dianaschnuth

Why does job hunting make me want to cry?

Fear not—I haven’t been canned or anything. I just had a little heart-to-heart with Amy over the weekend and finally decided it’s time to get off my ass and look for a job in my field.

I’d been telling myself that I would wait it out at Sky until my ESOP and profit-sharing was fully vested. After really thinking about it, though, that was just an excuse to stick around and be comfortably apathetic for a while. For the amount of retirement money I’m waiting to vest, it’s just not worth it. I need to jump now or risk never feeling confident enough to apply for a job in my field. From the feelings I’m having just while retooling my resume, I may have almost waited too long.

I’m having to force myself to remember sleepy mornings in Web Design with Timmay, ignoring our daily lesson in favor of critiquing (read: tearing apart) our classmates’ web projects, which were readily available for viewing on the class server. I’m forcing myself to remember that both of my Graphic Design instructors wanted me to switch majors from VCT to Design. I’m forcing myself to believe that three years in the financial sector doesn’t mean I’ve lost my edge. I mean, look at my spiffy new site! That says something, I think.

I still feel so… I don’t know. Overwhelmed. Depressed. Rudderless. Unconfident. I feel like I’m going to have to start over where Tim and Beth started two or three years ago: only barely in their field, doing unfulfilling gruntwork. And I’m OK with that. I just wish I hadn’t let myself waste three years of my life—

Now, that’s not fair. I’ve gained a lot of valuable experience in the last few years with Sky. It just wasn’t directly related to my degree. And that’s OK. I’ve learned a lot about office politics; I’ve increased my typing speed and learned to ten-key; I finally understand debits and credits (my ACCT 201 prof would be so proud); and I know that many, many people are really just sailing through life toward retirement.

That’s so sad. What a waste. I don’t want to do that.

So, tonight I updated my resume. One and a half pages of work-history goodness, arranged to show that I tend to move up in the ranks of the organization in which I work. I refuse to get discouraged by the lack of pure Web Design jobs out there, and will instead work my ass off on a daily basis to get some shit going on.

(If I ever intend to use this site as an example of my work, I’ll have to include a language disclaimer on the link…)

From: Diana Schnuth
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 1:36 PM
To: ‘Aaron R. Schnuth’
Subject: RE: hi there

Today was one of those days where I was glad I have an hour lunch. First, I had to wait in line behind two people to use our one microwave. Then, after I had my frozen meal cooking for about a minute, a breaker must have tripped, because the microwave and the coffee maker just shut down. After I was done staring stupidly at them both and willing them to come back on, I went out and talked to the receptionist, who said that our facilities people aren?t in today. We then happened upon the boss-lady, who sought out the one contractor who?s been working on the new lunchroom, and he tried to help and found that the reset thingy on the plug doesn?t work… Finally, the boss-lady moved the microwave to another plug across the room, and I finished cooking my half-cooked microwave meal. Twenty minutes after I clocked out for lunch, I finally got to eat. Sheesh.

—–

Update: As of Friday, the coffeemaker was back in business, and today the microwave was moved back to its customary spot. All is well with the world.

I just won a $500 gift certificate to GiftCertificates.com!

A few weeks back, Sky Bank posted a survey on our intranet site regarding our corporate culture. The big gimmick to get people to complete said survey was a drawing for one of 27 gift certificates, ranging from $1000 to $100. I got back from vacation just in time to finish the survey before the deadline, and I didn’t give it any more thought once I’d finished.

Until today.

One of my cube-mates was checking out the intranet site (“Sky Central”) and informed me—once I’d gotten off the phone with whomever I was helping at the time—that I’d won something. So, I reloaded Sky Central, clicked on the story link… and found that I’d won freakin’ $500. Damn!

Aaron and I haven’t figured out what we’re going to buy yet, although household appliances and computer upgrades are at the top of the list.

There was an amusing e-mail conversation today between myself and Rob Wozniak (of RCC Special Projects Team fame, who works in my department). Yesterday, he called a radio station and won the new Velvet Revolver CD—he told all of us in the office that he’d make us a copy, since we were all so intrigued by the idea of Guns N Roses meets the dude from STP. So, today, after the office discovered my newfound booty…

Rob:
You can buy your own cd now with your mighty 500 dollar gift certificate!!!!!
Show off!!!

Me:
*ppppppppthbt*
Sherry?s been telling Scott that he should be nice to me ? maybe I?ll buy something for my co-workers… (right.)

Rob:
My thoughts exactly.
Buy something that?s gold plated. Just because its overly flashy.

Me:
I wonder if I could get a gold-plated video capture card…?

In other “holy fuckamoly” news, my Smurf auction is up to $94 with a little under two hours to go.

Nice.