All right, I just updated my resume to account for the last year or so, and I’m ready to start looking aggressively for work. Given the state of the economy, I’m not optimistic that it will lead anywhere, but hey might as well give it a shot.
The ideal job would be something part time that allows me to write on the side while teaching me useful skills like book selling or copywriting. Oh, and it wouldn’t hurt to have interesting coworkers (especially female coworkers) and a fun work environment, too.
I’ve got to be honest, though; there aren’t very many jobs here in Utah Valley that are awesome enough to keep me here. In September, I finally got my TEFL certification, which means that I could probably land a decent job teaching English abroad if I were to look for one. In fact, if I showed up in Cairo or Amman with $500 USD in my pocket, I’ll bet I could establish myself.
So while there are a few jobs here in Utah that would make me decide to stay, if I can’t find anything satisfactory in the next few weeks, I’m probably going to go with teaching English abroad. My friends who have done it say that it gives you tons of free time to write, though generally more if you have a private apartment than if you’re living in a homestay. Even so, I think I’ll try out the Teach and Learn with Georgia program first for a few months, just to test the waters and see if this is something I actually want to do for a career.
That’s the tentative plan anyways. Things that could derail it include:
- Finding an awesome job here in Utah.
- Getting signed with my band.
- Selling a bazillion ebooks.
- Falling in love.
But either way, something’s gotta change.
I know nothing about teaching abroad, but my friends who have done it say good things about the experience it gave them.
Might I suggest moving to Arizona or New Mexico? You could teach English as a second language, real estate is probably pretty cheap and it’s hot enough that the wimminfolk wear their summer attire longer.
Heh, nice. Too local, though.
Texas, on the other hand…
With your comment on “female coworkers” I just want to caution you to be extremely careful with that, especially if you get hired into any supervisory position, Joe. I have a friend right now that is fighting sexual harassment (he’s a manager and has been targeted wrongfully by two vengeful women). I know that he’s been targeted wrongly because I’ve known him for over twenty years and he is simply not capable of the things these women are saying about him. Additionally, they have no proof at all. Coworkers have come to his defense and only these women have anything bad to say about him and all of that came out after he had to fire them. Basically, all I’m saying is that yes…it may be an excellent opportunity for you to meet females at the workplace which is what I’m guessing you’d like to do but BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL about this. In my opinion, it is much safer to do so outside the workplace through the usual channels. While working with people of the opposite sex that you must supervise in any way, emotionless and strictly business and strictly professional is how I would keep any interactions. My brother who has been a manager at R.C. Willey for more than 20 years advises “Pretend that any interaction with an employee is being video recorded. Pretend that every single day, you are in an interview for your job. Professionalism at all times. Never let your guard down. Never get chummy with any employee. End of story.”
Good luck. I’m looking for the same type of job, minus the need for female coworkers, down in St George. I hope you find something awesome and listen to Mike. You’ll meet some nice women outside the work environment.
Don’t worry; I don’t intend to do anything that would get me into trouble. I grew up with three sisters, I volunteer at a female dominated student publication, and I’ve worked a number of jobs with female coworkers before, so I have a pretty good idea where the boundaries are. I’m just saying that work is a good place to meet people and be social, whether or not any kind of relationship comes of it.