Rantings of a Black Polemicist

Looking for a Job

Saturday, June 19th, 2004 | Personal

I’ve finished the technical “catch-up” phase and have now actively started looking for a job. Things certainly aren’t like were the last time I found myself unemployed in July of 2000. I had no real work experience to speak of and posted my resume on a few job sites. Within a day, I was beating off prospective employers with a stick. Sometimes I’d come home to eight to twleve voicemails a day, each a different recruiter asking to schedule an interview. I landed a job within 10 days paying me nearly 70% more than my previous job.

It’s quite different now. There are jobs, but the ones I want are harder to come by. There seem to be these junior-level flunky-type gigs that I’m being offered, while the senior-level stuff that is actually interesting enough to motivate me to get out of bed and commute aren’t coming so easy.

My old employer, the one that laid me off a year ago, called me back as soon as I announced my availability online. They may have some interesting work for me lined up in early July, but I’m not betting me life on it. I know how these projects can be pushed back, sometimes scrubbed, leaving me standing around with my thumb shoved in an awkward place.

I ran across this dream job posting and talked to the recruiter over the phone to find out if it was real. A Pre-Sales Consultant with my technical background. I’d be writing J2EE code to help a sales team close deals, presenting to potential clients, etc. Wow. With a base salary of $105k + bonuses + commision, we’re talking another 50%. The recruiter was excited to hear about my background and we had a great rapport. I shot him my resume and haven’t heard anything since. Oh well.

I’ve got to get some cash coming in soon. My roof is leaking. My tenant in the upstairs apartment has started collecting the rainwater dripping from the ceiling in a little tupperware container. Bless her heart for even paying rent each month.

Let’s go, people. Melvin needs a job.

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