So It's a Job. . .

. . . but is it one I want to take?

The interview went fine; I talked with the Children's librarian and the Reference librarian for nearly an hour. I've never done badly on an interview--I know how to keep my head and turn on the charm--but this fact tends to get me in trouble because then all employers think I want their positions very badly and are shocked when I turn them down after due consideration.

Not that I'm going to turn this one down if offered (and Lord only knows when that will be), unless something better turns up in the meantime. But honestly, this isn't much. It's part time, and pays nearly double what I'm getting at the bookstore (which is eh and as we all know double the eh is little better). I'm not crazy about coming up with programs but right now I'd do just about anything to be in a library and be around teens again. (As their librarian, just to be clear and non-creepy.)

Of course I had to be diplomatic and sidestep their suspicious question of, "Isn't your ideal position in a school?"

I was pretty honest: there's nothing in a school, in this general area, being offered at this moment. It's essentially true. The last job opening I saw was clear across the state and I'm not moving in that direction. Not for an elementary school position, anyway.

I can't wait to walk into the Career Services office at school on Monday and ask the guy, "What am I doing?" Because I don't know. I didn't expect to graduate in December. . . I didn't expect to be quitting my better-paying job so soon. . . I didn't know what to expect, and I was too crazy-busy just trying to graduate to plan--so what do I do now?

I'm not sure I thought this business of changing careers all the way through. I guess I thought I wouldn't have a problem finding a job. That's what all the library associations said--plenty of jobs! Join now! Grad school was advertising itself as the perfect way to change careers and soooo focused on me. I had a hard time feeling the focus while I was in the program at times, and post-graduation is more like "serve yourself." And I don't even know what I'm supposed to be going after.

Don't get me wrong; I wouldn't go back to my old job in a million years. I'm just have a hard time accepting that with more education I might spend a considerable amount of time making less than what I made last year (and even that was practically living paycheck-to-paycheck with school expenses and loan payments).

Maybe I have to pay my dues first. But is it too much to ask to get a little guidance?

The good news is that right now, it does not appear to be ready to snow when I go in for my rescheduled appointment next Monday with Career Services. As long as that storm predicted for Tuesday stays on Tuesday.


Comments

Mr. Bingley said…
Given this economy I'd take whatever job was out there.

I just can't be pessimistic enough about it.
Thank you for being so honest about what you're experiencing.

After working in a university - I'm a little more skeptical about their intentions. Basically, they want tuition. Even if a field isn't creating ANY new jobs in the area, they'll take in students. For some reason, it seems a little immoral to me. :-/

Best of luck to you in finding a job. I KNOW something good will come of all of this.
Kate P said…
Bingley--that's pretty much what Mom says.

Ashley--yeah, I mean, I expected the typical hassles one gets from academia, but graduating felt like an abrupt end. Career services is looking like the way to get extra mileage out of my tuition. Thanks, though. I know God's time is definitely not my time. I may know how to catalog, but I still can't see the future!

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