Well, how about this?

[PenforPrez]

My interesting improvement in my job fortunes have taken a sharp jump. Got a letter today from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. They want to consider me for a state park specialist position. The job's only 10 miles away and would pay about $31k a year. I'll bet decent money there's nobody else around here qualified for the job. ;)

Of course, all I got was a letter of interest. They haven't asked me to interview, but as far as I'm concerned, why wouldn't they?

Paul

[winneythepooh7]

Awesome! So what happens next?

[PenforPrez]

I have to sign these forms and and submit them and a resume to the district office by the 29th. Of course, those bad boys will be in the mail first thing tomorrow. ;) :huge:

Even better, it's a state job. Missouri's state salaries are among the lowest in the country, and I could still live like a king on that kind of cash. :eek:

Paul

[29 forever]

Hey is that the job I pm'd you a link to a while back?

[PenforPrez]

Actually, no; it's one level above that. I'm on the state job register for both, though. :)

[allie1105]

Yay, Paul!

Thats great news! I am so happy for you! I hope it works out for you - you deserve it.

[WorkInProgress]

Wonderful! Keep us posted!

[winneythepooh7]

Again, congrats Paul. This sounds like a really cool job.

[yankeeyosh]

Awesome! I think you got an excellent shot there! Good luck :)

[red]

awesome! stay positive and i hope that you can get an interview for this position. sounds great!

[29 forever]

Actually, no; it's one level above that. I'm on the state job register for both, though. :)

Cool, I'm glad you checked it out, it looked good to me. Good luck!

[PenforPrez]

Cool, I'm glad you checked it out, it looked good to me. Good luck!

It helped a lot. Thanks very much! :)

If you know anybody at DNR's district office in Festus, that would help some more. That's where I had to send the forms back to. ;) :idea:

Paul

[29 forever]

It helped a lot. Thanks very much! :)

If you know anybody at DNR's district office in Festus, that would help some more. That's where I had to send the forms back to. ;) :idea:

Paul

I don't know anyone there, but if you need a personal reference, just PM me & I can give you my info. I used to be a state employee with the department of corrections.

[PenforPrez]

Great! Anything helps. :)

[PenforPrez]

I asked my job counselor about how the process would work. She told me today I probably would be guaranteed an interview, as long as I showed interest, which I did post haste.

Said the interview would likely be at the job site, which is great, as it's only 10 minutes away. :) So what I have to do now is ace an interview about a state park I probably know better than any other applicant. No problem. :cool:

Paul

[need2startover]

aww thats awesome congratulations

[PenforPrez]

Well, the position in question closes today; now we wait for the interview. I reviewed the minutiae with the job counselor I talk to that works for the state. She said that as long as I sent back the interest form (which I did the morning after I got it), I will get an interview.

Turns out the job starts at $42k and not 31 like I originally thought. Jesus Christ! What would I do with $42,000?

Can I admit something? I'm SCARED at the thought of $42,000. :redface: Nobody in my family makes that kind of cash. I could buy half of my rural county on that much money. But what would I do with all those hidden meth labs?? :huge:

I just keep worrying that all this is way out of my league. But, I checked the qualifications for the job. They want a BA degree and a year of experience. I've got that, and then some. And I live right there at the job site. At 10 minutes away, I'm probably closer than anyone else. So no reason I SHOULDN'T get it, right?

Paul

[29 forever]

Can I admit something? I'm SCARED at the thought of $42,000. :redface: Nobody in my family makes that kind of cash. I could buy half of my rural county on that much money. But what would I do with all those hidden meth labs?? :huge:

Well if you get that job, get a place of your own, save some money, and enjoy life. You've been through a lot over the years it seems, so if you get this position, I feel you will deserve the monetary rewards. Good luck once again.

[CTGirl]

Turns out the job starts at $42k and not 31 like I originally thought. Jesus Christ! What would I do with $42,000?

Can I admit something? I'm SCARED at the thought of $42,000. :redface: Nobody in my family makes that kind of cash. I could buy half of my rural county on that much money. But what would I do with all those hidden meth labs?? :huge:


LOL, wow, I wish I lived where you do!

[29 forever]

LOL, wow, I wish I lived where you do!

I bet you do. You're a baller in rural MO if you're making $42K. I'm sure $42K doesn't go very far at all in CT.

However it does have it's drawbacks, like being surrounded by tons of rednecks. :lol:

[tina1979]

awesome Pen! I have my fingers crossed for you

[WorkInProgress]

What would I do with $42,000?

