50

Yippee, I got rejection number 50 today!

I am now officially employed

I just wanted to let you all know that I've moved into my new apartment and started my new job today. I have my computer log-in and ID card and all that official stuff. Everything is going well, but I miss Happy Hour already. I'll buy a ginger ale for myself tomorrow evening, but it just won't be the same!

Happy Hour on Wednesday

Come celebrate theshortkatie and kelly's last happy hour this Wednesday night. Is the Orpheum good with you two, or is there somewhere else you'd like to spend your last night?

i wish i had a cameraphone

So in my new office (no, not all to myself, I share it with a manbrarian) at my new job, the decor consists of an elephant tusk that I can only assume came from the library's founder's safari tour of Africa, or obtained via some other kind of colonialist exploitation. But who cares about illegal ivory and endangered species? It's bigger than my arm span and effing cool.

Just thought I'd share. I wish I could go to happy hour on Wednesday! This 8 to 5 deal makes me crave a Librarian at the end of each day

the mcsweeney's version of my job search

Total applications submitted: 41
Rejection letters, phone calls, and emails received: 16
Percentage of libraries or information agencies that never deigned to confirm the receipt of my application (Not included in total number of rejections received): 25%
Letters received stating that position openings had been withdrawn after I spent several hours compiling elaborate application packages (See also: dollars spent on official transcripts): 2
In-person interviews: 6
Phone interviews: 2
Applications withdrawn due to the weird cataloging questions asked by the library director in an interview: 1
Times I was offered the privilege of checking out library books, in response to a question I asked about professional development opportunities (See also: withdrawn applications, creepy library directors): 1
Hours spent in prison (Not jail ala Paris Hilton, but prison. There is a difference): 2
Metal detector searches: 1
Level of embarrassment in discovering that my underwire bra set off the detector wand alarm, scale 1-10: 6
Body cavity searches: Just kidding. Or am I?
Pee tests: 0
Unsolicited phone calls Gabe made to the Library of Congress Human Resources Department on my behalf (Guess I can forget about working there. Ever.): 2
Score, scale 1-100, received on an application for a Librarian 1 position in a public library system: 45
Score, scale 1-100, received on an application for a Temporary Librarian 1 position in the same public library system: 15 (For serious, WTF ________ County? That bad?)
Dollars spent ordering official transcripts: $15
Miles driven between the Badger and North Star states in pursuit of library work: 2216
Hours spent crying on the phone to my mom: 4
Hours spent crying on the phone to my fiancé: 1
Library directors I met: 4
Percentage of library directors that creeped me out: 50%
Times I was asked to identify my personal weaknesses: 4
Times I almost shouted, “Cripes, my number one weakness is my total deficiency for mathematics. I can’t even fucking add without using my fingers. I can’t calculate an accurate gratuity on a ten dollar restaurant bill. Why the fuck do you think I went to library school?”: 1
Thank you notes sent: 17
Job offers: 1

If you want to know more about the offer, come to happy hour on Thursday and I'll tell all. Bitches better be there, it's probs going to be my last happy hour before I move.

I went to New York, and I got a job interview

Note: The two events in the title line share no causal relationship.

I am finally back from my almost absolutely fabulous trip to New York. I say "almost" because everything went swimmingly until I attempted to LEAVE the city yesterday afternoon. I think the only thing that needs to be said about this is that 24 hours passed between the time I arrived at La Guardia and the time I touched down in Madison today.

This was a very trying ordeal, and I am currently engaging in some serious M&M therapy to help me get over it.

List of famous people I saw in Times Square:

1. Paul Schaffer (crossing the street outside the Ed Sullivan Theater)
2. Eddie Vedder (probably not really him, but "a guy who looked like kind of like Eddie Vedder" isn't very exciting)
3. THE NAKED COWBOY!

Then about 30 minutes after I finally, finally, FINALLY got back to my apartment, I got a phone call to inform me that one of the places I applied at wants to interview me...as soon as possible! So I'll be getting back on a plane again in a couple of weeks.

