Have I mentioned how I hate the question: "What are your plans after graduation?"
As if any answer I give will be ample!
Here's something I plan: pay back my loans- which takes money- which means a job of some sort
The 5% of my graduating class who do have "careers" they're going into are forced into plastic hopeful smiles that they'll spend the next 10 years of life being appreciated by their boss and continuously presented with generous raises and bonuses, and in the comments line on the check it will say: Thanks for being wonderful. However, statistics show that we will likely change our profession 7 times before settling into a career where we'll be undervalued and overworked- I don't think that ever covers the fabulous impacts the recession has had on our workforce. So we're supposed to be amped about graduating, right? Additionally, I read in Bloomberg Businessweek that the U.S. has the highest share of low-paying jobs of developed nations! Ah, God Bless America... or at least just me since I'm a July 4th baby.
Today I got one of the best bits of encouragement from someone I just met, she said: "my advice is that you shouldn't shove your way into a career that you'll inevitably hate but won't quit because you tried so hard to be there and you can't imagine that there's a better opportunity out there." It was like a movie: time stood still, my heartbeat rose above any other noise, and in slow motion I said 'wow, thanks'.
I recently applied to a position and in the interview it was made known to me that I would willingly be selling my soul to the company for 9-13 months to gain advancement. After said advancement, the soul was no longer satisfying and they wanted my first born. But wait! I could get a job practically anywhere after a few years (and a few offspring). You know, I was ready to take that position too!?
I've been praying that I would have two things while 'picking my future': clarity and confidence. I pray that I will be led down a path that allows me to spend time with my husband, doesn't drain me of my joy, and encourages my talents. I pray that I will find a job I can use to help others and lift them up along the way.
So to finish the story of said application: I did not get the job. A sign... or a failure? Not sure, but I somehow feel it was both. What at first pissed me off now makes me positive it wasn't the right place after all. Here is the email- I did not change the way that it was addressed. Nor did I add the repetition of "good luck with your job search." The only thing I removed is the name of the company and the sender, because classy girls do things like that (right after devising snide responses that they'll never actually send!)
Dear ___FIRSTNAME__,
Thank you for taking the time to interview for the Management Trainee position with <>. Although we have decided to pursue other candidates for this opening, we sincerely appreciate your interest in our company and wish you the very best in your job search.
Thank you again for your interest in employment with <> and we wish you good luck in your job search.
Regards,
So no job, still have my soul. Unfortunately?
