Well it’s not quite the workin’ at the carwash blues around here. Mostly because I don’t think there is a carwash around here. But if there were one, I might have applied for the job by now.
I haven’t been really stretching the mileage of my complaint-mobile about being unemployed, except to Stuart, because that’s what For Better or For Worse means. It means For Better, Worse, And When I Sit Around On The Couch Sniffling And Howling Into Your Tee-shirt. Read the fine print on marriage, it’s in there.
So aside from sniffling into Stuart’s shirt weekly, I haven’t been complaining more than a bitter off-hand comment at parties because people, listening to me whine about being unemployed is BORING. It’s boring to ME. And it usually requires this big long explanation about how, yes, I’m actually having my artistic mid-life crisis early this year and no, I’m not looking for full-time work in the field of my experience which is being a magazine butt-monkey. I’m looking for part-time work so I can support my writing! Everyone needs a nasty habit, right? Cocaine, writing, cocaine, writing – it’s so hard to choose. Having to explain this makes my skin crawl with embarrassment, still, since everyone around me is working full-time jobs and probably thinks I’m insane or spoiled or both. (Actually they’re all very nice and none of them think anything LIKE that but hey, welcome to my neuroses!)
I’m breaking my complaining fatwa to discuss my streak. Because I inquired about an interview I’d been on, to a job I might have enjoyed because it involved photography, and the position has been filled. And obviously not by me. I’ve now forgotten all my ambivalence about the gig in the first place – 5 or so too few hours a week, a hell of a long commute – and am sitting around feeling sorry for myself because I broke my streak. My streak!
My streak is that I’ve never been to a job interview I haven’t subsequently been offered. My streak was sort of my little chunk of rainbow inside, that I interview very well and manage to come off as this cool, collected and capable woman, which is a valuable impression of me that this blog usually invalidates. My streak! My precious streak! There was very little left in my box of confidences and that streak was definitely one of them.
So I’m taking offers. Anyone, suggest anything, that you think I should do for a living, 20 to 25 hours a week. Suggest a career course and I’ll probably look into it. Suggest a website and I’ll probably visit it. Tell me to buff alligators with earwax for a living and I’ll tell you I’ve got a pal at the Prospect Park Zoo who could probably hook me up. With the alligators, not the earwax.
To make up for losing my streak, I am going to fill that mostly-empty box of confidences with all your crazy suggestions for jobs in which I’d be totally brilliant. Taking all comers.
steadily depressin’, low-down mind-messin’
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Oh, I am right there with you in Job Searching Land, which is adjacent to Sucksville and Frustration Valley. Argh.
Offers? I’m sorry, I have none. My job search existence is sad and – yes – boring as well. But I envy your streak, however broken it is. I apparently have the opposite one. Boo for me.
Hi, I’m a frequent visitor, first time commenter. not sure if you’ll be interested but have you tried lurking into the non-profit world?
Some sites that come to mind are:
http://www.foundationcenter.org/about/jobs/
http://www.rmanyc.org/about/emp.cfm
http://www.cfr.org/about/career_opportunities/openings.html
Also you may want to call/register with the folks at
http://www.pnp-inc.com/1.asp
Hope that helps.
Bookstore clerk?
Barista?
Wearing a sandwich board in times square?
Amazon Turk?
Dog walker?
Library book shelver?
Hoodnik, I’ve actually had a great time on idealist.org, MUCH more so than the mainstream sites, but thanks for the host of other ones!
AKaellen, what’s an Amazon Turk? That sounds fascinating.
And I’ve definitely got the dog-walking thing in the back of my mind. It’s actually something I want to look into, though, because it could either be perfect or disastrous. I want to talk to some dog-walkers first.
a friend of mine was down in the dumps with her job search, and she ended up finding part-time work at the Met as an info desk person/person who hands out the headphones for those who want the electronic tour. it doesn’t pa a whole lot, but she said that most everyone there are starving artist types who needed part-time work. and the only uniform is that you have to wear all-black. and you are able to let in your friends and family (anyone really) for FREE. i’ve already been there three times which is a SIXTY dollar savings!
anyway, check it out!
exotic dancer?
but seriously… I was just weighing in to say that the entrance fee to the Met is “suggested”
anyone can get in and pay any amount at all — they don’t really advertise it, but they are all trained to take exactly how much you give them
a nice thing to do when you’re broke
WHOA.
okay, i am an idiot. i never paid attention to the fine print, and my friend never let me in on that. here i am thinking i was getting the best deal in the world.
House Elf? Wait, that’s what I did when I was unemployed but you, you’re probably much smarter than I was/am. Then…professional Quidditch player? Do you have your own broom?
my pal purns is also a writer, and works part time. she works in admin at a major university. yes, it’s admin, but universities are full of eccentric people, so it’s not quite as boring and straightlaced as the usual admin. great benefits, and free classes, all at 30 hrs a week!
the big schools, like nyu, columbia, and i believe cuny, have thier jobs, and usually the whole application process, online. i applied for a research posish at nyu that way and got called the next week.
Heard on NPR this morning that P.Diddy is looking for an assistant.
Not sure what it pays, but it may be an interesting change of pace.
What about working for some sort of temp agency? Whatever work you will be doing will most likely be soul-sucking, but the temp aspect of it is appealing to artists, writers, actors and the likes.
