Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Unemployed in Summertime

I've just discovered Emiliana Torrini, a British electronica/low-fi recording artist. She's sort of a cross between Bjork and Ivy. My sister recommended her 1999 album "Love in the Time of Science" because one song, "Unemployed in Summertime," applies to my current situation. I still don't have a job, but for the past three months I've been waiting to hear back about a job to which I applied way back in May. It's basically my dream job - an opening in my field of study, in a creative environment very much like most of my previous jobs. After moving to Massachusetts, I couldn't get a job in that field, so I settled for a couple of jobs that, in retrospect, were a mistake. But for some reason I couldn't get an interview for the more creative jobs to which I applied. This time, I applied in late May, interviewed in early June, and was told the job would start in early July. Then the job's start date was pushed back to late July or early August. Just when I started to lose hope, I was called for a second interview. I felt it went well, but was told I'd hear back from them in three weeks. Which means, if I even get the job, it won't start until late August. I feel like this job could help me get back on track, not so much career-wise, but life-wise. I'd be in a job that makes me happy in a field in which I know a lot about, and thus, would feel like I'd be making more of a contribution to the position, instead of taking another job that would turn out to be another setback in my life. Then I'd feel like I was actually being a productive member of society. Maybe these three months of anxiety will pay off in the end. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed.

In the meantime, I can take solace in Emiliana Torrini's song - a breezy homage to that period of time when you just get out of school, before you've found your first job, and the trials and tribulations of the working world haven't yet made you hardened, bitter, and pessimistic. And, as Emiliana reassures us,"It'll be okay."