Well, it's been a good run . .

Not done here, but . . .  it's been a busy couple of weeks.

Last week I had three job interviews and got some volunteer work lined up. None of those paid jobs worked out, and I was fine with that. You know how you just kind of get an ominous vibe during the interview? And you don't have anything else lined up, so if you get a job offer you know you have to take it, but you really don't want to? That happened. Luckily they had somewhat the same feelings about me, and told me so.

I'd kind of like to add here that I've noticed something I've started doing in recent job interviews. I don't know if it was really a conscious choice, or what. Maybe talking with people at the employment department did boost my confidence enough that I finally felt I had the power or the right to do this: Just be brutally honest in interviews.

When asked in a phone interview this week if I had knowledge or experience with machinery, I bluntly said "Yeah, not really", instead of "Not really, but I'm willing and excited to learn!!". At a clothing store interview, they asked me if I'd be comfortable pushing people to sign up for credit cards, and instead of saying "Oh, I've done this kind of thing before, I could pick this up, no trouble,", I said "I'll be honest, it'll probably take me a little while to get comfortable with that.". And by 'a little while', I meant 'a long time', or more likely, 'probably never'. I just didn't want these jobs enough to be dishonest about the kind of person I am to get them. Just the way it is now. Feels pretty good, too

This brings me to this past Tuesday. I had an interview at a grocery store. I didn't necessarily want this job more than others that I had applied for. I was honest in the interview. When he asked me  about my long and short-term goals, I admitted that what I'd really like to do is write in one way or another. When he asked about disagreements I'd had with co-workers in the past, I didn't lie just so I could demonstrate problem-solving skills; I was upfront and said it hasn't really come up because generally I can get along with just about anyone. At work anyway.

I feel like the stars aligned a little bit with this interview too, because I didn't feel sickeningly nervous like I have in past interviews. The manager I interviewed with seemed genuinely impressed that I had my Bachelor's degree, told me he took notes on my "great" resume, and seemed to be enthusiastic and supportive about my future writing goals. And at the end of the interview he seemed excited to offer me the job.

I got the job. I'm gonna have money again. And maybe a life.

Instead of saying "So much for the English Major's Job Search", I think the focus of the blog is just going to shift a little bit. While I'm working, I'm still going to be writing and developing interests outside of work. I'm aware that I could make this job that I have now my career, but I'm also aware that if I do, I've just spent three years and more money than I'm willing to mention wasting my time. And I'm done wasting time.

Maybe the name of the blog will change, but probably not, because I'm lazy that way. It is still sort of a job search anyway, since I'm still looking for a way to put the skills I learned at school to work. I'm going to be stepping out of my comfort zone, making mistakes, and falling on my face, which I've always been painfully afraid of. So who doesn't want to read about that, really?

So I hope you'll come back, because the blog continues! Probably! (kidding! . . . I think!)