What Really Bothers Me About Not Having a Full-Time Steady Paying Job?

Do you know what really bothers me about not having a full time steady paying job? When people ask me “Aren’t you freaking out? Aren’t you worried?”

I know the people who matter know how hard I’m working and how motivated I am, but what really frustrates me is that people question my optimism. As I’ve said here before, and a fact that I will maintain to the fullest, it is impossible to move forward without believing in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, then who will?

You want to know why I’m not freaking out too terribly? Because I know my job is out there, but not now. And because I stay busy.

Whether it’s through internships, or seeking out new writing opportunities, or learning new tech systems, I don’t remain complacent. I don’t think “I’m going to give the same old job boards a morning search and a late afternoon search and chill in between.” I hit the pavement. I don’t think “look at my resume! I don’t need to intern” - I find them. In not having a steady job, my resume has grown in the most important senses: skills and varied experiences.

I only think of this because in a rare slow afternoon, I looked back on the past year, and really was pleasantly surprised with my reflections. A year ago, I was leaving a position that veered me off my straight and narrow “I’m going to be an entertainment marketer! I’m going to be the suit in a laid back company” path that I had been on throughout college. And as I looked to further myself in that area, I decided to give myself a test, which, eight months after the fact, I realized was a test that failed.

Over the past year, filled with shaky jobs and unemployment, I learned more about myself than I thought possible, and really, I grew in a way I didn’t expect to. Every time I met with an older alum or a mentor figure and asked them “How did you get to where you are now?” I was astounded by the frequency of the “Honestly, I just fell into it” answer. I even got it from my Dad, who has made a life out of a career that in college he never anticipated having. I didn’t buy it, and honestly, it frustrated me, that here I am, bright eyed and passionate about the entertainment and media industry, seeking insight from people who are successful now, but at my age, didn’t share the same goals or desires. How does something like that happen?

I didn’t know, until I gave an alumni interview for my college, an experience that has forever changed my outlook on job interviews, and told someone that I’m a journalist; that I’ve taken my English degree and now I write, and one day, I’d love to be in an editorial position. She asked how I decided to go down that path, whether I wrote in college, because she’s interested in writing, but has never really written for anyone but her high school teachers. My answer fell from my tongue, “Honestly, I just fell into it.” I couldn’t believe myself. When I chose to major in English, and when I chose that I wanted my career focus to be the entertainment industry, I had essentially crossed “journalist and editor” off my prospective job list.

I saw a shrinking media industry, and I thought I saw myself on a “creative business” end of it. It’s funny, because I chose to major in English because I thought writing was fun. I saw this same comment echoed in Malcolm Gladwell’s latest book — he’s a writer, because he has fun with it. I sort of wish I had read this book months ago, when what I was doing was no longer fun to me. I turned to writing because I liked the ownership of it, I liked having an idea, seeing it come into fruition, and ultimately seeing it published somewhere. I love the thrill of a byline and the spark of genius that comes with a story idea in an unlikely situation or place. I love doing line edits. I love covering and bringing attention to topics I think deserve it. This is why I want to write. I say I fell into it, because it was never on my radar. I started writing because I was bored, and because it made me happy. More importantly, I started writing, and thinking of what I want to write, because I started reading more. I started reading more because I was unhappy. If you had told me a year ago I’d be telling a prospective student “I’m a journalist,” I would’ve questioned your sanity. It’s something I grew into — and now it’s something that I can’t imagine my life without.

Interviewing bright eyed high school students is another motivating fact of being for all intents and purposes unemployed. I volunteered with my local alumni club and the admissions office because I wanted something new to do, and I because I wanted to give back. Being on the other end of the table for a change was an added perk. Because I’m still so young, it’s been easy to see myself in their shoes. I’ve been blown away by their accomplishments, but more important, their palpable sense of idealism.

I remember being so bright eyed and idealistic and optimistic, and each new student I meet with, the more idealistic and optimistic I become with my new chosen career path and subsequent job search. I’ve also seen some places where I can improve in my job interviews, namely in asking questions. I know understand why prospective employers consistently ask you if you have any questions, and when a student really doesn’t have any, I find myself being a bit let down.

Taking an afternoon to reflect on your past year, current situation and to find inspiration from surprising sources is really the best way to fully take 2010 by storm.

-By Catherine Fuentes, Contributing Writer, 405 Club Member and actively seeking freelance entertainment writing opportunities

read more from Catherine here.

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