Temporary

After a year of depressing temp jobs, I finally got "a real job". I've seen a lot of people struggling to get by, met a lot of characters and I want to write a book called "Temporary".

It's rough, actually awful and depressing out there, and the anger that boils up on some days can be tough to handle. Especially when you read about $30,000/person political fundraisers and the confusion of Romney supporters when he lost. Why would an arrogant, out of touch rich man lose an election while millions are unemployed or barely getting by? Huh, I have no idea.

I'm going to say it right now: looking for a job right now is pretty much like going through hell. Interviewers hold so much power and they usually have no problem wielding it like it's the last time they'll be able to treat people badly without being fired.

Behavioral interviews seem like the ultimate example of just how much power they hold. One person yelled at me to see how I would react. That job hasn't been filled for at least a year, I can't imagine why. I did everything I could think of to get a better job. I took online classes through CCAC, applied for jobs in every single way people suggested, beefed up my online resumes, tried to learn as many new skills at work as I could, worked out  at the gym, wore lipstick and smiled (one of my managers told me to do that more often) and tried to get some decent references. Slowly I got better contract positions. Finally, I got one offer to be an employee.

You sit in interviews and wonder if they like you or hate you. Maybe they think you're an idiot or maybe they've already chosen someone else internally and this is just a technicality to get around various policies that exist at their company. Maybe you have too much experience, maybe you have too little. You really don't know. At least, I didn't. Sometimes I could tell the interview went badly while others I held out hope for.

One night Obama started talking about what it was like to be unemployed and I burst into tears. My poor boyfriend heard about job hunting for almost a year and a half straight. Every couple of nights I was applying for jobs or studying just in case something gave me an extra edge. The other problem was that I couldn't drive. I'd get calls from agencies about a job that I was qualified for and would enjoy but then it would be out in the suburbs and there was no way I could get there. That feeling of disappointment can be a tough one to stomach, week after week. It's actually a little like feeling your mouth fall into your stomach as you try to be polite and stay upbeat.

The entire time, though, I kept working. I believe in working if you can. Especially now. Plus, some HR databases will kick you out if you've had a big gap in employment. The recruiter won't even see your resume.

Tip: www.dice.com was the most effective job website out there. If you have any technical skills out there, post your resume.

I probably foreclosed on a couple hundred people this past year. Yep, that's what I did. I turned down loan modifications for awhile. Pretty much one of the most depressing and conscience-killing jobs out there right now. The thing is, it's big business but it's kept pretty quiet. Employees sign extensive confidentiality agreements, even talking about your work in the break room isn't allowed.  Each company has its own system and they compete for government and private contracts.

Sometimes I watched friends or acquaintances I liked get jobs because they knew someone. They never went through the interview process. I'd try to talk about it and was met with blank stares.  Or someone would ask if my boyfriend and I if we wanted to go on vacation with them. Ha. There was no way we could afford more than going out to eat on Saturday night. That's the real truth. No way in hell.  I began to really resent the people who seemed so unaware that people were in such bad financial shape. Even putting someone in the position of having to say, "I'm sorry...but I can't afford that." really got to me. It probably always will.

So where will I go from here?

I want to get a masters degree in information science (if I can get in and pass the classes). I never want to be around mortgage loans for the rest of my life. I never want to wonder what kind of pain I just caused someone. I've become a pretty big cynic but I also care. I don't know how many people care versus don't care but I still do care. I can't help it, that voice is always there.

My favorite politician is Elizabeth Warren. She is willing to put herself out there and fight the big banks to the end of the earth. She knows what's going on, she knows how people feel and she's a real fighter. She should be running for president in 2016 and I'll be pretty disappointed and angry if her name isn't at least mentioned as a possible nominee.

I will have health insurance right before I get kicked off of my Dad's insurance. Santa comes in different ways when you're an adult.

If you're trying to get a loan modification and having problems, feel free to email me at agentskamedia@gmail.com. I'd be happy to give you some advice.

Happy Holidays,

-Agent Ska-

Says it all.

-Agent Ska-

It really does get better.

I doubt any kids read this but just in case some kid happens upon this one day, I want them to know, it does get better. Here's the proof.

Last night I went to a Halloween party. I went to Duquesne so my understanding of Halloween parties is not much different from what was depicted in the movie "Mean Girls" - i.e. french maid costumes, sexy whatever profession, etc. etc. I had something cute on but nothing too revealing.  It wasn't the parties I had experienced at Duquesne, this was much less mainstream and a lot more hipster.

 Oh, you're wearing an ironic costume? That's ironic seeing as you always wear a costume everyday that is also slightly ironic. 

I digress.

I was wearing a Star Trek dress. On a whim, I had bought a light saber. Technically, a light saber corresponds with Star Wars. The truth was, I really just wanted to have a light saber because they're awesome. Who doesn't?

Well, I was dancing with my boyfriend when all of a sudden, a girl walked up to me and interrupted us. I had never seen her before much less knew her. She tapped me on the shoulder and said, "I need to ask you something." Then she proceeded to interrogate me about my costume - why I was wearing it, why did I have a light saber if I had a Star Trek dress on and basically gave me huge amounts of attitude. It was the type of aggression that brought back memories of a girl like that when I was in middle school. Then, she walked away after I repeatedly said, "I just wanted a lightsaber." I repeated that until she stopped talking. I guess politics taught me something useful!

A couple of minutes later, my boyfriend noticed how upset I was. If it had been a lighthearted joke or something, then it wouldn't have been a big deal. But it wasn't, it felt like she wanted me to lose my temper or to say something stupid. She treated me like I was an idiot and she was overly aggressive.

