Some musings on being 25 and about to enter the "Career World," whatever that means. The career of my choice, I THINK, is teaching (high school English), and here are the seemingly insurmountable roadblocks thus far encountered in my job search. So, I've got some impressive degrees (as long as you don't look at my undergraduate transcripts too carefully-- hey, "C's get degrees!"), and have a minimal amount of experience. Well, if you describe tutoring community college students as experience, then I'm an old hand. However, if you're like every prospective employer for whom I've already labored over a cover letter, then this is not how you'd define experience. Ok, so fine. No experience. But tenacity! Enthusiasm! A crazy love of reading and writing! Responsibility! These are things I have in bulk! Is a C.V. really all that matters in this world?

As the prospect of moving to Washington D.C. has recently been brought to the table, I have begun the search in this new area. Which is probably for the best even though the weather is total crap in D.C., for I've already milked Portland dry. (As I told Adam-- moving partner-- just today, I can find the Employment Opportunities link on a website faster than you can fire off a rejection email.) I came across a list of schools (and no, aspiring-English-teacher competitors I will NOT tell you what they are), every one of which is hiring one of what I want to be. Discovering this the other day in my Dad's office who was in the room at the time, I groaned. Three months ago I would have been gleeful and confident (12 schools hiring? What are the chances of NOT getting a job?!). Dad said empathically, "The good news is, they're hiring. But the bad news is, they're hiring, huh?" Well said, oh Father Mine.

So, I suppose on that note, I should go and start the arduous process of writing some more smarmy cover letters. Any tips, those of you with great jobs?