Hunting and Gathering

Here's the Status of my Status List, continually changing since June and perhaps it needs to be cleaned up, but I think it speaks to the trials and tribulations of finding a job. Names and addresses have been omitted.

(Company Name): (name) called me about the position September 11, I have an interview at 10AM Wednesday the 13th at their office (address). Print, fill out and bring the application from their website. Emailed thank-you for the interview Thursday, phoned and left two messages with (name) Friday the 15th, spoke to her on the phone Sept. 18 and she said she is still working on things and talking to (name), I should call back on wed the 20th to touch base and see again if we can set up an interview.
Contacted (firm name), sent letter Sept. 7 (nyc)- just for the heck of it.
Tell (name) I sent an application to (Firm Name).
(Firm Name)-left message around September 1 wit (name). Spoke to (name) on the 7th, Call back Monday the 11th to try to set up an interview for Wednesday (he had a deadline)- left a message 930 am Sept. 11 saying I was interested in setting up an interview, and will call back. He is out office most of the day the 12th (call back wed) INTERVIEW FRIDAY MORNING 900 September 15!!! Good interview but they are not hiring at this time.
(Firm Name): talked to (name) on September 1, he hasn't seen my resume yet because it was on (name)’s desk (he is looking for someone with 4 to 8 years for his own group but I don't fit in that category. I said I would call back next week (Sept. 5-8)- spoke to (name) again on the 7th of Sept., call back the 8th of Sept. If I haven't heard from them by then- they are still working on it when I called back on the 11th, call back wed. The 13th to check in again... found out they are only looking for someone with 5-8 years exp.
(Firm Name)- not hiring anytime soon.
(Firm Name)- spoke to (name) on the 8th, call back in two weeks (Aug. 22) if still interested... yet they probably don't have a good "working-learning" position
(Company Name)- on Aug. 7 check back in a week or two (Aug. 14-21), not really interested in this position.
(Firm Name)- left message on someone's (name?) answering machine 7th... re-sent resume they lost on the 8th left message with (name) on the 10th
(Firm Name)- did not stop in Fri. 11 Aug.- but sent resume email on the 7th or so. He is looking for someone on contract basis only, and has no need at this time.
(Firm Name)- brought resume in on the 7th left message with (name) who is in charge of hiring on the 8th and again on the 10th. (Name)? (Pdx Blog?)
(Firm Name)- spoke to principal (name), check back in three weeks (Aug. 29)
(Firm Name)- check back in about a month (Sept. 6-9), or make it three weeks (Aug. 30)- although (city website of major project competition) says late Sept.- called and left a message Mon. Sept. 18.
(Firm Name)- call on TUES (15th)- not really interested in this firm

(Company Name)- INTERVIEW AUG 29 130 PM
(Firm Name)- call back October
(Firm Name)- walk-in Aug. 21, spoke to (name) in the afternoon. Call back on the 22nd to see if we can set up an interview. 1st interview Tuesday AUG 29 930 AM- (name) is out the first week of September but the week after to set up a second interview (CALL FIRM THE 11TH OR 12TH TO SET THIS UP) called the 11th, need to call back the 13th(wed) to set up second interview!!! Called back the 13th, need to try back again later this week (he won't be looking at it until tomorrow the 14th)- called back the 15th and set 2nd interview for the 18th, went to interview on the 18th and didn't get an offer, but must call back between Friday the 23rd and Tuesday the 27th to set up a third…
(Firm Name)- walk-in Aug. 21, not interested in this firm
(Company Name)- (name and title), (position). Interview FRIDAY AUG 31 900 AM (address) (left off elevator)- not interested in this job.


To do:
Call back: (Firm Name), (Firm Name), (Firm Name), (Firm Name), (Firm Name), (Firm Name).
Stop in (Firm Name)
Stop in (Firm Name),
Email or stop in (Firm Name) (address) see archinect ad- (name) works at (Firm Name)
Call (Firm Name)

peer pressure

“You need to get out there.”

Fuck you.

I can’t believe how insensitive my peers can be when it comes to the fact that I am not working.

I just called a friend of mine who just got back from Copenhagen where he spent the summer studying to say hey and let him know I’m glad he’s back. He sounded appalled that I didn’t have a job yet after having graduated this spring. Since I hadn’t been working, he wanted to know what tangible thing I had done with my time instead.

I’ve encountered this line of questioning and heard the disgust in the tone of my peers time and time again. It seems that many (about half) of them think they have a right to judge my choices and actions on the fact that we went to school together, and are therefore similarly qualified for work.

I have come to believe that there are only two acceptable responses to interrogations from my peers regarding my work situation:

1. The “I’m working really hard at it” line:
I feel compelled to list all of the things I have done since graduation and why, to prove that I have worked hard. However, it is nearly impossible to do this in any reasonable amount of time in thorough detail, so inevitably it turns into a session of listening to patronizing, unsolicited advice (this is the hard of the issue, since clearly to all of these folks if I have really been trying I would be working, right? Obviously I’m some kind of idiot.) Unfortunately, the only thing that is polite in this situation is to smile, say thanks, and listen while trying not to seem as irritated as I feel.

2. The “I don’t give a fuck” line:
This one works a little better. I act like I have been just taking it easy and enjoying myself, decidedly becoming the waste-of-life that I am perceived to be. Life’s a beach, dude, and the surf’s up.

I have learned an enormous amount during the past two and a half months, and I have come back to a place of equilibrium after being wound up in a challenging thesis project for the past year. My confidence is constantly being tested, if not by the process of finding a job, by the people who doubt my judgment. However, I still believe in me… and for those who don’t… go fuck yourselves.