Update on Life

Last year, I was a student worker, meaning I was paid next to nothing, AND having to pay for "co-op classes" in order to qualify for the job. These "classes" were a complete waste (3 credits per semester - I figured out it was effectively taking $1 per hour from my paycheck - with nothing but a paper on "How to Write a Better Resume" or other such junk). In December, I was laid off, along with all but one of the students in my department - they kept her because she was new, and therefore not due for a raise for a year. Since I was a student worker, I was unqualified for unemployment.

I had been saving up what little I could spare to buy a car, but those funds had to be transferred from luxuries like reliable transportation, to food and gas. I had been the only income for my family, as neither of my parents had been able to find a job (with 12.9% unemployment in the state, and worse percentages in our specific area, that's probably still not going to happen). I hadn't been paying much towards bills and such (Making $8.50/hour, 20 hours a week), but I was still helping out as much as I could. Now I couldn't help at all.

After six months of job searches - starting my search with web development (my profession of choice), then tech support, then secretarial, all the way down to fast food - no one was hiring. My savings were almost gone.

Then I got an email. Offering an interview for a full-time position as a web technician. The name looked familiar, but only vaguely. Then I remembered that I had applied nearly three months earlier via Monster. I quickly scheduled an interview for two days later. Right after I hung up, another place called, that I had applied to a week before, to set up an interview. This place was offering a part-time secretarial job.

I went to both interviews, thinking it was far more likely I'd get the secretarial job, if I even had a shot at either. But a few days went by with no contact from either. I know that's common, but I was getting depressed.

Then I got an email. I got the job as a web technician.

Full-time. Far more per hour than my student job. Benefits, vacation, everything. You may laugh at how excited I am to get those, but not only is this the first job I have had that actually includes those, I have not had insurance for over five years.

Best part? I found out I actually know some people working in the same building (I'm going to be working for a subcontractor), and they say that this place is not only great, but my to-be-coworkers are as well.

I start on Monday.