Can I admit something? I'm SCARED at the thought of $42,000. :redface: Nobody in my family makes that kind of cash. I could buy half of my rural county on that much money. But what would I do with all those hidden meth labs?? :huge:

Seriously, GOOD LUCK! I hope this opportunity works out for you, if it's something you want to do.

As for what you do with 42k--the same as you do with less, just with more options. ;) Make a budget: find a place of your own to live, get a decent car (if you want/need one), save for retirement, save for a rainy day, pay off any outstanding debts, be generous with your parents (maybe take them out to dinner to celebrate, or give a "just because" nice, practical, gift) since they've been there for you.

[red]

GOOD LUCK! i am keeping my fingers crossed for you.

with 42k, you get your own place!

[pisces2473]

I'm sure $42K doesn't go very far at all in CT.
Uhhhh, yeah it does!

[Winter Storm]

$42K! You'll be making me than, bitch! Kidding!

Take it! It'll buy you out of your misery at least for a good while and afford you a whole new life.

Take it! Take it! Take it!

[CTGirl]

Uhhhh, yeah it does!

Where in CT are you living in???

You can live pretty well here on that, but not nearly as well as you could in most other parts of the country.....they don't call us the most expensive state in the country for nuthin.

[weary]

I'm sure $42K doesn't go very far at all in CT.

Uhhhh, yeah it does!

pisces - what CT do you live in? :0 when i lived there, $42k was scraping by...

paul - GOOD LUCK! sounds like a great opportunity.

[pisces2473]

Where in CT are you living in???

You can live pretty well here on that, but not nearly as well as you could in most other parts of the country.....they don't call us the most expensive state in the country for nuthin.
Well, I've lived in the New Haven area my entire life (except college) and never have I ever made 42K, or close to it. I've never made over 35K. And I've gotten by JUST fine and have no debt. It's all about living within your means.

I don't know WHAT I'd do if I made 42K!

[CTGirl]

Well, I've lived in the New Haven area my entire life (except college) and never have I ever made 42K, or close to it. I've never made over 35K. And I've gotten by JUST fine and have no debt. It's all about living within your means.

I don't know WHAT I'd do if I made 42K!

True, I mean you can live just fine off of a fairly minimal salary if you have fewer expenses.

I could live a lot more comfortably if I didn't have a car (insurance in CT is a killer!) which I put a lot of gas into, and if I lived with roommates, but it's all about priorities.

P.S. I live right outside New Haven - LOVE this place!

[weary]

is it much cheaper up there? i lived in the stamford/norwalk/fairfield county area and it was EXPENSIVE. i think that's the most expensive county in the state, or it was then. maybe b/c of the towns like greenwich and wilton, or the closer proximity to NYC?

[pisces2473]

weary--it depends which town/neighborhood you live in. I pay $650/month for a 1 br apt., but my grandfather owns the house that it's in. I get a discount, obviously, I think the other tenants pay ~$850. I don't have any student loan debt, no car payment, and my car is older (1999 ford) so my insurance is only like $88/month.

CTgirl--why is your car ins. so high? New car?

[Franti]

-Hey Pen I'm super happy to hear this could be an opportunity for you, sounds a lot better than cooking up chicken. I would like to suggest to you that you start preparing for an interview NOW. I think too many people wing interviews, I would suggest picking up Ron Fry's 101 answers to the toughest interview questions and really start thinking about how to sell yourself and make clear concise statements.

Call two of your closest friends and have them mock inteview you, and if you do get an interview with the state as soon as it's over take yourself out to lunch with a notebook, and write down every single question they asked you and your answer because at the second interview, they ask the exact same shit. Don't be happy with just an interview (don't get me wrong its cool) just saying to get yourself in a situation to get the gig, I wish you the best.

Franti

[CTGirl]

weary--it depends which town/neighborhood you live in. I pay $650/month for a 1 br apt., but my grandfather owns the house that it's in. I get a discount, obviously, I think the other tenants pay ~$850. I don't have any student loan debt, no car payment, and my car is older (1999 ford) so my insurance is only like $88/month.

CTgirl--why is your car ins. so high? New car?

Yeah, weary, fairfield county is known as one of the most expensive counties in the country to live in, so it's much more expensive down there than here.

I pay $810 for a 1-bedroom in East Haven, and I pay $150 a month for car insurance (that's for an 02 jetta, and I know of people who pay more even).

pisces, if you've always lived here, you may not see this as being a lot, but coming from upstate NY, these costs seem quite a bit higher. A 1-bedroom in Binghamton, NY for example can be as little as $300, and my brother in Albany pays half as much for his car insurance as I do.

