job search hell

When I started graduate school last fall, I was still working full time, about 30 hours/week. I was also doing a 10 hour/week assistantship for the department and taking two classes. It was hard. When I was at work, all I could think about was what class work I hadn’t finished, and when I was at school, I only thought about how much was going on at work. So I quit my job and did not look for another one.

Paying for my study abroad program was a strain on my spring financial aid (read: living expenses), more so than I expected. Luckily, I was awarded two scholarships, each for $1,000. One award was applied directly to my program fee, reducing the amount I needed to pay by $1k, the other was supposed to be a cash award that I expected to receive before leaving the country.

Around the middle of the semester I was also contacted by a former co-worker who now works in the development department at my university. She needed some help in her office and was going to create me a position, if I was interested. Even though at the time I didn’t necessarily want to begin working again (I had three seminar classes in the spring), I didn’t want to turn it down, so I agreed. Right after spring break, I also visited my old temp agency to get back on the books with them so I could work during the month between school ending and leaving for Paris.

Before I know it, the semester ends and funds are quickly dwindling. No calls from the temp agency, so I started looking around for other jobs: Starbucks, Borders, Barnes & Noble, a few shops at the mall. No takers. I did a little administrative work for one of my professors, but ultimately I had to ask my parents for a loan, and thankfully they were able to help me. So at least I had a little money for my 6-week trip.

About halfway through the trip, I received the devastating news that I wasn’t going to get the cash scholarship that I was promised – administrative errors or some such. My program director fought back, and the awarding organization agreed to pay, but with no anticipated date given.

I got home from Europe about 3 weeks ago and found myself in the same dire financial situation as before we left. None of the 15-20 jobs I had applied for called me back while I was away. A bill that was not supposed to charge me for the month of July did, and my rent check bounced. Luckily I had one credit card with a cash advance that helped me buy food for the last few weeks.

After suffering from severe anxiety all summer over lack of a job, I now find myself in the opposite situation: too many jobs. I got a call from a friend that her restaurant was hiring hostesses and she recommended me for the job. I went in and was hired, and started working that weekend. The former co-worker that I had been in contact with got approval for my position for 20 hours per week and I started yesterday. My 10 hour assistantship starts next week. Now I have slight anxiety about how I’m going to work 40 hours a week and still get my coursework done (and try to think about my thesis proposal next spring!). After the worry and catastrophic thinking that I went through this summer, though, I just couldn’t turn down any possible source for money.

I’ll just sleep less, I suppose.