In A Valley

After a decent run of good interviews and prospects, I find myself back in one of the ruts on my bipolar sine curve life. Still no word from the those two places... It's been two weeks. Ironically, my personal relationships seem to have a lifespan of about two weeks, after which they tend to fizzle out, so it seems appropriate that I deem these prospects dead and gone. I need to get back on the resume flooding.

Last week's interviews were essentially preliminary meetings. At the art gallery, I met with a frazzled Assisstant Director who stumbled through the interview far more awkwardly than I. Bear in mind that at this point, I have had more interviews than many people go through in their entire lives, so I was bound to enter one where I was more composed than my superior. It was painfully clear that they desperately needed another person on staff. The good news with this one is that they are interviewing a very few people, and that I was the first one they called. However, provided they are still interested in me, I would have to go in for another interview with the Owner/Director. I expect that will take place later this week.

The talent agency "interview" was an interesting experience, as it is one of the first I've had that was located in the Midtown/business area. For the most part, my interest have brought me to Chelsea or Clinton, and occasionally the Upper East Side and the Flatiron District. This place, on the other hand, is smack dab in the midst of people who wear suits. I didn't really interview though. I went in, filled out an application, and took a few tests: one tested my proofreading abilities, and another tested my typing speed. I passed both, with 38 out of 40 on the former and 49 wpm on the latter, which qualified me to return. So tomorrow I am going back to meet with someone in Human Resources (not the person I would be working for if hired.) I'm not sure whether I would have to go back another time to meet my potential boss. Regardless, this is an amazing opportunity, which I really want, and I have the guy at the staffing agency backing me.

I think I have to convince myself of my desire. Sometimes I only realize my ambivalence in retropsect, and how it may have hurt me. I have the drive, but have trouble articulating it when I am asked about my career goals. I don't know why, but I never find the words, "I want this," escaping my mouth. So whether this is an actual obstacle or a figment of my imagination, I am consciously going to attack it this time around.

Butt of a Cosmic Joke

I still have yet to hear back from those two main contenders. As I expected, the lame gallery (at which I answered the aspiration question incorrectly) turned me down. Both told me to expect to have heard their decisions the end of last week. I'd be truly baffled if I never heard from either. As I mentioned in the last post, I was successful in arranging for a gallery director I know to call the cool gallery on my behalf. Per his relay, here is the gist of what they told him:

Jaggd is without question the single most intelligent and well-spoken candidate to whom we had the pleasure of speaking. His resume is solid, and clearly reflects significant interest and experience in the business and making of the fine arts. In addition, his interview greatly supported his fit with our gallery. Our main concern is that the above makes him somewhat overqualified for the position, and we fear the position would not challenge him sufficiently, and he would quickly leave us, were a better opportunity to arise.

Those accustomed to my writing might expect the above to be full of sarcasm and scorn, but I swear it is written in earnest. In response to their eloquent character judgment and consideration of my background, I am flattered. In response to their qualms about overqualification, I say, "Ya gotta be f'-in kidding me!" I don't think further explanation is necessary.

Tomorrow, I am adding two more interviews to the line-up: yet another contemporary art gallery, and yet another talent agency. Fortunately, this agency does not concern itself with models, and focuses instead on people who can actually make claims to possessing talent. We are talking hundreds of really big-name clients: actors, singers/bands, and comedians. Apparently, I have to take some tests for them as well. However, in this case, the tests act as a post-pre-screening for candidates. So even though I have already been contacted for an interview, I have to pass these tests to actually be seen. This process is getting truly ridiculous.

Living On A Prayer

I'll start off with a rundown of last week's interviews.