We've had conversations like this on other threads, so I'm sorry for changing the subject here to talk about it again, feel free to tell me to shut up about CT being expensive, lol

[yankeeyosh]

First of all, good luck Paul! I'm sure you have a great chance! :)

Anyway, I don't think Connie's too bad...yes, around the tail, like Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, etc., it's pretty bad, but if you're in, say, the Hartford area, it's not that expensive. Before I worked there, I was offered $40K, which I was very concerned was not enough...turned out it was very livable in that area. It wasn't glamorous, but it was good enough. My rent for a decent 1 BR apt was ~$700...I think that you should do fine on $40K in CT...if you're making more than say, $45K, you don't have a bad debt load, and you're struggling in the Nutmeg State outside the tail, I think you're doing a very poor job in money management.

[pisces2473]

pisces, if you've always lived here, you may not see this as being a lot, but coming from upstate NY, these costs seem quite a bit higher.
Ahhh, I didn't realize you weren't a native. How do you like Staven? ;)

if you're making more than say, $45K, you don't have a bad debt load, and you're struggling in the Nutmeg State outside the tail, I think you're doing a very poor job in money management.
I totally agree!

[CTGirl]

Ahhh, I didn't realize you weren't a native. How do you like Staven? ;)

I'm rather enjoying it, thanks! Staven itself is nothing spectacular, but living 5 minutes from downtown New Haven is great, and since I work in Old Saybrook, living on the east side shortens my commute a bit.

And yes, if your take-home is $45K, you'd be living just fine here in CT, even down here on the shoreline.

[pisces2473]

You work in Old Saybrook??? SHUT UP!!!!! I need to PM you ;)

[PenforPrez]

You're a baller in rural MO if you're making $42K.

Oh God, isn't that the truth? I wouldn't have to shop at the evil Wal-Mart anymore. I could go to overpriced local grocery stores and shop. :huge:

Cops in my hometown make $29k average (which is damn good money around here). Nonetheless, a few years back, they busted a bunch of them in an organized theft ring, :huge:

However it does have it's drawbacks, like being surrounded by tons of rednecks. :lol:

That's the biggest downside of this job to me. I'm really wanting to leave rural MO altogether; this just isn't for me anymore. I'd much rather move to St. Louis or some other big city, be around more intelligent people and a more vibrant lifestyle. Of course, I could always get in and transfer somewhere.

That, and my therapist would probably demand I start paying full price at that point. :huge:

Seriously, GOOD LUCK! I hope this opportunity works out for you, if it's something you want to do.

See, that's just it. This job would be perfect for me. It would perfectly utilize my history degree and my records management and writing skills. It would be the challenge I seek, and shitloads of cash for the trouble. That's why I'm excited about it.

As for what you do with 42k--the same as you do with less, just with more options. Make a budget: find a place of your own to live, get a decent car (if you want/need one), save for retirement, save for a rainy day, pay off any outstanding debts, be generous with your parents (maybe take them out to dinner to celebrate, or give a "just because" nice, practical, gift) since they've been there for you.

The thought of that kind of money frightens me because I'm really a very simple person. I love my Buick; I don't want to trade up for something more "trendy." I don't want an iPod, and I have a hard time justifying my cell phone to myself sometimes. I don't want EVERYTHING; I just want a simple place of my own where I could live in simplicity. Anything bigger would be a pain in the ass to keep clean. ;)

The only extravagant thing I'd want would be some prime wheat land in west Kansas. I've love to build a great farm on the prarie. Would be a great source of retirement income, if the High Plains don't blow away in another Dust Bowl. :googly:

Take it! It'll buy you out of your misery at least for a good while and afford you a whole new life.

Take it! Take it! Take it!

Of course I'm taking it. Got to get offered the job first. ;) I'm afraid of being too optimistic, but I want to be upbeat and positive about it. After all, no reason I SHOULDN'T get it. Why not be excited? :)

Paul

[PenforPrez]

$42K! You'll be making me than, bitch!

That's right, honey, don't forget who your bitch is! Especially when you come downstairs tonight to take me off the rack. :evil:

Paul

[yankeeyosh]

I'm rather enjoying it, thanks! Staven itself is nothing spectacular, but living 5 minutes from downtown New Haven is great, and since I work in Old Saybrook, living on the east side shortens my commute a bit.

And yes, if your take-home is $45K, you'd be living just fine here in CT, even down here on the shoreline.

