From High Atop Mt. Resume

I look across at the apex of American Journalism.

Someone on a previous comment thread wanted to know what I did for a living since I "can't get a job in journalism" and since Willard Romney is a fine, hardworking Murrican and not a mooching, useless Liberal eater like me.

Or something.

So, here you go, expanded a little from what I left in my own comment section, with name and dates fuzzed out to protect the insolent indolent innocent.

My job?

I am currently unemployed and looking for full time work.

Over the last 3 years -- since being laid off from a very demanding, multi-disciplinary position (everything from performance management to writing white papers to managing remote facilities) at which I worked for 10 years, and routinely put in 80-100 hrs/week (no overtime when you are in management) -- I have been underemployed, and have worked several part-time or temporary contract gigs for organizations which desperately wanted to bring me on full time but had their budgets slashed as a direct or indirect result of the Great Recession.

I have also just about exhausted everything I carefully put aside for a rainy day during those years because I never imagined it would rain so long and so hard.

In the past I have been (since leaving puberty behind and in no particular order) a computer programmer and systems analyst, a college professor, corporate trainer, an IT manager, research manager, editor, grant writer, regular writer, senior executive in charge of damn-near-everything from speechwriting to strategic planning to making the PowerPoints look purdy, a policy wonk, performance management guy, project manager, department reorganizer, consultant several times over, a direct social service provider and much more.

I have briefed congressional staff on more than one occasion, prepared bosses for public hearings, and addressed foreign delegations.

I have been on the radio several times, done public speaking, and sold a few stories here and there.

I have made many inquiries about work in the journalism/pundit trade -- in print or in front of a mic and/or camera -- and have never heard back from anyone. I have sent out lots of resumes and inquiries for many other things and, for the most part, have never heard back from anyone. I don't take any of that personally because shouting into an abyss is just how it is in the working world today.

On my last gig, I was heavily recruited for a full-time job by both my boss and his boss. I went through an intense, week-long series of interviews and psych, IQ and "cultural fit" exams. After they were done, I was told I had a virtual lock on the job. That I was perfect for it.   My boss was excited.  His boss was excited.  HR was excited because the number of hoops they had to leap through to hire anyone at this place exhausted them and they were always glad when it looked like the end was in sight.  Then, two days before my temporary contract ended, the president of the organization abruptly decided that she wanted to move in a "different direction".  My contract was not extended and I was let go. My boss was in tears. His boss apologized. HR was stunned.  I have not been able to find anything since.

I have also written and Photoshopped this blog almost every day for going on seven years -- rain or shine, 80-hour-work-week or unemployed-and-getting-discouraged -- and podcast  every week with Blue Gal (the 112th straight episode will drop tomorrow) which, all combined and despite the incredible kindness and generosity of my readers and our listeners, brings in considerably less than what a single, minimum wage/no benefit job would pay.

I am, of course, also an amateur historian, amateur paleontologist, definer of civilization and leader of the civilizing forces...but it turns out those gigs only pay a living wage when you can get casino moguls to write you multi-million-dollar checks :-)