Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.
--Kurt Vonnegut
As always, that phrase seems to fit.
If I'd known that the only meaningful vacation time I'd have in my professional life would be periods of unemployment, I think I might have made some very different choices starting somewhere in High School. Granted, I'm either masochistic enough, or just a big enough goddamned fool, that in a weird way I'm still kind of enjoying the ride.
I had my second interview with ze big company yesterday, and although I don't think I knocked that one out of the park, I think I at least scored a solid double with a good chance of stealing third. This meeting was a little more intimidating because everybody else in the room had "President" as at least part of their title, and I wasn't really expecting people that high up the chain to take an interest.
Still, I know I'm going into this interview process with my ex-boss' endorsement, and I know I'd be really good at this gig (especially as it's basically the same job I was just doing anyways). It's actually a really interesting opportunity, and if I'm offered the gig, it will bring about some big changes I'd been looking for anyways. I think it would be a refreshing change to work for a big company instead of what is basically a one-man show, where one key person is ultimately making every call that matters. I think there's a certain stability and security that comes from that kind of environment. Additionally, this would be the first company that I could ever imagine actually having a career at, whereas in every other job I've held in my professional life, there was never going to be a huge difference in what I'd be doing on the first day versus five years in. Finally, it might potentially let me achieve two important goals... I wouldn't have to move out of Toronto, and I wouldn't have to go back to school.
Granted, I've had about all the fun I can handle on this freakish rollercoaster of a career in and around the arts, and I'm about ready to get off the ride, thanks. If I need to make one more big change to get on a more stable and sustainable path, then I've got that in me. But this gig has some really interesting things going for it, and I've got my fingers crossed.
If it doesn't pan out, my resume has earned some attention from some surprising people, and some of the people I called to ask If I could use them as references were actually happy I was looking for work because they wanted to hire me. So we'll see how this all pans out. Many people have commented on how calm I seem to be in the midst of all of this. One the one hand, I've done it before under entirely more vicious circumstances, so a simple "We're reorganizing and can't continue your position anymore" is a love tap compared to some of the cheap shots I've taken. On the other... what else can I do?
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about the first of the month creeping up, or that I haven't lost sleep over the impending rent and car payments that are coming due. But still, I've got a great support network, and I know I did excellent work for my last company. I think I've shown that I can do excellent work for this new company, and if I'm not the right guy for that gig, then I'll find something else.
There's a confidence I have this time around that definitely wasn't there the last time I got dragged into an office for a "Surprise! We're axing you!" meeting. Hell, those old wounds still sting more than these new ones. But I'm going to bounce, and I'm going come through this okay.
And if this weird little break is actually going to be my vacation for the year, then what the hell - I'll enjoy it. I saw the Cure last week (Sorcha, sorry you couldn't make it up to use that extra ticket!), and when I run out of resumes to send or things to do, I grab a guitar and work on my sweep picking or crash into the couch for some quality time with Grand Theft Auto and Arrested Development.
I'm not going to panic because I've earned a little break, and because I'm going to be fine.
Because I say so, goddammit.
UPDATE: I got the job!!!
SECOND UPDATE: I also landed my first freelance writing gig!
--Kurt Vonnegut
As always, that phrase seems to fit.
If I'd known that the only meaningful vacation time I'd have in my professional life would be periods of unemployment, I think I might have made some very different choices starting somewhere in High School. Granted, I'm either masochistic enough, or just a big enough goddamned fool, that in a weird way I'm still kind of enjoying the ride.
I had my second interview with ze big company yesterday, and although I don't think I knocked that one out of the park, I think I at least scored a solid double with a good chance of stealing third. This meeting was a little more intimidating because everybody else in the room had "President" as at least part of their title, and I wasn't really expecting people that high up the chain to take an interest.
Still, I know I'm going into this interview process with my ex-boss' endorsement, and I know I'd be really good at this gig (especially as it's basically the same job I was just doing anyways). It's actually a really interesting opportunity, and if I'm offered the gig, it will bring about some big changes I'd been looking for anyways. I think it would be a refreshing change to work for a big company instead of what is basically a one-man show, where one key person is ultimately making every call that matters. I think there's a certain stability and security that comes from that kind of environment. Additionally, this would be the first company that I could ever imagine actually having a career at, whereas in every other job I've held in my professional life, there was never going to be a huge difference in what I'd be doing on the first day versus five years in. Finally, it might potentially let me achieve two important goals... I wouldn't have to move out of Toronto, and I wouldn't have to go back to school.
Granted, I've had about all the fun I can handle on this freakish rollercoaster of a career in and around the arts, and I'm about ready to get off the ride, thanks. If I need to make one more big change to get on a more stable and sustainable path, then I've got that in me. But this gig has some really interesting things going for it, and I've got my fingers crossed.
If it doesn't pan out, my resume has earned some attention from some surprising people, and some of the people I called to ask If I could use them as references were actually happy I was looking for work because they wanted to hire me. So we'll see how this all pans out. Many people have commented on how calm I seem to be in the midst of all of this. One the one hand, I've done it before under entirely more vicious circumstances, so a simple "We're reorganizing and can't continue your position anymore" is a love tap compared to some of the cheap shots I've taken. On the other... what else can I do?
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about the first of the month creeping up, or that I haven't lost sleep over the impending rent and car payments that are coming due. But still, I've got a great support network, and I know I did excellent work for my last company. I think I've shown that I can do excellent work for this new company, and if I'm not the right guy for that gig, then I'll find something else.
There's a confidence I have this time around that definitely wasn't there the last time I got dragged into an office for a "Surprise! We're axing you!" meeting. Hell, those old wounds still sting more than these new ones. But I'm going to bounce, and I'm going come through this okay.
And if this weird little break is actually going to be my vacation for the year, then what the hell - I'll enjoy it. I saw the Cure last week (Sorcha, sorry you couldn't make it up to use that extra ticket!), and when I run out of resumes to send or things to do, I grab a guitar and work on my sweep picking or crash into the couch for some quality time with Grand Theft Auto and Arrested Development.
I'm not going to panic because I've earned a little break, and because I'm going to be fine.
Because I say so, goddammit.
UPDATE: I got the job!!!
SECOND UPDATE: I also landed my first freelance writing gig!
VIEW 4 of 4 COMMENTS
I do have some vacation time coming, so I could do a long weekend fairly easily. It's really high on my priority list. Trust me.