I'm not talking about 45K take-home...or about 70K gross. I'm talking 45K gross. If you're making 70K anywhere and you're struggling, you really should see a financial counselor....NOW!

[TinyDancer]

I love seeing so many doors open for you. I know that you've worked very hard to find opportunities in your area. . .

Yes, you have a right to be optimistic/excited. . . you go with your positive self! :)

[CTGirl]

The thought of that kind of money frightens me because I'm really a very simple person. I love my Buick; I don't want to trade up for something more "trendy." I don't want an iPod, and I have a hard time justifying my cell phone to myself sometimes. I don't want EVERYTHING; I just want a simple place of my own where I could live in simplicity. Anything bigger would be a pain in the ass to keep clean. ;)


Just because you have that much money doesnt mean you need to be buying expensive things with it. I say buy what you want, make yourself comfortable, and just throw the rest in a bank someplace and collect interest.

You'd hardly be in a position to be complaining.

[pisces2473]

Yeah Paul, I understand what you're saying. I can't wait to be making more $$ so that I can save something. Haven't been able to do that in a while.

[PenforPrez]

Some answers from my job counselor on the subject today:

She said she applied for a position that closed about a week ago, and she thinks it's about time for her to hear back on it. So I just have to be patient for a few days.

But the most important was this quote of what she said when I asked about my qualifications:

"At this point, your score doesn't matter much. If you were high enough
to receive the letter of interest, you made the cut. The interview is a
whole new ball game - and everyone comes to the interview stage on an
equal footing."

Can't miss with that. :)

Paul

[spokes]

Yeah Paul, I understand what you're saying. I can't wait to be making more $$ so that I can save something. Haven't been able to do that in a while.

every time i jump jjobs i think i'll save more, but i find the more i make, the more i spend, although my house represets the biggest spending item, so that is not such a bad thing, but still......

[pisces2473]

every time i jump jjobs i think i'll save more, but i find the more i make, the more i spend, although my house represets the biggest spending item, so that is not such a bad thing, but still......
That's why we need DISCIPLINE!!!!!! lol

[PenforPrez]

That's why we need DISCIPLINE!!!!!! lol

A friend of mine has the most amazing self-control and discipline I've ever seen. But she still spends like there's no tomorrow. :rolleyes:

[spokes]

That's why we need DISCIPLINE!!!!!! lol

i'd love a good spanking by someone wearing lots of leather......cat o 9 tails....meow meow!!!!!

I have heard, anecdotaly mind you, that money is in fact going out of style - so there is no sense hanging on to it.

[PenforPrez]

I wish to hell the state would hurry up and call me about the job.

Yes, I know, it's only been a week tomorrow that the position closed. I'm just so nervous about it. This is my shot, and I'm anxious to get to it.

I've been going crazy wondering what kind of questions they would ask in an interview. This is the state; everything works differently. Any ideas?

Paul

[SunDevil]

Since they work for the state, they probably had today off.

[PenforPrez]

I'm about the only person in this country who DIDN'T have today off. :rolleyes:

[wordsmith]

I never have this day off.

[GoogleGirl]

Anyone have Columbus day off next month? Apparently the district I work in gets Columbus day off on Oct. 9th. weird.

[wordsmith]

The school districts here do. I, however, do not.

[Kitty]

Strangely enough the garbage men came this morning. I thought they always got these types of holidays off?

[PenforPrez]

I never have this day off.

It worked out for me; I got a $5 tip. :huge:

[pisces2473]

Oh I had yesterday off, but without pay. Fortunately, my new job (that I start next Monday!!!) has paid holidays. WOOT!

[PenforPrez]

So after several weeks of no word and increasing worry, I did a contact blitzkrieg to figure out the situation with this state job. I very quickly found the office number and called and very quickly got help. I find if I DON'T THINK ABOUT CALLING THEM, it works a lot better. If I just do it, it seems to work.

The job has not been filled, and my information was received and is on file. But the folder containing my information and possible interview prospects was unavailable at the moment to the lady assisting me. So she's going to call me back with that. Oh well, I'm still in the running, at any rate.

Paul

[CuranderaC]

The job has not been filled, and my information was received and is on file. But the folder containing my information and possible interview prospects was unavailable at the moment to the lady assisting me. So she's going to call me back with that. Oh well, I'm still in the running, at any rate.

Paul

With state jobs especially, there could be a hiring freeze if they don't have the funds to pay someone. When I worked for the state, there was so much red tape to hire someone if there was a hiring freeze.

