This is me last week, using a little known skill of flipping eggs, onions and bacon in order to churn out hundreds of burgers for the School of Sport and Recreation at AUT. All part of the Temp Job, that sees me hunched in front of computer in my own office, attempting to grasp data spreadsheets and make sense of them.
Now I don’t mind hard work, and I sure don’t mind being paid for it. I’m as grateful as anyone who hasn’t had regular income for months, to finally get some. But since November I’ve kind of been hopeful of my old job back – it was a part-time position doing mainly graphic design, and came with the happy perks of being a staff member at a University sometimes gets. And I like to think I added some personality to the role. I was interviewed for it last week, and I thought it went well, but to my great disappointment this morning I found out that ‘we were surprised by the quality of the applicants’ and I missed out. I guess that’s meant to make me feel I was somehow not quite as good quality.
I’m going to try very hard not to believe that.
Anyway, the long and the short of it is: I DO have a lot on my side. I am mature, self-motivated, creative, friendly, adaptable, and willing – and yes, I put all those qualities ahead of these others: I can do graphics, cartoons, illustration and design. Sadly for those of us who are reaching ‘a certain age’ it is more and more common to find that younger, more-skilled-in-recent-software, ambitious, and cheaper-to-employ beat us at the gun when it comes to interviews. Before you think I’m going to take it sitting down and continue bemoaning my situation, I’m going to put you straight.
There simply must be something better out there for me to do.
I have never ever looked back on my life and regretted that I made the career choice I did. Usually what happens is that it forces me to adjust my perspective, try out new ideas, open doors I didn’t see, reassess what I value, begin reinventing my occupation. So it’s a good thing really, that I didn’t get the job.
I’m putting this out there, because I just know that come a few months, I will want to come back and read this again. The brave, stepping out in faith into the unknown, is usually the better choice – or has been – for me.
Hen & Ink 
As I see it, it’s their loss! I don’t even know you and see how much talent you have! I am sure something amazing is right around the corner waiting for you!
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Thanks Lisa!
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So sorry you didn’t get the position. But I, like you, believe that it just means something more is out there for you. You have been my inspiration these last 2 years, in showing me courage that I didn’t know I had. For that, I will be forever thankful. And the big wide world is awaiting your next endeavor!xx
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Thank you too, Karen! I’ll take your words to heart. 😘
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Just a thought, off the top of my head: You’re so well-known to Outlander fans, stars and STARZ production people due to your alter-ego, THE OUTLANDISH OUTLANDER. I wonder if there are other OUTLANDER-related things you could be making and selling on the show’s web site (in addition to the things you sell independently). Have you run across the name of the person who’s in charge of licensing, or locating vendors for the online shop? Maybe you could create some prototype items and send samples to whoever that is…they’d probably love them! The things they had in the shop the last time I checked weren’t terribly exciting and they were pretty generic. STARZ would do well to collaborate with you on a line of OO/OUTLANDER goodies…I love the things I’ve gotten from you and would definitely buy more if there were more things on offer! Keep your chin up, Jenny – I know good things will come your way! PS…Maybe you should get an agent to help you market yourself to people like that???
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I wish you could be my marketing manager – I don’t like marketing myself. I’d love to do that, but I’m not sure legally they can allow my stuff on their site. Believe me, I’m putting my thinking cap on to see how to do the stuff I love AND get paid for it. Thanks for your great thoughts Carol.
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I bet if you sent a note online to Diana she would respond. She loves your humour. And it’s got to be a big compliment to her that you’ve created a sort of cottage industry based on her work. You could say something like “Hi, Your Magnanimous Gabaldonesty, A lot of OUTLANDER fans who are also fans of my OUTRAGEOUS OUTLANDER character, have been asking me if my (reel off a list of stuff) will ever be available in the STARZ OUTLANDER online shop. They do seem to dovetail nicely. I have to admit, I’m curious myself! Is this just a pipe dream or can you suggest someone at STARZ I could discuss it with in more detail?” Another thought: Connie Verzak, who does the hilarious OUTLANDER episode recaps, ended up getting them published in the ScotlandNow online newspaper. I don’t know if she contacted them or vice-versa, but she is almost certainly a fan of yours, too. She might have some info (about the online shop) or know someone at the paper who does. Wouldn’t hurt to ask!
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How much do you want to be my agent 😜👍🏻😂😂😂 Seriously, I will be looking into that when I finish this full time temp job at end of March. I do appreciate your ideas and enthusiasm.
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