2008 is winding down. Finally. It’s been quite the whirlwind of a year for me to say the least. I returned from my year in Thailand to the cold winter of Wisconsin. I had to re-acclimate myself to life in the Western world. After a few short weeks at the parent’s casa, I jettisoned off to sunny California with no job, no money, no car, and no prospects. And that was just the beginning.
Upon reaching California I had to map out a game plan for my immediate future. What kind of job was I going to get? This was the beginning of my career! A huge decision that I had put off a year by fleeing to Thailand. But, again, this decision stared me face to face. After many applications, interviews and rejections in a plethora of different fields I finally landed a job…bagging groceries at Trader Joes. Hahahahaha. Hardly what I expected. But I didn’t quit searching. I worked that job while I continued to look for my grown up job. I had the 2 minute interview at a Hollywood talent agency, the infamous door to door sales interview, some other interviews that I’d rather forget. Finally, I landed a non-paid internship at a one woman online marketing and promotions company. A desperate man and a far too busy entreprenur, a perfect match. Before I even started that internship, I was offered a part time online marketing gig. That sparked a roughly eight month fury of work. Trader Joes, Quarterlife, and Sideways Media, all in a seven day week. Something had to give, 7 days a week in three different cities is killer.
2008 also marked another first in my life. My first firing. Quarterlife.com ran out of funding and had to let me go. Shit. What a weird feeling. I had no time for tears, I sent out my resume again and got a bite by a video How-to website, VideoJug.com. The day after my last day at Quarterlife, I started a temporary job at VideoJug. I built my resume up at VJ for a few months while continuing the insane schedule of double shifts, VJ-TJ, VJ-Sideways, leaving at 9am and coming home at 11:30pm. Wheew! I can’t believe I did that. Seven days a week again. I was forgetting how to have fun.
When my VideoJug gig expired I was left unemployed (I didn’t really consider Trader Joes as a job, even though that’s all it was. Does that make sense?) Unemployed in one of the worst economic times of America. Fuck. Another job search. Despite the gloomy outlook, I felt very optimistic about the future. The unemployment gave me the first days off I had since May (this was at the end of September mind you). I circulated my resume once again, I blasted that CV to any job opening I heard of. After two weeks of looking, I hooked up with a small online marketing company. 60 day intern to hire. I took it. And you know what? This company turned out to be the greatest company I’ve ever worked for. I love my line of work, the employees, even my bosses. The other week, when I was hired as a full time employee, it made all that hard work and all those obsticles I endured throughout 2008 worth it (and I was finally able to quit Trader Joes…yay!).
I’ve grown up a lot this year, learned more than I could have imagined. I went from looking at jobs all over the professional map to a more refined search in online marketing. From there I’ve narrowed it down even further to viral marketing. I have a career? So adult. Now I look forward to 2009 where I can concentrate not on surviving, but thriving. Big things for 2009! I hope all you BoumanBloggers stayed tuned to this blog next year. It’s been a pleasure writing for you and I will continue to write next year. Stay tuned.
*Vlog #6 coming soon!