[AshleyJordan]

Yeah, just the interview process for govt jobs I applied for took three months!

[PenforPrez]

Well, got a letter from the state today. They didn't hire me. They never called me for an interview, so I was a bit surprised.

The letter said that they hired somebody "whose experience more closely matched our needs for the vacancy." I was perfectly qualified for the job, what more could they want?

So now I'm back to the question of, "What am I qualified to do?" It's sad that 4 1/2 years out of college, I'm still trying to guess. I just don't know. :googly:

Paul

[AshleyJordan]

That sucks!! Believe me, it takes a while to find something good. At least you're working now, so you're out there and have made a lot of progress from being unemployed.

[PenforPrez]

That sucks!! Believe me, it takes a while to find something good. At least you're working now, so you're out there and have made a lot of progress from being unemployed.

Yeah, and I'm now officially so bored at it that I want to run away at least once a day and it's causing even more physical exhaustion than I usually suffer from. I was hoping I could ignore that for awhile, but it won't let me. I just feel like I keep falling further behind. :sad:

Paul

[wordsmith]

Well, got a letter from the state today. They didn't hire me. They never called me for an interview, so I was a bit surprised.

The letter said that they hired somebody "whose experience more closely matched our needs for the vacancy." I was perfectly qualified for the job, what more could they want?

So now I'm back to the question of, "What am I qualified to do?" It's sad that 4 1/2 years out of college, I'm still trying to guess. I just don't know. :googly:

Paul

Strictly speaking, they didn't tell you you weren't qualified. Just that another applicant met their needs better (and who knows what that means?). Technically, that doesn't make you unqualified.

[PenforPrez]

Strictly speaking, they didn't tell you you weren't qualified. Just that another applicant met their needs better (and who knows what that means?). Technically, that doesn't make you unqualified.

I just felt (maybe arrogantly) that there could not have been anybody better for the job. True, who knows?

My father, in his delightfully neurotic way, had this to say: "I'll bet $50 a Republican got it!" Which said nothing constructive and only made me feel worse.

Paul

[yankeeyosh]

Strictly speaking, they didn't tell you you weren't qualified. Just that another applicant met their needs better (and who knows what that means?). Technically, that doesn't make you unqualified.

I honestly don't think there was someone more perfect than him.

I'm so sorry to hear this Paul :( Believe me, the job market in this century and in this generation is a total crapshoot. It irritates me to no tomorrow that the qualified people get left out in the cold and those who just have a pretty face gets the good jobs. It's sickening, and at some point, there will be tremendous repercussions.

[wordsmith]

It doesn't matter. They didn't really say that the person who got the job was more qualified than he was, did they?

For all anybody knows, it could have already been promised out, but the motions of going through a legit job posting process done for show,although the filling of the position was a foregone conclusion. Who knows? Could have been a situation where somebody had a kid who got first crack, and maybe wasn't the most qualified, but somebody was owed a favor. Happens all the time.

People get the positions they get for all kinds of reasons besides being the best person for the job. I got aced out of a job where I was the clear front runner candidate and perfect for the position once because I couldn't start as early as somebody else could. Didn't make me poorly qualified...simply made me not the person they were looking for.

I just don't think that somebody else getting the job has much to do with your qualifications, if you know for a fact you're highly qualified.

[LaFille]

Well, got a letter from the state today. They didn't hire me. They never called me for an interview, so I was a bit surprised.

The letter said that they hired somebody "whose experience more closely matched our needs for the vacancy." I was perfectly qualified for the job, what more could they want?

So now I'm back to the question of, "What am I qualified to do?" It's sad that 4 1/2 years out of college, I'm still trying to guess. I just don't know. :googly:

Paul

sorry :sad: it's clearly their loss.

i applied for this job awhile back that i was ridiculously qualified for... it was equivalent to something i did for an internship in college, except with even less responsibility, and i got the same email, that they were pursuing candidates with more experience. oh well, their loss in that situation too... there are so many people who are underemployed these days...

try not to take it personally, i'm sure something will work out :huge:

[PenforPrez]

It irritates me to no tomorrow that the qualified people get left out in the cold and those who just have a pretty face gets the good jobs.

Qualified for what though? I'm still trying to figure that out. I can't even get staffing firms to understand I can do clerical work, and very well, thank you.

Paul

[yankeeyosh]

Qualified for what though? I'm still trying to figure that out. I can't even get staffing firms to understand I can do clerical work, and very well, thank you.

