I lapsed. I didn't mean to, I just did

by Suw on November 10, 2003

I've been going through that 'what's the point?' phase of job hunting. The one where you really can't be arsed to search through the job sites anymore because no one has shown the slightest bit of interest in you when you've applied before, so why should they start showing any interest now?

Job hunting is tedious, boring, depressing and generally a miserable task. It’s not helped by the fact that many of the job sites appear to have been designed by morons who've never really thought about how someone might actually search the site and for whom the word 'usability' is merely an interesting sound, rather than a concept they should take to heart. It gets particularly frustrating when you spot a job that looks interesting, only to figure out that it's exactly the same as one you applied for unsuccessfully a few weeks ago, just posted again in a slightly rewritten form.

But I have started the hunt again, after gentle but persistent enquiries from friends as to the state of play. (For which I am actually thankful, although maybe when I’ve responded to such enquiries I've simply sounded whiny and annoyed.) After all, it only has to work out once, right? I only need one job to come together and I'll be sorted.

Of course, in a way, it doesn't help that I also have this journalism course going on, because part of me's thinking 'well, I can earn more money doing that in the long run than working as a project manager'. The temptation is to trust in that rather than look for a more secure job.

But of course, I'm not actually earning any money from writing yet, and it's a longwinded process to start up a new freelance career. I've done it before, I know how hard it is, but sometimes it seems the easier option than to do all this job hunting.

Really, I should do both. Get my arse in gear as regards this course but keep searching for a job, and just see which one comes up roses first.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Josh November 10, 2003 at 5:40 pm

–But of course, I'm not actually earning any money from writing yet, and it's a longwinded process to start up a new freelance career.–

Been there, done that, cashed the $50 checks. 😛

And that's why I'm using my journo degree to proof gov't paperwork.

Visit me @ http://joshmann.blog-city.com/index.cfm

Suw November 10, 2003 at 9:54 pm

Ah, but at least you have a journo degree and are using it for… something… 😉 And who knows when those proofing skills will come in handy. Next time you're at the theatre, for example, you'll be able to whip out the red pen and correct the programme.

I had an editor friend who actually did that once. There's attention to detail and there's attention to detail.

Josh November 12, 2003 at 7:16 pm

I actually DID catch myself doing that once to a copy of the theater program…I think it's this THING you acquire from having to prod over everything you read TOO too much.

Funny thing is that the Miami branch for Playbill Theater Guides used my resume as toilet paper. Go fig. 🙂

Visit me @ http://joshmann.blog-city.com/index.cfm

Suw November 12, 2003 at 7:40 pm

Ah, there is no logic to the search for gainful employment. I think half the time employers are scared off by people who they suspect might be smarter than they are. Or maybe they're all just desperate for more loo roll.

Josh November 12, 2003 at 9:34 pm

I think it's a little bit from Column A and a little bit from Column B.

But I'll do you one better…most people in the biz are about 87 types of paranoid that someone is going to come along and take their spot. And it's easy to say just the hacks do it…but in reality if you have any type of self doubt (which most of the good ones do have, BTW) it doesn't matter if you have Pulitzers as bookends, you're STILL out to protect your spot by any means necessary.

The things they never taught us at university 🙂

Visit me @ http://joshmann.blog-city.com/index.cfm

Suw November 12, 2003 at 10:16 pm

You mean, they taught you stuff at university? Other than how to drink, that is.

To be honest, I'm not sure what the deal is when it comes to getting journalistic work of any sort. I think it boils down to having a lot of ideas and harassing a lot of editors. Certainly that's how I got to work for the Melody Maker – once I had a phone number and a name, I just kept ringing until I think eventually the poor guy gave in and let me write because it was simply easier.

I'm not sure whether that will work with the broadsheets though. Alhtough I do have a lot of ideas – I just need to work them up a bit and see what gives. Course, it's that latter part that's the hardest.

Josh November 13, 2003 at 1:43 pm

In my case, it's been picking names out of the phone book, having and friend of a friend of a friend, using a contact as an introduceor and good old-fashioned nepotism. Which isn't exactly a textbook approach on any front. Well, except for maybe nepotism.

Visit me @ http://joshmann.blog-city.com/index.cfm

Suw November 14, 2003 at 11:58 am

Ah… nepotism. If only I knew someone who could be usefully nepotistic, I'd be just fine. Oh well, can't win 'em all.

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