettably passed me by.

- IRS temp
- Sales associate at Delia's
- Cashier at local farm stand
- Medical coding and billing
- Production intern (awesome experience is your pay!)
- Substitute teacher/Teacher's aid
- Going back to school for a real degree*
- EBay seller
- Attending body piercing school
- Returning to old career in higher education

Am I too good for these ideas? Certainly not. Do any of these jobs pay enough to alleviate the crippling night sweats brought on by student loans and credit card bills? Certainly not. But thank you! I'll definitely keep your card.

*Less an opportunity than an exclaimed command

Attention grad students: Drop out now!

Start the management trainee program at Starbucks or the Army, because you're about to work there anyway.

Remember when a degree used to mean something? Me either. In an effort to postpone responsibility as long as possible, I shelled out over 60 grand on a Masters degree in journalism but apparently forgot to take the seminar on why graduate school is useless unless you're an engineer, federal employee, lawyer, or doctor.

What follows will be a chronicle of job searching by an advanced degree-holder with no previous full-time experience. Or real business wardrobe. Gasp.