I just got back from a field trip with my non-employer.
I say non-employer because I’ve been going to his office Monday-Friday for three or four hours a day where I spend three fourths of my time playing with my phone and avoiding speaking to my awkward non-coworker. The two of us sit in this room, silently, afraid to talk to each other because we’ve been told this non-job will turn into a real job for one of us after the completion of this non-apprenticeship.
The whole thing has me completely underwhelmed. My non-employer is most definitely not non-annoying. The company’s product line is completely and utterly boring and tomorrow we get to do my least favorite thing in the world: Call strangers.
However lackluster the experience may be, today was fun. Today we ventured to a production studio where I met the woman whose job (and wardrobe, hair, and shoe collection) I want to steal. The company has offices all over the country. The CEO is a very cool guy (I met him) the work is creative (television/radio/film) and exactly the type of industry I’d love to be involved in.
They’re also based out of my area and are opening a new location soon. Which hopefully, will draw some of their talent from my area to the new location. Which means that there’s the possibility (though slight) that they may need new employees.
Can you see where I’m going with this?
I know that they tend to hire previous interns at an alarming rate, and now that I have a contact inside I am really considering sending an email about possible openings-employment wise or intern wise. My only dilemma is that I’ve been to this studio with my non-boss, and I’m not really sure how that would go over.
So, what now?
Do I wait until my non-job is over? Do I email her tomorrow and ask all nicey like about any possible openings/internships because I LOVE being there and I think the company is amazing and gush gush gush?
The fact that I get excited just thinking about the company is like a breath of fresh air. I’ve always found the entertainment industry fascinating…in all areas-production, design, concept, etc. but I’m scared that I’m completely out of my league. I don’t even know how to open half of the programs on my macbook, let alone use them. I know I could go back to school and get the training I’d need, but 1) Would I have a job at the end of the tunnel? and b) Is it really what I want to do?
I’m not sure.
As I reflect back on my post-high school education I’ve realized I probably should have double majored in communications when I entered college. I have strong doubts my two years masquerading as a pre-med major will ever become useful, but a class or two in media production might have. I’m even feeling a little regret over my MBA, not so much that it’s useless (though right now it’s just a pretty piece of paper) or that it was expensive (yay graduate assistantships!) or even that it was a waste of my time (Yay meeting The Boy through a graduate assistant-related trip!) I just sort of wished I had taken the time to sit down and figure out a career path before jumping on the boat to business land.
It’s difficult now to try and figure out the answer to that cliche interview question “Where do you see yourself in five, ten years? What do you want to be doing?” I can’t think of a clear linear path. I’m not afraid of working my way up. I’m not afraid of getting additional schooling or training to reach my goal. I’m just not sure what my goal is. What I want my career path, even the first few steps of it, to be.
What I do know is that my next few steps of today lead to a date with Jillian Michael’s, dinner with my hot fiance, a new episode of Burn Notice and a glass of wine.
Not a bad night, if I say so myself.
Okay, so I know I’m totally behind the times on this whole 30 Day Shred, but… woah. I just finished my first work-out and holy hell, my legs (actually, my arms too) are still shaking. I didn’t even think I was thaaaaat out of shape. She kicked my ass. And she’s going to kick it again tomorrow.
Anyhow. As to this whole job thing… I don’t really have any advice for you. I’m pretty sure you’re doing just fine though and you make me feel totally directionless and unambitious in comparison. (ie. we are the same age and I have yet to even finish my BA let alone grad school and I work in a dead-end office job that I absolutely looooathe). But really, I see good things happening for you. You have a vague idea of the kind of career you want, you’ve got the education to back it up, and now you just need to get some experience. So if you’re seriously interested in this job, call them up. You’ve got nothing to lose! Good luck, lady!
I think that if this other job is something that you think that you would be happier doing than I would say you should totally call them up and see what is out there for you. If you aren’t happy now doing this ‘un-job’ now just think how ‘un-happy’ you are going to be doing it as a real job. I have a sneaking suspicion that even if you are getting paid to do what you are now you aren’t going to enjoy it any more than you already are. Plus, If you are worried that it if this other thing is out of your league than you’ll find out when you ask… I think that it doesn’t hurt to show some interest. Who knows – maybe they are looking for something/someone new. I think at this point the world is yours and you should really go for what you want. What could it hurt? Good Luck! I think no matter what you’ll eventually figure it out and appreciate it even more in the end.
You so clearly articulated your uncertainty about your future in ths post, that if I were interviewing you, and you said that to me, I’d praise you for having that insight, and would really appreciate your honesty. I’m almost 29, have been a social worker for SIX YEARS and I am still not sure what I want to do. I am hoping that in grad school I’ll narrow it down, but who knows? I am not a long term planner at all, I SUCK at the 5/10 year question. It’s okay to. Really.
Funny. I followed my “heart” and pursued a Master’s degree in English Lit, thinking eventually I would give in to the pressure and succumb to teaching – now I want nothing to do with education, only marketing, and am trying to swing my MA into a marketing position…And am dreaming of going back and getting an MBA. Not so much? Is education just really worthless in today’s networking and social media based job market?
Glad to have stumbled across you; will definitely be back to hear about your non-job and future career search.