waaaaaaaaaaaaaah waah waah!

I know that this is going to come off sounding extremely odd but I just feel awful right now. As you all know, my tail is unemployed right now. Seeing that my thesis will in fact be completed this semester (WOOOOH!), I am starting to job search. My sweet and very thoughtful husband just called and said he talked to someone at work today who knows of a job opening . . . with the local SURGICAL SOCIETY. The job itself doesn't sound too bad - it's a communications director position or something like that - doing newsletters, planning events, etc. It's just NOT what i saw myself doing after grad school *AT ALL* Did I mention NOT AT ALL?? I love my husband dearly but let's just say that I consider him to be a diamond in the rough as far as surgeons go - to generalize even though I hate to do that, they tend to be quite a conservative, un-free-spirited crowd. However, hubby is just thrilled with this news and is so excited. I tried not to sound TOO disappointed on the phone. Not to mention that I feel as if I would be placing myself in the most subservient career I can imagine: "Hi, my husband is a surgical resident and I work for a surgical society" (AKA I am not intelligent enough to find my own job and am completely defined by my husband's career)

WHAT DO I DO??????????????? He told me I could call the guy tomorrow!!!!

[Meenah]

How do YOU feel? What do YOU want?
Luanne

Luanne:
I don't know! I do know that I desperately need a job soon to make up for the last few months of living on credit - but I was hoping that something more interesting would present itself. I'm afraid that if I take a job like this with such connections that I'll be stuck in it forever and won't be able to quit b/c of a better opportunity.
. . .

[DCJenn]

Claudia-

This may sound harsh- but you may just need to get a job and deal with the choice thing later. You won't get stuck if you don't let yourself.

Sometimes a job to help pay the bills is more critical than the luxury of actually doing what you want. If you can afford to stay out of work and look for a job then by all means do it!

Jenn

Jenn...your words are harsh to my ears..but totally accurate....I read them and winced, knowing that somewhere along the line, I've gotten stuck myself...Sometimes we just have to suck it up for awhile...and who knows...a dream job may come out of it!



Kris

I know, I know. Believe me, Jenn, you are telling me what I already know! The more I think about it, the more I don't feel so frustrated. The only aspect that really hurts me is the link to the medical field - I know that I always rant and rave about not giving a hoot what people think but I really don't want people to think that I snagged a job b/c of my husband's connections.
But you're totally right. This job may lead to some great experience - and may give me the training that I need for a future most excellent job.

Claudia,

As much as I hear Jenn, I sympathize with you immensely. I have always had this fantasy that I was going to have my "Dream job" and settling for something else feels disappointing. I just keep telling myself that it is temporary.

Have you seen the movie "Mr. Holland's Opus"? This is the most incredible movie...go and rent it, and you'll feel better!!!

Kris

Y'all , I'm sorry to keep harping on this. I just called the contact person and he did it! He did what I was fearing! "Hi, oh, you're the resident's wife" ARRRRRRRRGHGHGHG! They better show me the money for this one!

Kris - Thanks! It helps to know that my feelings aren't entirely awful despite how selfish they are! It's like everything we have been talking about lately on these boards re: careers is coming true - and NOT in the way that I had intended. I will have to check out Mr. Holland's Opus this weekend - especially since my thesis will be out of my hands for a week!!!

[Meenah]

My mother always says "when a door shuts a window opens". This could lead to something great. You will make contacts who may have other offers. I actually like being in the medical field. It makes for interesting dinner conversation most of the time!!! Good luck.
Luanne

[DCJenn]

Claudia-

the other thing you all need to know is that I'm really, really unsympathetic because social services pays so little that I have had to work second jobs to stay in the job that I love. It's all a matter of the choices we make.

I chose this field, knowing that pay and benefits suck so there have been many years with numerous W-2's at tax time! And to be honest, I don't know anyone except my ex-husband who graduates from whatever school and gets their dream job straight away. (He knew he wanted to be a firefighter since he was 2- and went straight after he finished with the Air Force)

So, I am the least likely to be a sympathetic and understanding ear! (so much for that caring counselor!)

Jenn

[houseelf]

Claudia,

My first job out of grad school was the last thing that I imagined that I was doing. I turned down a plum job to stay with my dh and had no contacts in that area so I took this job as research rat for 10 months. It sucked bad but I'm a research machine now and it didn't throw me that far off track because I kept looking the entire time that I was there. The move forced me out of that job and I took my time until I found this one. Don't think that one dead end or wrong job will forever obscure your path to the job that you want.

Good luck.

Kelly

[Phoebe]

I tend to subscribe to the philosophy that things happen for a reason or like someone else said that one opportunity opens doors to others. I say this Claudia because I can understand disliking the thought of taking a job just to make money or one that is not in your area of interest. Especially after working so hard finishing my thesis, I looked so forward to finding a job that suited my interests and personality. I still haven't found that job. I have worked jobs that interested me for little money and worked my last two jobs just to make money. However, along the way, I have learned what I am really looking for in a working environment, types of people I hope to collaborate with and the challenge I want in a job.

What I have realized now is that all the obstacles I faced in my previous jobs, the things I complained about the most have actually helped me in my latest endevour, motherhood. I am great at multitasking, patience to deal with constant interruptions, and being able to walk away from a project that isn't finished and come back to it later. The skills I have learned from these schmoe jobs have made me a better mother. Also, it has helped me realize what I really want to do in my career, whenever I get around to actually starting it.

I hope you find what you are looking for.

Jennifer

P.S. I would be annoyed the guy referred to you as the resident's wife too!

Well, I have the interview for this job tomorrow. I am going into it with a good attitude. I've managed to convince myself over the last six hours of why a "corporate" job would be good:
good salary, good benefits, more likely to let me take a friday off when I visit my family and friends, and the stable income will allow me to concentrate on art at night. Not to mention, I can start buying neat things to decorate our very empty house!
We'll see how it goes!!

[Phoebe]

Good Luck with your interview Claudia!

Jennifer

Well, ladies, I've been sheepishly trying to avoid this thread that *I* started!! I had the interview yesterday and it went really, really well. It is actually. . .a wonderful opportunity for me! I know, I know. . .believe me, this hurts my pride. After *all* of the complaining that I did! So, with tail between legs, I admit that it is a super prospect and I am hoping that I receive an offer! I would do a *ton* of writing and editing, some design, and dah-dah-da-dum. . .party planning! It's basically the only creative position within the organization. Soooo, now the waiting game!