Interview #5

So I had my fifth interview yesterday here in Denver. I felt like I did better in this interview but in a way they also told me I was overqualified. I either read the job description wrong or they changed it because I don't remember it being an administrative job. Oh well, it's all practice I guess.

So not quite sure what I want to do with my life still but I have started studying for the GRE. Which makes me realize how pathetic my own vocabulary is. I still find it slightly ridiculous this test is required for most graduate programs but I guess it shows you're serious about it. And it's a way to squeeze more money out of people.

On another side note, I'm not a huge fan of this background but I couldn't find one that worked that I liked better for Easter. Happy Easter anyway everyone!

Interview #4

So I had my fourth interview today since January and they basically told me I was overqualified for the job. The interview was at my old stomping ground, The Utah Department of Health. The day didn't start off well, as I woke up sick which I chocked up to being traumatized. I worked there for a while and had many great experiences there but also many bad memories. I was still sick after going home though so I don't think it was the place but who knows?

Each interview is a learning experience so this was not a total waste. I keep hoping that I will be getting better at interviewing with each one but the second interview I had (the first one in Utah) I still feel like was my best. Oh well. I have been given a couple of job leads so that's promising! Knowing people definitely helps! They say to always network and I think it's probably how a lot of people currently have jobs. Keep your fingers crossed for me everyone who is still reading this!

I did get to catch up with most of my former coworkers which was nice. People kept telling me how good I look so that makes me wonder what I used to look like... I thought I looked rather pale today (even for me) so who knows?

Slight change

So I've decided to change my blog up a little. I'm still in poverty from not having a job but it's no longer self-imposed. So I am going to start writing about the "adventures" I'm having in finding gainful employment. I will also share helpful hints, if I hear any.

Since becoming unemployed, I have been told by MANY people that "everything happens for a reason, blah blah blah". I'm not sure if I believe that or not but if it is true, I don't see the point in this. I have looked at all angles and the only thing I can conjure up is that up to this point, I've made the wrong decisions. Wrong major, wrong career path, wrong state to live in... All just wrong!

Okay so what is right then? I found an interesting article online in which the author states that if you find yourself in the same situation as I am and confused as to where to go, don't ask yourself what you want to do with the rest of your life, but who do you want to become.

I have always been someone where I have wanted to help people improve their lives, which is why I went into health education. Working at the health department for so many years, I gained a passion for women's health but mostly in the line of reproductive health. So I have thought about becoming a certified nurse midwife. However, I would need to take several science classes prior to applying. In the meantime, I still have bills to pay and need an income.

Rant

Okay so as I've mentioned previously I am currently looking for a job... And as this post title suggests, I am incredibly frustrated right now! And I know I'm not alone, this is the worst recession we've had since probably the depression and who knows when or if it will get any better. Things could always be worse, I don't have children or a husband, I was able to withdraw my 401K to live on (I will regret this next year when I have to pay taxes on it), my parents will allow me to move back in with them, and my landlord has been fairly nice (although let's face it, he still wants to be paid so he's not that nice!). BUT that money will eventually run out and I would rather not get to the point where it is all gone. Let's review how I got here shall we?

I graduated in the Summer of 2008 with a Bachelor's degree in Health Promotion and Education from the University of Utah . Prior to this happening, the economy took a serious dive. Just like when I graduated from high school in 2002. Hmm... I'm seeing a pattern. Maybe I should just enroll in school and stay there to prevent the economy from collapsing.

After fruitless efforts of trying to get another job, I heard of AmeriCorps, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service. People were telling me what a good resume builder it would be and the best part of all was that I could move out of Utah. I had dreamed of moving out of Utah for a while and this seemed to be the only way to do it at the time. So I applied for several different AmeriCorps positions in different parts of the country and finally was assigned in February and started in April.

Again why I thought this was a good idea, I have no idea. I had a fairly stable job with the government and had put in 5 years. I could have retired early! Sure the pay wasn't great but I had excellent benefits and didn't have to tolerate outright abuse! I know, hindsight is 20/20 but had I stuck it out, a better job within the department might have opened up and I could have moved on and done something closely related to what I went to school for.

I have enjoyed all the friendships I've made in Colorado but there's not a day that goes by that I don't regret coming here! I would have gone back to Utah but I have a lease through July which unless I get a job here, I won't be able to finish it out.

I have had 3 interviews since January (well all in January) and two were in Utah. My little brother today asked me if I had been applying for jobs lately... I laughed and told him I apply for jobs every day! At some point, something has got to work out for me, right?

The US unemployment rate for February 2010 was 9.7%. Colorado's in December 2009 was 7.3% and Utah's for the same month was 6.6%. This does not show the entire picture as many people are unemployed who are not eligible for unemployment benefits (me being one of them).

It's estimated that 27.4% of the US population 25 and older had a bachelor's degree or higher from 2006-2008. In Salt Lake it was estimated that 21.8% had a bachelor's degree and in Denver 22.4% (same years and ages). (These figures came from either the US Census Bureau information or the US Bureau of Labor Statistics)

With such a minor percentage of the population having one, why is it so hard to find a job for me since I have one? I realize my major was more obscure but not completely ridiculous like Communications or Art History. (No offense to people with those degrees but really, what do you plan to do with them?)