The Endless Wait

So I'm quitting philosophy. This might come as a surprise to you as I haven't updated this thing for over a month now, but life's been really hard on me. I tried my very best at philosophy but I wasn't rewarded with good grades. Conclusion: This whole philosophy thing is not in my system. Exit university.

I could switch studies, of course. However, catching up on another studies is hard work and not commendable. Besides, after two studies that have gone down the drain, it's perhaps for the better to take a step back and try my hand at working for a while. I can always give it another shot at a later age.

So there I go, resume in hand, jobhunting. I don't know about the US, but over here we have job agencies. They are commercial institutions that have contracted big corporations and smaller businesses to 'lend' them employees whenever they need one for a short amount of time. For the employee (in this case that's me) it means a lot of working experience in different businesses in a short amount of time. Good for the resume. The problem is, however, that they don't want me. A university kid fresh on the market isn't really an appealing option for most companies, and therefore these agencies won't take me in. I expected this to happen, but it's still a bitter pill.

Thank God the unemployment office (I'm not on state welfare, I declined that) handed me a few vancancies that I applied for, and last week one of aforementioned agencies did want to take me in. Apparently they do recognize some of the qualities I have (experience on radio and knowledge of multiple languages) so they handed my resume and credentials to the IRS. They have their own support desk that employees call whenever their computer is malfunctioning. It's a decent paying job, but they do require some experience in IT. I had to send in a motivation that, despite my lack of experience in said field of working I still have considerable knowledge of computers and techy stuff in general. At least enough to be working at the support desk.

Anyways, they also forwarded my resume to an international distribution center of software where they need people for their support desk. The good thing is, it's the English support desk and the language on the floor is English as well. Seeing how I live in the 'backwards' part of the country this time I actually stand a chance. Now they don't have to get qualified people from the other side of the country when they can find one right next door, figuratively speaking. Saves them a lot of money. I have a good feeling about that one.

A third application I sent (well, I still have to send it at the time of writing) out I ran into myself while browsing the website of my local gamestore. They're looking for someone to fill in a vacancy for 38 hours a week. Working retail in the Netherlands is quite different from the US, we don't have to push pre-orders, don't have to try to get people to buy stuff they're not asking for etc. etc. Besides, it's the gamestore I always go to, they know my face and as far as I can tell they don't dislike me. Knowledge of games is required as well, but I don't have to tell you I'm scoring well on that one. The only thing I don't have is experience in retail, but seeing how some of their current employees are highly anti-social I do not think it's a big stumbling block. And how could they refuse a guy who deposits a good $100 in their cash register every month?

I'm overall pretty confident, despite the fact it's been over a week since I last heard from the job agency. As for the gamestore, I have to send the application by e-mail to their head office but I'll be stopping by tomorrow telling them I have applied. It's a very small chain of stores (only 3) so if they are interested in hiring me they might apply a bit of pressure on the head office and not get ignored. I'll be keeping you guys posted.