I Dream of Boots

- 25. Jan, 2009 in The Homefront, Traveler, Word Vomit, Worker Bee -

8

I find myself wondering what I’m going to do when we do move West, and I realize that it really doesn’t matter. Sure, I’d like a glamorous job where I get to wear fashionable coats and knee-high boots, preferably in fashion, but I don’t really have the qualifications. If anything, my qualifications are anything but ideal.

I have a degree in IT, yes, but I promptly forgot about everything I supposedly learned the moment I graduated because I just wasn’t into it. I built a career in the call center industry, but it was mediocre, at best. Now I’m writing freelance, and I love every minute of it. I do know, however, that what I earn won’t be enough to live on in the big, bad, uber-expensive West, especially with retirement in mind.

I would love to work for a magazine; I like to think I’m good enough. But with all my research, I don’t think it’s ever going to happen when everyone seems to be looking for writers with the appropriate degrees. The same goes for advertising. Somehow, I don’t think anyone would take me simply because I’ve been writing online for a living for almost 2 years now.

Maybe I can be a shop girl; I’d love to work for a bookstore. Maybe I can be a bubblegum-chewing receptionist for some stuffy office. Or a waitress, even when I’m so clumsy that I trip on my feet on a regular basis. Who knows? I might find myself on an assembly line, putting together Ferrari parts. Any which way, I’m still wearing boots – preferably those sheepskin ones, ala Kate Moss.

Does it show that this whole “future” thing is freaking me out?

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  • chico

    Um dam, I feel like Im the only one reading this thing.

    Fashion Job? Piece of cake. YOu come over here, dress up, pout and apply for a job at a shop. You’ll become (as they say over here) a “store-whore”. That just means a chick who works in retail.

    Magazine? Qualifications are not really necessary, you have all the requisite experience, BUT contacts are! Never fear, New Zealand is very kind to immigrants. In fact, I used to be on the dole (ie unemployed so the govt. gave me money), I couldn’t find a job. My case manager at the govt. dept. who I had to report to was a filipino guy who had been here for six years. Lovely guy, really enjoyed chatting with him, always laughing and smiling. Then again, he had a bloody job!

    You have to start making contacts. Get your CV and portfolio together, knock on doors, let people know that you are out there and that you are good at what you do.

    You can always fall back on IT. Just fake it :)

  • chico

    I would say though, that Australia probably has more opportunity. The old kiwis can be a bit down in the mouth.

  • iris

    @Chico: Well, I was thinking more along the lines of fashion magazine. In the Philippines, companies are very particular about qualifications and degrees. I hear the West isn’t too fussy, but I don’t know that for sure. Here’s hoping!

  • http://loymeetsworld.com loy

    With your writing talent and brains, you can get any job. :-)

    loys last blog post..Obama Doppelgangers on the Loose!

  • chico

    yeah, quals here are important, but not the most important thing. the most important thing is to know people. And Auckland is a fuckin’ tiny scene with a few snobs in the plum jobs who all know each other.

    And to be honest, the money in that area isn’t that flash, and to give credit, you do have to know your shit when it comes to fashion ie all the latest obscure ‘next big thing’ designers etc etc. If you can talk about fashion and garment construction from a technical point of view then so much the better, but like I say, fashion is a fickle bitchy world that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

    If you were writing about IT on the other hand, and marketed yourself as a technical writer . . . there would more money and less competition. Boring? Yes. Lucrative? More likely.

  • iris

    @Loy: Thanks for the vote of confidence. :-D

    @Chico: So basically, according to you, I’m fucked – royally. LOL.

  • Chico

    LOL. NO WAY!! Never say never. NZ is a great country, but Aussie is probably more opportunity. Just use your natural charm and our winning smile to charm people into liking you. You’ll be sweet as!

  • Chico

    *YOUR winning smile is what I meant.