January 15, 2009

• Hunting for Jobs in a Collapsing Economy
  (Or, Have Notebook, Will Travel)
  

  I finally realised about a week or so back that it’s not going to be too long before the meagre funds left to me after Edinburgh’s debauchery over New Year run out. Now, I knew I’d get to a point where this would be an issue…. I just didn’t think it would happen this quickly. Somewhat naive of me, I know. Needless to say, it’s now time to get my backside in to gear and find gainful employment, at least until such time as I hear back from the Navy.

  Now, there are two approaches I could take here – I could go for a McJob of some kind just to pay the bills (not that I have that many, living at home and all), then ditch it as soon as something better comes up, or go for something career-oriented that I stand a decent chance of sticking with for a decent length of time. Needless to say, I pick option two. Mainly because I’m a tad worried that if I pick option one at this point in my life, I’ll be stuck with jobs like that for the rest of my life.

  After a week of raiding every job site on the ‘net looking for a decent job for someone with five years experience and a degree in journalism that has something to do with editorial and isn’t PR, I find two jobs that I’m interested in. And even then one of them is as close to PR as I’m willing to get right now.

  Two jobs.

  Of course, if I wanted to imperil my Navy application I could take any one of a dozen jobs in, say, Dubai or Bahrain. I’d certainly not be averse to such a move if the Navy wasn’t my main career focus. God knows it would be a damn sight warmer than here. And the money? Pheeeeeeeeeew, they’re offering some kickass sums right now. Tax-free, too.

  But jobs in the UK are thin on the ground these days – particularly in the media. Admittedly I’ve not been looking for too long, but it’s pretty bleak out there. If I can’t find something by the end of February, I may just have to take a bar job or something to keep the money coming in.

  Right now, I’ll move anywhere for a decent writing job. I’m even considering *shudder* London. Ideally I’d like something in Edinburgh, but right now beggars can”t be choosers, and unless something comes up north of the border I may have to put my epic relocation plans on hold. Which will REALLY piss me off, as I’ll have to let down a friend who’s offering to let me move into his spare bedroom.

  Oi! Navy! Hurry up and get me an AIB date so I can get on with my life, will ya?

  In other news, I’m off to the Scillies for five days next week – courtesy of the parents. Five days with Anne and Tess, walking around the islands, working on the book proposal and generally not thinking about the jumbled mass of chaos and uncertainty that is life at the moment. I’m still debating taking the laptop…. I kinda want to be cut off from the world for a week. I’m definitely leaving the mobile behind. Should be just what the doctor ordered!

  • 5:22 am
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