Get a job....

This past weekend, I saw “Post Grad.” I was expecting it to be a laid back comedy that didn’t require much thought. However, I ended up laughing most of the time and also cringing in sympathy with the main character (Ryden, played by Alexis Bledel) every so often. Why would I cringe in sympathy, you ask? It’s because after I graduated college, finding a job was the biggest challenge in the world. Like Ryden, I thought I’d be able to land the first job for which I interviewed. That ended up turning into days and nights of sending off my resume, countless interviews that went nowhere in the end and lots of frustrated tears. I even had the computer tests at the job agencies memorized! Like Ryden, I also had to live with my family while on the hunt for something that would allow me to live on my own. (It got to the point where I would take anything that involved sitting in front of a computer.)

Toward the end of my first post grad summer, my dad hooked me up with a short-term contract position. It was in the city at a very modern looking office. I liked it at first, but then my boss became a very difficult person to please. Thankfully, the contract was only for a month and then I had to start looking again. It was nice to have some experience to add to my resume for the time being. And after only a few more interviews, I quickly landed another job, this time more long term as an administrative assistant.

This job was back by where I grew up, which was a little hike from my parents’ house, but good once I moved into the condo five months later. I quickly got comfortable in my role and got to know the other people I worked with. It had a similar feeling to Dunder Mifflin with lots of office “stereotypes.” Most of the staff was really nice and there were a few people around my age with whom to socialize. The department had some fun things going on, such as people bringing in donuts and bagels every Friday, holiday parties, desk decorating contests (during holiday time), people who acknowledged birthdays, etc. Sometimes I’d go out for drinks with co-workers on a Friday evening. My boss was relatively nice. She had her uptight moments (ones during which I dreaded being “summoned” to her office), but she also had a grandmother-like quality that I felt comfortable around. I was able to talk to her about personal stuff as needed. One of my favorite people there was the receptionist. She took over for another one whom I had gotten to know and like briefly. She was my best friend at the office and I always enjoyed stopping by her desk for a chat. She definitely made my time at the job more enjoyable and interesting. I could equate her personality to Erin from "The Office," if that says anything. However, things came to a point where I really felt I'd be better off someplace else. I was excited when an opportunity at a new cellular business came up toward the end of 2000....

I managed to attain that job and got to start all over again. It was by the airport, but I didn't mind because I was going to the city a lot anyway. Right after I started the job, I became close friends with a guy who was in a similar position to me. With my knack of attracting gay guys at that time in my life (which I'll blog about more another time), he and I were a perfect fit. We'd hang out together a lot and listen to the same music or check out the theater and club scene together. In any case, my first boss at this new job was very similar to Michael Scott in personality. He was probably more professional, but his sense of humor and laid back attitude were on par. The team I worked for (as well as the office, in general) was full of young people (including lots of hot guys). I was still in a supporting role, but with more responsibilities. It was exciting to launch a company in a city as huge as Chicago. I also connected with one of the sales managers and we'd drink tea and chat every morning. Things were going really well for a while and then my friend left right after the 9/11 attacks. I took on his role for a while, which meant long days and nights at the office. I also got my BFF a job there around that time. However, things continuously changed and management shifted around. I didn't like my new boss and also didn't appreciate how the new regional manager was so into micromanaging. While there were still fun social aspects, by spring of 2002 (when my BFF left), I was ready to look around again. That took me another year and a half of going out to interviews on lunch breaks and after work. I did put it on hold for a while when I made a new friend there in early 2003. Then when she left later in the year, I decided to resume my search. This didn't take as long and by November I was at a new company closer to home again.


However, I regretted being hasty in taking on a new job just to leave behind what I had. Especially when I found out that I’d have to keep a cell phone with me 24/7 to take work related calls. I don’t remember hearing about that in the interview or I wouldn’t have been so eager to take on this new role. The calls inhibited me from fully keeping Shabbos and they would wake me up at 3 a.m. sometimes. Once my phone didn’t ring at all for some reason and it was during an emergency. My first boss was mad about it but then I explained what had happened and he backed off. It prompted me to look for other jobs shortly after I got married, but then I gave up on it after a while. There was very little I liked about this job and still managed to stick around for the entirety of the 3 year contract. There were several shifts in management and I only liked the manager who was there from after I returned from my maternity leave in late 2005 (which was unpaid due to an annoying miscommunication) until about March of 2006. Then the boss who took over next was full of himself and not the easiest to work with. I started looking around for jobs again that summer. When I found out that our contracts were not being renewed in December of that year, I was elated. I decided to take the time to be a mom and also start a home business.

Needless to say, the home business venture did not work out. About this same time was when we moved to NJ. Then the job search began all over again. However, it was even more torturous this time around. I will never complain about needing 3 months to find a job after college when it took me 10 months to find one in NJ. I had job experience, but I guess that didn’t count for anything. I had received an offer for one job halfway through this time. However, it fell through when they realized that I’d need to leave early on Friday in the winters for Shabbos and would need to take off a lot of time during Yom Tov season in the fall. My husband even tried to get me into a different career field in hopes of finding a better job. However, the field didn’t feel right for me and I burned out quickly. By the time I was 7 or 8 months pregnant with my younger son, he told me to just find something part-time to bring in at least some money. That’s when I found my medical billing job.

More details about my time at the medical billing job can be found here. Needless to say, it was a blessing in disguise! The owners were Orthodox so I didn’t have to worry about Shabbos or holidays hindering my ability to get the job. They also understood about my upcoming delivery, as they were expecting one around the same time. It was a lot of tedious work, but it kept me honest and I liked the people I worked for so much that I wanted to do my best so that they could focus on their work without worrying about dealing with a lot of errors or slow progress. I managed to get things done quickly and as error-free as possible. I’m detail-oriented and obsessive, along with being a quick typist, so this was the perfect position for me at the time. I was sad about leaving them behind when I moved, but I put out ads to help them find someone new. They eventually found someone on their own and I hope she appreciates working for them as much as I did.

Before and after our move to MD, I looked for jobs in the area. I had a few interviews shortly after the move, but nothing came of them. Then I had an interview in early November that has changed my life for the better ever since! I’ve been at my current job for 3 months now. I absolutely love it here! My boss is wonderful and I like all the people I work with. I was annoyed during blizzard week that I couldn’t be at work. I even did some work from home that week (while some of it was mandatory, I did some other work to keep information current). I voluntarily help with the tedious work (stuffing envelopes, sorting papers, etc.) because I like being able to help out other departments. I like the whole team feel that the office gives off. There is not the political atmosphere that I’ve dealt with at past jobs. I’m working in the field of Judaism, which I am passionate about for obvious reasons. I love that everyone I work with is also passionate about their jobs. I loved the fundraiser event we recently organized and worked at on a normal day off. My responsibilities got shifted a lot that day, but I enjoyed helping out in whichever way I could. There are people who have worked here for over 20 years. I could imagine working here for the next 20 years or more and seeing my career flourish in this environment. While I liked the people I worked for at my medical billing job, this is the first job I can say that I truly love!

A while back, my husband was talking to one of our friends about what our purpose is at our jobs. He came up with the epiphany or realization (based on what his friend said about his wife) that I just like to be really good at what I do when I’m working someplace. While that is definitely the case, it helps a lot to like where I work. I only hope my husband will find a job that he likes better than his current one. (His job environment and boss are completely the opposite of mine and it’s taking its toll on him.) It truly makes all the difference when you are able to wake up and know that you are excited to take on a new day at work!