Plus, if nothing else, you will surely get material for your writing out of it.
Also think about substitute teaching. I’m not sure what the rules are in NY, but I did it in NJ for a while and found it to be pretty easy and interesting since each day or so brought a new placement. And if you don’t want to work one day, just say no, and they just call you the next day.
I work part-time in a high-end gift store/ gallery while I attempt to do and market my artwork. 90% of our merchandise is handmade and I find it somewhat inspiring to work amongst so many pretty things, though the retail aspect of it sucks sometimes. Especially when mean people make you cry. Anyway.
Galleries are awesome. Bookstores can be dangerous (poof! paycheck GONE) Dog walking is also awesome (I did that, too, and worked in a kennel). The only caveat with dog walking is that unless you join up with an established service (which probably only pays $10/hr) getting clientele can be difficult. You’ve got to have excellent references.
I would do the gallery over a bank or temp or office work any day, but that’s just me.
http://collegecallgirl.blogspot.com
I just switched over from regular part time gig to full time freelance land. I LOVE it. But I’ve found the key, at least for me, is cobbling lots of different jobs together. Although I do make dough from my own artistic addition, radio, I’m not yet making enough to survive. So I do other things, make web sites, teach other people to make web sites, other computer work, all kinds of stuff. Why not offer the services you have from your old job (magaziney something or other) as a freelance capacity. Or, since you’re a writer, what about freelance copy writing work? You could EVEN teach a blogging workshop (there are actually people out there who don’t know what a blog is and are dying to learn all about it…).
Oh. And if none of the below works there’s always waitressing. Make a bundle – quick and in cash.
I know dog walking has been suggested (twice), but what about pet sitting? Or home organizer? I’ve considered both but with new baby and two crazy dogs of my own, there’s just no way.
The people suggesting I find some way to take my clothes off or sex it up for money should go read fleshbot. None of that here! Parents read things here!
You other people are lovely. Uber: I’d love a college job and am definitely looking there. THW: P. Diddy isn’t ready for my jelly. Angela: I’m definitely temping, just started out last week, we’ll see how it goes.
Sally: I love the idea of cobbling together the freelance life but I can’t seem to find a reliable source for FINDING those copy-writer gigs! If you know anyplace good to look, sling it my way. Waitressing is an interesting idea but I really can’t work nights – Stuart is too lovely.
Ky Eliza: Bookstore would be death to the paycheck, defs.
What about proofreading/word-processing/etc. for a large law firm? They have an inexhaustable need for bodies and you can probably do it part-time.
Part-time working in a cafe (preferably cute and interesting with fascinating clientele) would give you much material for writing as well as enough money to survive….
Hang in there….
Hey Krissa — I am sorry to hear you’re suddenly unemployed. I went through a horrific period of about 9 months of unemployment when we moved from the east coast to the midwest (I am a lawyer) and was unable to find a job out here. I worked for about 2 months at an Ann Taylor in order to pad my wardrobe (they have an AWESOME employee discount program), and then I volunteered at the Supreme Court in order to make contacts in my area of expertise.
Being unemployed is terribly demoralizing. My husband would go to work, and I would either go to Ann Taylor or stay home. I would intend to clean, but it didn’t happen, and I just sank more and more deeply into depression. Even though I eventually found a job, it has taken a long time for the financial anxiety to go away.
I don’t know how you feel about retail. In Madison, WI, I got $9/hour working at Ann Taylor, plus the opportunity for a commission. It was easy to spend my paycheck there, but it was just as easy not to do it, or to just buy clothes on sale. I would have preferred to work at a bookstore, but they didn’t offer more than $7.50/hour.
Personally, I wouldn’t work in a cafe or a restaurant because of the low wages and bad hours, but it’s your choice. I agree with the advice to check out NYU or other universities in your area (Cardozo? Brooklyn Law?). You may be able to find an admin assistant job.
Are you looking on craigslist? I’ve found many an AWESOME job on craigslist, including three part-time ones. I’m sure you are, but just wanted to double-check.
krissa, if you’re still looking for work, i do know of a part-time admin position open at cardozo. if you email your resume, i will forward it on to my boss.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/15879911/sr=53-1/qid=1185995844/ref=tr_298131/104-6453042-4163931
http://www.mturk.com/mturk/welcome
I was going to comment and think I should email instead. Which I will do, but also wanted to say no: we missed you so much. And talked about you lots. And remembered your wee little spirit.
I’m not sure how in need of help they might be back east, but out west, we need teachers aids/assistants REALLY REALLY badly. And if you are halfway educated, they should offer you a job on the spot! Check into your local school district. Cheers! =)
did you see this weels time out? there’s contact info for proof readers and dog walkers!
I’ve had a couple of odd jobs in my time: for an elevator company, taking calls from people stuck in elevators. As an admin assist, for a police department that was surrounded by protesters. A farmhand on an olive farm in Tuscany. On a construction site in Queensland (that was quite an eye-opener).
I’m sure you’ll find something interesting to do. And by the way, I think it’s a good thing you’ve broken your streak. You’re trying for something new – of course there are going to be little setbacks along the way. Much better to do that than stick to the same old thing, that wasn’t working for you anyway was it?