Jason, I hope that note made you feel better. I'm
110% serious about that because I understand your
frustration. Kind of matches my own sometimes.
Sort of reminds me of the conundrum when I worked for
the electric utility for too many years. Countless
jobs went by my desk that required a specific kind of
experience, but you could only get that experience if
you could get a job in that department, and they
didn't hire people without experience. Gave me as
much satisfaction as a dog gets when chasing its
tail--but even the dog comes out better ahead for the
exercise!
You've probably been spanked enough on list, but give
it some time, and in a couple of days, there will be
more. Someone will read the mail late, and ZAPPO,
there will come another swing.
You've already got excellent counsel from other list
members. Remember that prospective employers are
watching and reading. Remember that volunteering and
interning are good ways to get a job.
But check the archives. You'll find a couple of
threads about ramen. How some of those who now live
in the ivory towers of which you speak had to eat that
ramen too.
Somewhere in the archives, you may find a note from me
admonishing that you should have done better
job-market research before you decided to go into the
museums field.
But those things are just going to frustrate you all
the more. Reality will do that to you.
All I can tell you is that you MAKE the time for the
things that are important. You work three jobs, if
that's what it takes, and you volunteer and gain
experience. You train, and you learn, and you study
some more . . . and there's STILL no guarantee you're
going to get a job in this too tight museums job
market where there are countless souls out there who
feel EXACTLY as you do.
The term instant gratification comes to mind. I want
it, and I want it NOW! But museum careers just don't
come that way. It's a tough market to crack, and
there are times along the way you wonder if it even
makes sense to try.
Then there's a little trick called contingency
planning. What's your backup strategy? Alan
Greenspan is talking about the economy this week and
saying he sees "depressing" tendencies. I think
that's a "polite term" for "Look out, we're in a
recession, can depression be that far behind?"
On MuseJobs, I gave them the Cal Arts Budget info this
week. Depending upon where you live, things are
tight, tighter, or "Oh, my God, get the lubricant, I'm
never going to pry this thing open!"
I'm sorry you're frustrated . . . ok, in all honesty,
not completely sorry because, Dude, I know EXACTLY how
you feel (been there, done that, t-shirt cost too
much!).
I can't give you any rainbows or promises of hope.
All you can do is "pay your dues", volunteer, network,
study, and apply, apply, apply.
Rethink your goals and objectives. Make sure your
dream is really practical.
Teach if you have to until you can find something
else. On MuseJobs, a few months back (or maybe it was
here, scratching my head trying to remember), I posted
info about how you can teach for two years in a
program offered by the government, and they'll pay you
wages AND forgive some part of your college debt
(something like $10,000). If I can engage my brain
better (I haven't fed it today, and it's not happy),
maybe I can dig it out if you ask.
If all else fails, here's some recipes for ramen. Be
consoled, at least the ramen is high on the food chain
in terms of nutrition!
http://mattfischer.com/ramen/
http://www.nissinfoods.com/recip.htm
Sorry. I wish I could wave a wand and make it work
for you, but it would take an awfully big wand to help
all who are in the same boat.
--- Jason W Onerheim <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> One last thing, I apologize to any of you who may
> have been offended, I'm
> looking for advice and I just wanted to show my
> frustration, so save your
> ivy league dibble about my language, I need
> unfettered and honest advice,
> please.
>
> Jason
=====
Indigo Nights
[log in to unmask]
Looking for a Job? Try Got Links?, Your One-Stop Portal
http://victorian.fortunecity.com/stanmer/414
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