The Crafty Polymath gets a job!

Updates have been slowing down in that I didn’t post yesterday. Oops! In my defense, it has been absurdly warm here lately. Don’t get me wrong, growing up in Georgia, I can handle heat, but it’s Michigan. How is it in the 90’s for two weeks straight? I think we’ll go to the beach for date night if certain people come home from work soon.

But the main reason I’ve been neglecting my online duties is that I had a job interview on Tuesday and spent the better part of yesterday biting my nails and rocking back and forth, waiting to hear back. I am not good at not having anything to do. And please don’t point out that there is plenty to do at home; I am well aware that I could be filling my time with cleaning, cooking, crafting, and other activities that begin with the letter ‘c’. But I get restless, and I can’t just go out and about because I know myself, and I will spend money. Not a good idea when you don’t have a job.

So yesterday I was just a nervous wreck.

Today I went to officially change my name. As far as Social Security and the State of Michigan (so far) are concerned, I am now a Safin. Woo hoo.

I returned less than an hour ago, ate a peach, talked to my godmother, and pulled up WordPress, all ready to BS my way through a post without a craft project done in the past day or so, and the phone rang. I am not too proud to admit that I recognized the number when it showed up on the Caller ID, so I got excited.

And then they offered me a job. (I accepted, by the way). I start on Monday.

I had to do a happy dance, and then I called the people who would want to know. And now I’m posting about it online.

What is it? Fair question.

After teaching in Arkansas for about a year, when we moved here, I struggled with what I wanted to do. Office work seemed like a viable option, but the unemployment rate here is so high that I knew people more qualified than I were applying to jobs of that nature. I applied for some, even did a few interviews, but for the most part, the tune was the same: “we’ve chosen a candidate that better suits our needs at this time/fits our qualifications/etc”. Never mind the fact that using “that” implies the candidate is an object, so perhaps it’s best I didn’t get those.

In addition to office work, I thought that retail would be a great option. The last thing I want right now is a whole ton of responsibility for other people’s futures, and a lot of my previous work experience has that little caveat. So I started applying to stores that cater to my kind of people.

Then on one trip to Michael’s to prepare for our elopement, I saw a small sign advertising open positions there, including the 25% employee discount. I applied that night online. Elopement and wedding happened, family visited, and then I was back to my normal routine. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to work for Michael’s. So I called them, went in to drop off a more detailed resume and cover letter, called some more, and the manager was impressed enough to call me in for an interview.

To be completely honest, I struggled with this decision for a bit. As a college graduate with some varied experience, much of it professional, would others look down on me for choosing to work in retail? Am I not living up to my potential?

Fuck that, was my decision.

I have more than a few friends that are wildly successful in retail; as managers, they make more than I did as a “professional”. And since I have management experience, it’s not crazy to think that I will be moving up the ranks in short notice.

And more than that, I love crafts. This job comes with a discount and reasonable hours, so that I can come home and craft. If I’m scheduled 30 hours one week, I can consider that extra ten craft time. And then I can sell what I make locally or on Etsy.

I’ve put a lot of thought into this, including worrying what others might think. I’d be lying if I said I don’t still think about it a little bit, but for the most part, my answer is this: if I’m happy, what does it matter?

So it’s date night! Think I’ll go celebrate with my husband. More crafting tomorrow, though, and an update!