The Hunt Continues
Posted By Kathleen David on May 10, 2005
Didn’t get as much as I wanted to do yesterday but then what else is new. I ended up going back to sleep for a couple of hours since Caroline got me up really early. I did get the kitchen back in order post trip. This can be a challenge. I applied for 3 jobs in various fields in publishing. Peter found the song I am going to use for class Saturday.
The job hunt is getting me down again. I pulled myself out off that hole once only to recently slip back since I have not had a steady job with benefits for two years now. I feel like any job I apply for is an exercise in futility. I hear there have been many new jobs created and that the over-all jobless rate is down. Couldn’t tell it by the lack of response on Human Resource Departments to resumes. I mean even a “thanks but no thanks” would be nice. If I submitted a manuscript that was not accepted they would tell me. But a resume is no longer given the courtesy it once was. I have heard the argument that because they get so many but in this information age I know there are ways of setting up a macro that would fire off an e-mail with some sort of response with next to no time. I use to do it all the time at Del Rey for unsolicited manuscripts. Heck, I had 6 different versions of the letter to use depending on the situation. Instead I sit in frustration hoping to win what is rapidly becoming the job lottery.
I know I have other skills. I know I have this artistic bend. I know I love puppets and costumes and theater. I have done theater. Right now I don’t think I could take the hours needed to stage-manage a show. I would have to drop out of Caroline’s life during rehearsal. It would probably feel different if I was puppeteering, but not by much. Right now I am having a hard time motivating myself to do anything. Peter is encouraging me to do something to break me out of this funk. I think the Puppet Class is going to help because it is occupying my mind with new stuff to do.
I have a bunch of projects I want to do including starting the costumes for Shoreleave. I just have to budget my time better. I do have time and I am angry with myself for not using it better. So I am setting myself a goal today of getting my desk clean so I can type without bumping my wrist into stuff. And tomorrow I will set myself another goal. Piece by piece I am going to pull myself back together and out of my pit of despair.
I am grateful for the chances for a job.
Kathy,
DO not give up on yourself. It will happen. Perhaps it is time to have your resume reviewed by a specialist. I hire people at my office and many times, I may look at a resume and say no, but if I interview the person, alot comes out that was not on the resume.
I appear to be doing slightly better on the job search front than I was a few months ago, and certainly better than the winter of ’04. I’ve had two interviews in the last two weeks, both of which seemed to go well, but they’re for big companies so I haven’t heard back yet about the second interviews…
I still say you’re selling yourself short. With your skills, job history and contacts in the publishing world you should be an agent or at the very least a script or book editor or consultant. Set yourself up in your own business. Heck, do it just temporarily or part time. It would bring in some extra money, you could set your own time, number of clients, and you’d still be home with Caroline and when a job situation does open up you’d still be free to take it if you like.
You have a best selling author for a husband and you know all thes other famous and connected people. And you’re just a stone’s throw from the publishing capital of the world.
Geez, woman, you’re sitting on top of a gold mine complaining that you’re broke. If you can do the work for someone else, why can’t you do it for yourself?
For the record: I’ve spent the last five minutes wondering whether I should post this or not. I want to motivate you to take a risk and try something a little different, not come across as being harsh, overly critical or condescending. If I have I apologize, as that is not my intent.