I should probably stock up on M&Ms.

PS: I missed you, bitches.

And...

Who else just got a job?!?!?

Placement Specialist

My co-workers were at SLA this week. One of them got a card from a placement specialist who works mainly in the New York area, but elsewhere as well.

Donna Conti, Placement Specialist
DC On-Line Inc.
Career Resources
305 Madison, Ave. Suite 1166
New York, NY 10165
212-557-1152
donnaconti@earthlink.net

Overheard on State Street

Just moments ago, as I shuffled down State Street on my way home from an exhausting 15-hour day of work, I overheard a 30-something guy say this to his buddy:

"Man! That guy's had the kind of life that people write about... in fiction novels!"

...as opposed to all those non-fiction novels out there??



Sigh.

I suppose this is why we do what we do (or will do once we get jobs!).

if the other prison job doesn't work out...

Perhaps I could land this plum position at Gitmo.

Did George Dubya write this position description himself? Some highlights:
Able to work in a face [sic] paced environment
Familiarization [huh?] with Microsoft Office
Position also has a competative [sic] salary with benefit
Degreed in librarian Science [what the hell kind of scientists study librarians? I'm guessing the same kind who Studied A Broad in college]

I also like how "understanding of cultural awareness" is "not required."

Heck of a job!

Librarians: Too Sexy for Our Jobs?

In light of our collective job seeking (with a few instances of gainful employment) and interest in fashion--and other aspects of pop culture--this article seemed apropos, especially considering the librarian connection (also check out this page... need to click "next" twice to get to the librarian)

The shoe and hair suggestions at the end of the article do seem to require us to conform to old stereotypes though. Booooring!

But are the boring clothes better than getting sued? (Actually, the librarian in question seems to lack self-awareness, but it was an interesting chain of events.)

Someone thinks I've got skillz

I got a job! It's only for 6 months so I only get .5 in the banner, but .5 > 0 which makes me a happy librarian or archivist as my new title says.

Bird Brains...I'm just not that smart!

Bill owns a company that manufactures and installs car wash systems. Bill's company installed a car wash system in Frederick, Md. Now, understand that these are complete systems, including the money changer and money taking machines. The problem started when the new owner complained to Bill that he was losing significant amounts of money from his coin machines each week. He went as far as to accuse Bill's employees of having a key to the boxes and ripping him off. Bill just couldn't believe that his people would do that, so they setup a camera to catch the thief in action. Well, they did catch him on film!

That's a bird sitting on the change slot of the machine.

The bird had to go down into the machine, and back up inside to get to the money! That's three quarters he has in his beak! Another amazing thing is that it was not just one bird -- there were several working together. Once they identified the thieves, they found over $4000 in quarters on the roof of the car wash and more under a nearby tree. And you thought you had heard of everything by now!! !! To think the phrase "bird brain" is associated with being dumb. Not these birds!

a very special job posting

Do you think a LIS degree from the UW would make one especially qualified for this position?

Uh oh

This is hilarious and alarming... hopefully our charming little blog will not produce similar results!

I bagged one!

The count is up to 5! I'm trying to remain professionally un-Googleable so I won't say exactly what my gainful employment situation is. But you all know I've only had one interview since February... so... uh... I got that one :)

Three?

Come on now, SLIS bloggers. Two of you have bumped up the official job count without letting us know who you are or what the job is. YOU MUST GIVE US DETAILS! HOW ELSE CAN WE HAVE HOPE?

Time to "out" yourselves, #2 and #3!

Who's #2?

Fess up, bitches. Whom can we congratulate for landing the second job? I think y'all should post announcements for these glorious victories.
Oh, and as a consolation to the unemployed come summer: my husband, who also looks to be jobless soon, says anyone who wants to go sailing on Lake Mendota is welcome to join him. Just bring beer.