He stopped dancing, looked at me and said, "You want to leave? Let's leave.", and so we left. After I mulled it over today, I realized the difference between what a girl like her could have done 15 years ago and what she can do now. Now, I can just leave and hopefully never see her again. In middle school, she could have insulted me every day and no teacher would have done anything about it.

To be honest, when I hear that schools have 'no bullying' policies, I really wonder how they enforce it. I hope they work. Dear god, I really hope they do.

So kids, it gets better. You can walk away, you can unfriend someone on Facebook, stop following their twitter account and basically have no interaction with them anymore. They can truly disappear when you are older.

It does get better. Also, it never hurts to keep a lightsaber nearby, just in case.

-Agent Ska-

My growing hatred for Halloween

Halloween has never been my favorite holiday. But it usually held its own, between the free candy and carving pumpkins, it definitely had its perks. I was a happy kid. On the other hand, I really don't like loud sounds or being scared so that's a definite downside to the whole idea of Halloween. Oh, a Snickers bar? Well, I don't mind if I do...

Then I moved away from my parents' house. Last year, I got a bunch of candy thinking some kids might come to the door. But no, you can't see my house from the street. No one ventured down.

Last night, the costume fight happened.

After an hour of looking at women's costumes, which isn't much different than looking at stripper outfits, I found a cute Star Trek dress. Nothing creative but it would do. It would cover the most important parts of my body and maybe be a little warm. I also would not look like a pumpkin, so good enough.

My boyfriend was shocked. "Why would you wear something that you don't care about? Why not come up with something creative?"To which I replied, "Well, I don't want to be a French maid and I have other things to do this week besides worrying about finding a super original costume." He just didn't get it.

Then, he told me that he was sure he could find a creative and non-slutty costume. Definitely. Google would prove his point!

Silently he went through the Google ooos, sure that the next page would bring with it a costume I was comfortable with wearing while also being creative. At one point he said, "What about this one?" to which I replied, "That is a man. I don't really want to dress as a man." Then another one, "What about this one? It looks like a Roman thing." I looked more closely, "No, that is not a Roman goddess outfit, that is an offensive "Indian" (Native American) costume."

He finally found a funny one with Hillary Clinton and a blackberry from the "Texts From Hillary" tumblr account. I love Hillary but I don't really want to dress up as her. "Why not?! You love politics!", he said, trying to hide a little bit of desperation to prove his point.

I finally just said, "Yea, we'll see." and went to brush my teeth.

I'm tired of this costume debate. If someone wants to dress up in a super skimpy outfit then good for them. No judgement. I don't really want to do that. Halloween is definitely not as awesome anymore. Especially because I'm going to hold off on the candy if I want to pull off that Star Trek costume.

But to assuage his anxiety about not finding a super original outfit, I will go to the Southside after work and look for something. I have lower than low expectations.  One last attempt to find a "non-slutty Halloween costume". Heh, yea, I think we all know how that will go. Then, I'm going to go study so I don't have to become a stripper to pay my bills.


-Agent Ska-

Stuck in the Middle

 

 

I didn't see the entirety of the debate last night. However, what I did see left a bad taste in my mouth.

First of all, I don't think that Jim Lehrer deserved the bashing that he has received. In fact, that was the thing that bothered me the most. The way he was treated last night was appalling...absolutely appalling.

Secondly,  if Romney was trying for likeability, well, it was a pretty big fail (Big Bird). If he was trying to come across as an overeager tool, then he succeeded. Take your pick.

I didn't like last night's debate and I didn't like the way that Jim Lehrer was treated.

Let's show a little respect, America.

-Agent Ska-

P.S. For any pollsters out there, I disliked Romney more than I did before I saw him last night. He did not appeal to me in the least.

Maybe Romney's just targeting the wrong people.

Romney's apparent message is that those who pay the federal income tax, who don't depend on the government, those in the middle class, those who believe in self-responsibility should vote for him.

Here's the thing: my boyfriend and I are that target demographic. But if you were to sit us down with him over dinner, I'm not really sure what we would talk about.

So let's break it down.

1. The economy. He and I might be able to talk finance. But then again, I doubt he's interested in notary signatures. We have jobs that aren't subsidized by the government and we're not looking for him to make jobs for us.

2. Foreign Policy. Ummm. I don't think either of us has strong feelings about Israel, we know people who were in Afghanistan and Iraq and I feel bad for Kate Middleton.

3. Social issues. We're pro-choice, pro-gay marriage and we live together but we're not married. So there's that. Also, we don't see anything wrong with stay-at-home Dads. Let's be honest, I don't think Ann Romney knows the first thing about having a job. I feel no sense of common ground with her.

4. Golfing. Yea, neither of us golf.

5. Religion? We're not really religious but we're not atheists, either. Sundays are mostly just allocated for sleeping in, watching the Steelers and doing laundry.

6. Income taxes. Well, we pay a higher percentage in income taxes than he does. So that would be awkward.

7. Vacation spots. We haven't been on vacation for more than a year now.

8.  College. We both have college degrees. I've been thinking of going to business school so that might be a talking point. But neither of our majors were around when Romney was in school...

9. Obamacare. Obamacare is very important for me because of the pre-existing condition clause. I have epilepsy and the medicine for it will be very expensive if I am not covered. Like, 700$/mo. expensive. And Romney wants to repeal Obamacare. My boyfriend gets his health insurance through his labor union, a labor union that endorsed Obama.

10. Immigration. I speak Spanglish with one of my managers. I think the Dream Act was a good piece of legislation.

So this would be a pretty awkward dinner conversation. This might be one of the biggest problems for Romney, he just doesn't have much in common with his target demographic.

-Agent Ska-

The Meme of the Day

-Agent Ska-