The Job Journey So Far...

Last Friday I had my interview with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. I thought it went as well as it could have. I know I have the experience with customer service, cash register functions, inventory, and sales software that is necessary for a gift-clerk position. I believe the main hang-up is my availability. My current job inhibits the “flexible” scheduling that is preferred, not to mention that I will (hopefully) be leaving for Boston University next August—a fact that my father tells me would have been in my best interest to gloss over, but I haven’t quite gotten into the habit of misrepresenting myself yet. In response my interviewer said, “I’d rather have one good employee for a year then deal with a bad employee for three,” which gives me some hope. And after fervent assurances that they needed this position filled immediately because of severe understaffing and that they’d let me know in two days at most…well, that was 5 days ago. I won’t be upset if they finally call and say “no,” because I understand their hesitancies toward hiring me for the aforementioned reasons; it was great to just get some more interview experience. However, I find very frustrating the attitude of employers that getting back to applicants in a timely fashion is neither important nor necessary. It is blatant rudeness that has somehow become acceptable and indeed the norm in the so-called professional world. I do not approve.

I would also like to take the time to stress the importance of the ability to network. Anyone can network in any environment. Weeks ago I assisted a customer work and we ended up engaging in a conversation on my career goals. The customer then told me he worked for the Computer Sciences Corporation and that there was a position coming available that he thought I would be great for and paid twice as much as I was earning now. He gave me his business card, took my phone number, and called a few days ago to let me know the position had come available on the CSC website. Sure, I may not get it. Sure, it may not be in my field. Sure, it may be sitting in front of a computer all day letting my muscles atrophy and my body fat percentage shoot sky-high. But if I do, it will get me that much closer to the Boston U end goal.

And Now For Something Completely Different…

I feel that for a blog on the journey to become an archaeologist this blog is distinctly lacking in archaeological content. I apologize. And so I will be making the effort to at least once a week publish a blog of archaeological content. Feel free to request topics you’d like to have expounded upon my dedicated…3 readers!