It would be obvious for me to say job hunting is hard.
No one would argue with me there. If anyone did, I would personally like to meet this person and ask them to tell me how it’s properly done. And not tell me in generalist terms, either. I want to know the nitty-gritty, pinpoint, down to the last nanosecond detail as to how they found a job so easily.
I’ve had plenty of interviews, both good and bad. I’ve had interviewers tell me they were impressed with my resume and my skills, and yet, I haven’t gotten a solid “we’re willing to hire you because we’re so impressed with you!”
Most of the time, I can pinpoint right when I’ve lost them – my current location.
In the last four or five interviews, the person sitting before me has never heard of the little town of Vassalboro. It’s fine, of course. I’m used to explaining where exactly Vassalboro is – Roughly 20-25 minutes north-northeast of Augusta, our state capital. Sometimes I have to fight the urge to say, “second star to the right, and straight on till morning.”
Don’t worry, I never say that.
It’s that very moment where I finish explaining where I live, when I can see the light of hope leave the interviewer’s eyes.
You see, there aren’t a whole lot of jobs within a 20-mile radius who are willing to pay starting wages above $15. I don’t blame them for it – there may be a large population here in Central Maine, but it pales in comparison to the Southern part, including Portland, Saco, and Biddeford to name a few.
So, logically, I’ve been applying to positions in those areas, hopping someone will be willing to pay enough to allow paying for student loans, rent, and utilities, and leave enough room to pay for things like food and internet.
And that, my friends, is where I enter into the Paradox.
Thing is, Portland, which is the closest city I’ve applied to, is roughly 1 hour away from Augusta. Add 20 minutes to include where I live, and you’re looking at an almost 3-hour drive round-trip.
It isn’t a problem for me, though! I’ve done the drive before every day with Cross. Frankly, I enjoy the drive – it allows me to think and have time to prep myself for the day ahead.
However, judging by their eyes bulging slightly and their mouths drawing into a tight ‘oh’, it doesn’t seem a lot of interviewers are okay with the drive.
It brings up the debate I’ve been having with myself for some time: Should I wait to have a job before I move, or should I just move in the hopes of a job to follow?
I have a friend who did the latter – according to her, the move to Tennessee was the best decision she ever made. She was able to find a retail job within the first week, with a more college-degree centered position to come. She’s currently the happiest I’ve ever seen her.
That being said, every situation is different. My friend was able to make the move because she only had a small amount of student loans compared to mine, and she was able to put aside enough to actually make the move, whereas my purse strings have been so tight, I’ve had to replace them several times.
That was a few years ago. The purse strings are still tight, but there might be enough wriggle room to make such a move, providing Lady Luck is on my side.
Unfortunately, she rarely is. There’s a saying my family has: When it rains, it pours.
Then again, the few times I’ve taken large enough risks, things always seemed to work out in my favor. One example in mind is when I drove through a snow storm for an interview with Cross. That was a risk that paid off.
So, what do I do? Should I stay, play it safe, and continue applying with the hopes someone will see my earnestness and give me a chance?
Or should I take the big leap, make the move, and apply to any and all jobs I can find within the area? It would mean taking the Customer Service/Retail jobs at a huge cut in pay (I’m talking at least a $4 cut here), and pray I find a position closer to the writing vest I’ve studied for seven years?
L.J. LaBree 