Unemployment blog, day 87

Apparently I'm too opinionated

Published on October 19, 2004 By Angloesque In Blogging

Was phoning my former bosses, a married couple, for whom I worked as a rafting guide for several summers. They're listed as references for many of the jobs I've been seeking. We've become good friends and they came to H's and my wedding this summer (we scheduled it especially for their availability). Good people, they are. The three summers I worked for them were the best in my life, hands down--if I could make a living as a rafting guide, I would.

Er, anyway, I was phoning them: In the course of the conversation they said, "Well, we got a call from X today." X is one of the people for whom I'm interested in working in my first real grown-up full-time with-benefits post-college job.

"Really? What did X say?"

"She wanted to know if you were very opinionated."

We laughed. Of course I am.

"What did you say?" I asked.

My former bosses apparently told X that I was opinionated, yes, but in things that mattered, such as the performance of our equipment or of other workers (positive opinions there in particular) and that they found my feedback to be spot on. X persisted--was it ever overbearing? Were my opinions too strong or voiced poorly or ill-timed? My bosses said no.

* *

I'm guessing I came off as opinionated in the interview, which is unfortunate for me, as I thought I was appearing confident. That's something to work on for next time, though hopefully there won't be a next time for a long time...should hear tomorrow whether or not I got this job.

*

Those of you who have jobs, be thankful. Unemployment sucks a-frickin' lot. The worst is knowing that I'm perfectly capable for a job, if not overqualified, but they take someone from inside the company instead or they don't hire anyone or ... well, the list goes on. I think I have too much confidence in my abilities and I don't want to put in my time at the menial jobs that don't immediately get me where I want to go, so in one sense, unemployment is good in that it's deflating my ego and making me grateful for anything that will produce a paycheck. I just hate waiting.

Comments

d3adz0mbie

on Oct 20, 2004

No advice here, just brain storming (which Im certain youve done plenty in the past 87 days)...

First, good luck on the job. **Crosses fingers**
What kind of articles do you write professionally? Have you considerd branching out into other areas? I took some side work after Wal*Mart (all of this was better than unemployment...), completely out of my area of expertise - instruction manuals. The next time you try to try to understand one of those things and end up confused, blame me. Maybe you could apply your talents elsewhere?

Angloesque

on Oct 20, 2004

Hey, thanks. I just recalculated and it's actually been 94 days...where did that week go?

I'd love to do technical writing, but it seems to be hard to crack into it...any tips?

Thanks again.

Cheers.

-A.

Ravenblack

on Oct 20, 2004

>>I'm guessing I came off as opinionated in the interview, which is unfortunate for me, as I thought I was appearing confident. That's something to work on for next time, though hopefully there won't be a next time for a long time...should hear tomorrow whether or not I got this job.

There always that: to appear confident but not too opinionated. Thin line. It's just a matter of whether you can connect with the interviewer or not. Some interviewers are themselves turned off and cold, and then it's difficult to tell what the result is going to be.

I remember and hated the waiting part after the interview too. Time passes sooo slowly!

All the best to you, A.

shadesofgrey

on Oct 20, 2004

I remember your pain all too well. I moved to DC about 14 months ago in the hopes of bettering my chances of getting a "good job." I started waittressing so that I could pay my bills while searching. Six months later, I was still waittressing. Luckily for me, an old boss opened his own consulting/lobbying/public policy firm and needed a researcher. So, I just sort of feel into my current job--and I will finally be getting benefits in January--oh to feel like a real full-fledged adult!

Good luck--I'm pulling for you!

Angloesque

on Oct 20, 2004

Raven--thanks, I'm still waiting. I promise that EVERYONE on JU will hear about it if I get a job. This waiting thing is bad for my heart, methinks....

Shadesofgrey--There's something to be said for serendipity, isn't there? I'd love to fall into a vat of it.

-A.

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