Sixth Time’s a Charm

I have been hired for what is technically my sixth job this year.  They have been as follows:

• Non-profit jack-of-all-trades [result: mutual separation]
• Substitute teacher [result: job I said I did but really never did]
• Retail sales jockey [result: left for greener pastures and/or paychecks]
• Temporary employee for insurance company [result: terminated]
• Call center desk jockey [result: never started due to job #6]
• Non-profit jack-of-all-trades [result of an an agonizing interview process]

It’s funny how you can end up exactly where you started, despite all the bouncing around and uncertainty and angst.

Of course, I’m not exactly where I was in March.  For one, this new non-profit position is for a much larger organization in terms of the scale of the project and the responsibilities.  Also, I had to relocate for this job – a first for me!  I am currently living [aka crashing at a friend’s place] in our nation’s capital!  Luckily, I happen to love D.C. and it’s only a short drive/bus trip from my real home here in the Blue Ridge, so it’s totally ideal.

Because it has all happened so quickly – two weeks from the day the resume was sent to the job offer – people are naturally curious as to how I managed to snag such a sweet deal.  I’m going to be truthful here, folks.  It’s really just dumb luck. The chain of events is fairly simple:

1.  I had to apply for jobs weekly for unemployment and my own sanity.
2.  My roommate had given me a few “sad bastard days” post-termination, which I had exhausted, so I had to get serious about my future.
3.  I randomly selected 5 non-profit job listings from the Washingon, DC craiglist.
4.  One of the jobs happened to be a great fit and was so enthusiastic in the phone interview, they asked me to come up to meet in person.
5.  During the face-to-face, they asked if I was willing and able to move in 7-10 days.  I lied and said yes.
6.  When I got the job offer, I had to force myself to be willing and able to move.

You know from reading this blog that job-hunting is not easy but it when it does happen, it happens fast and my best piece of advice is to say yes, yes, yes – and then force yourself to live up to your word.

Of course, I’m not pretending that I’m made in shade yet.  No job is permanent and luckily, I can keep my “country estate” in the Blue Ridge [as I’m calling it] just in case.  And I might actually “save” my “money” for a rainy day this time.  Be sure to keep reading – this next chapter might be the most exciting yet!