Paul

I don't know either. I can write code, create algorithms,research, perform statistical analysis, do all sorts of technical things, but every damn job wants five years of "direct experience".

But what's funny (really not funny) is that usually it's some 23 year old with the ink barely dry on the diploma who just looks good who gets the "five year experience" job.

[PenforPrez]

I don't know either. I can write code, create algorithms,research, perform statistical analysis, do all sorts of technical things, but every damn job wants five years of "direct experience".

I was just looking at Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball (popular political site), and he made the exact same Senate predictions I'm making for tomorrow for the exact same reasons. That and I corrected a Congressional candidate this year. If I'm THAT damn clever, surely I ought to be good for something.

I don't know what I want to do or can do, so I guess I'm just screwed till I figure out one or both. :sad:

Paul

[sondra_finchley]

YY- do you ever look at http://www.icrunchdata.com? Who cares if you have a meterology degree, I do analysis too but I dont have enough statistical and programming background for the jobs on there.

[wordsmith]

YY- do you ever look at http://www.icrunchdata.com? Who cares if you have a meterology degree, I do analysis too but I dont have enough statistical and programming background for the jobs on there.

This is my thought. If you have an aptitude and interest in stats and research, as Mark clearly does, there's really no reason to keep barking up the meteorology tree, if it's not really very fruitful as it turns out.

[sondra_finchley]

Believe me, Ive seen enough job ads looking for people who have engineering degrees- for jobs in financial services or marketing. That drives me mad to no end. Ah well, eventually the right fit comes along.

[wordsmith]

Well, that and the fact that it's a reality widely acknowledged thata great many of us end up working in a field other than the area we studied, anyway, to FIND that right fit.

As long as you're using your strengths, does it really matter if you're using your major?

[yankeeyosh]

YY- do you ever look at http://www.icrunchdata.com? Who cares if you have a meterology degree, I do analysis too but I dont have enough statistical and programming background for the jobs on there.

SAS is a great company, but there's a better shot at getting into Harvard than getting a job there.

I sent out a few more resumes this evening...I finally e-mailed my old advisor. I doubt it will help, but I have to press on.

I am just getting more and more depressed the more I think about it and the more I'm here (not because of the help but because of other reasons...entitlement and other stuff that makes me feel like a total loser). I don't know if I can return to these boards.

[wordsmith]

Mark, do what you've gotta do to feel better, but if you're feel like spoiled entitled twits who have unreasonably high expectations and don't wanna pay their dues are overrunning things (and I'm not saying they are or aren't), why would that POSSIBLY make YOU feel like the loser? That, I just don't get. Being annoyed by it, I can see. But it making you feel bad about YOURSELF? Why would you?

And I really do think that you should consider finding another way to professionally apply your data collection and analysis skill, perhaps in a field that's more friendly than meteorology. You have the skills.

[PenforPrez]

Well, that and the fact that it's a reality widely acknowledged thata great many of us end up working in a field other than the area we studied, anyway, to FIND that right fit.

As long as you're using your strengths, does it really matter if you're using your major?

That's me. I know history majors don't get hired for their encyclopedic knowledge of names, places and dates. Unless you become a quiz bowl writer like I am. ;)

I just want something that's going to challenge my skills. Something that'll prevent boredom most of the time. Something I can work at and not get distracted too much. I don't know, my mind wanders. I just don't know where that would fit. And I get bored easily. :sad:

Paul

[wordsmith]

That's me. I know history majors don't get hired for their encyclopedic knowledge of names, places and dates. Unless you become a quiz bowl writer like I am. ;)

Seems to me like that all applies also to fact checkers, speech writers, and staffs of elected officials (under which both those things can fall).


I just want something that's going to challenge my skills. Something that'll prevent boredom most of the time. Something I can work at and not get distracted too much. I don't know, my mind wanders. I just don't know where that would fit. And I get bored easily. :sad:

Paul


Thing is, you might be responsible for that yourself, though. Let's be honest, I could easily be bored at my job...If I were doing the bare minimum required to get the job done, I'd be bored stiff, but I'd be doing my job. If you require something above and beyond the basic clock in, clock out stimulation level of most jobs, if you require something that's really personally absorbing and fulfilling, odds are, you're gonna have to make it that way YOURSELF, in my experience. It's why I've always been drawn to jobs where I have the autonomy to pick my projects, the flexibility and freedom to do things in a way that appeals to and works for me. I have carte blanche in many cases to write about what I want and how indepth, in addition to the things that I MUST cover, whether they interest me or not. My job is always as interesting as I wanna make it. But it's up to me.