• The video editing interview did not occur. It was cancelled due to a scheduling conflict, but I have no way of knowing whether that was just a way of blowing me off, or if there was a legitimate conflict. I was expecting a call to reschedule, but that never happened.
• During one of the gallery interviews, I was told that my answer to one of the questions did not put me in a good position. Aside from that one questions, I performed damn well. This was the interview where they felt it necessary to test me. However, it turned out to be more than just writing. First, I had to complete a few tasks in Photoshop and Dreamweaver while the interviewer looked over my shoulder. Apparently, lots of people lie about their computer abilities on their resumes. Not I. Then I had to take a slide quiz, matching images with artists. I got maybe half, but I'm guessing that relative to other people, that is quite good. Finally, I had to write some business correspondence. All this for a job I'm probably not going to get because of the question, "What is your ultimate career goal?" Usually this isn't a right or wrong question, but in this case it was. The right answer was "Gallery Director", which is not currently my career goal. Namely because I honestly do not know what I want to do, and the answer I've been giving to that question leans more to the creative side, such as "Creative Director". So I will probably be turned down in favor of someone who is less qualified, and had the foresight to lie about their career goals.
• The other gallery interview went much better. At first I was placed in an awkward situation, because the Co-director who was supposed to speak with me had lost her voice, and the other Co-director was in a meeting. So I spoke with a different employee, and afterwards suggested I wait until the other Co-director finished his meeting, which I did. Then I had a much more thorough conversation, but it seemed like they were interviewing lots of people, and I got worried. So this weekend I tracked down the gallery director from the "You're Telling Me!" post at the Armory show, and asked if he would make a call on my behalf. He agreed, and theoretically, after I speak with him in more detail this week, that will take place.
• My second round interview for market research was basically a repeat of the first, except this time I met with the director of the media area. I really did my best to convince him that I would be good for the job, but I'm not entirely sure I succeeded. On the one hand, I'm not really coming from the background they are accustomed to, but on the other hand, my aspirations match up well with the job. There are many reason I would like to have this job, but quite a number of arguments against it.

This job and the gallery assistant position are polar opposites. One involves ridiculously long hours, and committing for a few years, the other has very little overtime, and no expectations beyond the standard minimum full-time commitment. One pays quite well, the other quite poorly. One is corporate, slightly old-fashioned and located on in the Upper East Side, the other is contemporary, hip and located in Chelsea. Strangely enough, I can't really decide which I would prefer. I'm leaning towards the gallery, but of course there's really no reason to debate until I get an offer. Hence, "Living on a Prayer". Hold your breaths, the answers are coming.

Back in the Saddle

The move was successful. I'm mostly unpacked... mostly. I dig the new digs. I barely even notice the train rumbling beneath anymore. And I'm reconnected to the IV drip that is the internet.

Things have picked up a bit on the job front, once again reaching a peak on the sine curve of activity, certain to be followed by another phase when my existence as a job-seeker ceases to be acknowledged. My mood follows suit, hence my bipolar personality. I wish the wavelength was shorter, and the amplitude lower, making me a more bearable companion, but it's not in the cards. Next week, I am scheduled for four interviews, and I'm going to show them the goods, baby. Have a look at deeeeeez... writing samples. Or something. The breakdown is as follows:

• Video editing at some strange news service that has researchers pulling clips from relevant sources, and editors splicing them together, then sending them to clients who want to know about newsworthy stories in a specific field as soon as they happen. I really wanted to do editing, but this isn't what I had in mind.
• Gallery Assistant positions at two contemporary art galleries. If you know about gallery operations, you know that "Gallery Assistant" roughly translates to "Bitch" in common vernacular. Such is life at entry level.
• A second-round interview at the market research firm. Yup, I made it through the first round standing, though that report took a lot out of me. But if Rocky can make it to the top, I'm gonna keep fighting. I need to download the theme from Rocky to listen to on the way to the interview... Revisiting the past is such sweet sorrow. Check out the inspirational lyrics from this masterpiece of motion picture theme music.

Trying hard now/it's so hard now/trying hard now/

Getting strong now/won't be long now/getting strong now/

Gonna fly now/flying high now/gonna fly, fly, fly...

That's it. Apparently this song was written by a third-grader. Although, I have here a poem which I wrote in third grade, and I have to say it gives this song a run for its money. Without further ado, a poem written by yours truly in third grade entitled, "Brothers", copyright 1990.

Brothers are good for punching and kicking,

Brothers always need a licking,

When brothers pinch, you'll always scream,

Brothers and you can't make a team,

I do not know what brothers are for,

But I do know this, I don't want more.

I'm very proud of this one, and I think it could make a great theme song for my upcoming indie flick, which has nothing to do with siblings, but will most likely involve some punching and kicking, and perhaps some licking with a pinch thrown in as well. I think this is the most meandering end-of-blog-post tangent to date. Please do not republish my work without permission, though bear in mind that if you ask, I will definitely give it to you.