I know the fucking alphabet.

I didn't get the job and it feels a lot like I've hit rock bottom here.

I know the alphabet. I can put papers in alphabetical order. Why can't I get a job?

And it's so not that I'm over qualified. I'm so totally underqualified it's ridiculous.

I'm so underqualified apparently I can't even be hired to file papers.

The new year now starts with a sobbing and hung over Melissa S.

(Thanks Heather for the link. Even though you didn't ask permission. You helped me this year too.)

Comments

[Psycho Kitty]

I'm sorry about the job.

[Lisa]

Melissa, as my daughter would say, sucks to be you right now. I am really sorry.

[GG]

Melissa, I feel very bad for you right now, for both the job screw over and the hangover. Listen up! You are a very funny writer and good things will happen for you very soon! Something better than the filing job! Good karma prevails! (Although you're talking to someone who still holds a grudge over a job I didn't get 20 years ago...well, be a better person than me!)Better luck in '05!

[alice]

The job marke sucks. This situation sucks. You most emphatically do not suck. As a fellow job seeker, I've just got to say that THEY are the ones missing out on a good thing, and that I am impressed with the determinaiton you've shown at applying for lots of positions. I've slacked off on that, since it's too depressing for me to do without breaks to gather my self-esteem back.

(Ignore this bit if you don't want any Pollyanna shit at the moment.)
It'll happen. It'll suck until it finally does happen, but it'll happen.

[Becky]

Melissa,

I am so sorry about the job. That just fucking sucks.

I'd give you some bullshit line about God closing one window, but opening another but I think you're done applying for church jobs....right?

[Mel]

I'm sorry you didn't get the job. Sure...I could say something like, "It wasn't meant to be"...or..."They don't know what they're missing". But, let's face it, don't you hate when people say stuff like that?!

Anyway, have a wonderful New Year's Eve! I hope the right job comes along soon.

[MollieBee]

Fuckily Fuck!

Dude, I couldn't even get hired at The Body Shop at the Mall. See, I suck worse than you. Don't you feel better now?

[Lisa]

Hey Melissa, I'm sorry to hear that about the job. Hey Girl, I'd hire you to file for me but I don't think you'd want to drive to Brighton every day.

My husband, who is an IT guy, has been out of work for two years. He has recently been picking up some temp IT things, but I'm here to tell you, it's NOT YOU. The job market sucks right now.

By the way, can you drive a dozer?

Happy New Year. 2005 is going to be better for many of us.

[Erica]

Clearly, those people are even stupider than MOMS Club. But I'm still really bummed for you.

[Crystal]

I'm sorry you didn't get the job. My EMT hubby is re-enlisting in the Army because our job market is so pathetic, and I can't find a decent job to save my life. You aren't alone!! I know that doesn't make you feel any better... but honestly, would anything?? Oh, and I've linked to you without permission, too... sorry about that!

[ms]

I'm sorry to hear this news. What a drag of a way to end the year. I hope you finished out your evening with some champagne (or any other booze) and thought about the good things in your life. You strike me as tough, and as someone who can weather this. I was unemployed for a while, and I know just how depressing and demoralizing it can be, but hang in there. (Besides, you apparently found out this news on Dec. 31. Those people are clearly assholes if they would ruin your holiday by telling you their decision on New Year's Eve. Jeezus.)

Good luck in 2005!

[lumen]

Permission to link to your site? omfg... lol.

[karyn]

Sorry to hear about the job.

Reminds me of the time when I had just finished my M.A. in Archival Studies and was subsequently passed over for a job checking books out at the local small-town backwater library. Ah....good times....

Happy 2005

[Very Mom]

Oh no, I'm so, so sorry. Insert witty blurb here to cheer you up.

[Rebecca]

Sorry to hear the not so good news, Melissa. I'd so hire you if I could.

[Mieke]

Finding a job is like trying to find a husband, you have to put feelers out, but usually you find them in the most unusual places at the strangest time. Most jobs are found through friends and friends of friends. Make a habit of telling everyone you run into that you a looking for a great job and what type of work you want to do. I promise you it will work. Every day make a point to tell at least two people. The great thing about this system is that it is people like us, who know you [kind of], care about you and know what you are good at that will think of you when they hear about a job that is right for you.

I fell into my job six years ago. Never even heard of a lit. manager. The interview was for a two-week temp job while the boss's asst. was at Sundance. Six years later it's my company. So...you never know.

The serentity prayer helps me a lot at times like this.

Big Smooches.

[Mir]

So, so sorry, Melissa.

I doubt it's any comfort to know that I've been going through this for over a year, now, and sans husband. But if it doesn't make you feel any better about your situation, at least misery loves company.

The job market blows right now. It's enough to make a sane person crazy... and for those of us who were a little off to begin with... well... EEK. ;)

[mamaloo]

I am really sorry about the job. It sooo sucks to be out there looking, period. Never mind, actually finding something you want and almost getting it, then not.

But check it out! You're tops in your category in the BOB right now! Maybe you'll win, and it will bring you fame, and you'll end up writing for some slick 'zine...stranger things have happened.

[midwestgrrl]

Once, I couldn't even get hired at Victoria's Secret.

I am not qualified to FOLD PANTIES.

Xing my fingers in your direction.

[BoB]

Look who's a finalist!

http://www.blogmechanics.com/bob/

[coolbeans]

Woman, you are fabulous. Keep your chin up. The right job will happen for you. (You may now commence hating me.)

Or you'll all move into my basement and I'll help you eat all that mayo. No one should eat that much gloopiness alone.

[Chris]

Melissa, 2004 just flat out sucked. For most of the world. Bush was re-elected, thousands in Southern Asia died in a tsunami, my world sucked and you didn't get the job. 2005 HAS to be better. Believe me, it HAS to!

[cooper]

Hi, you should be a freelance writer. Your local paper may need a talented writer such as yourself or maybe craigs list would have something? I dunno, you just seem gifted in that area.

[sivermine]

Being overqualified sucks. If you get into a similar situation, let them know, in as professional a way as possible, why you want the job so much. Like the fact that you LOVE the hours. A lot of places won't give a job to someone overqualified because they're sure you'll move on in a very short time when you find a better job. (Yes, they think this even though there is no better job).

In the 90's (maybe even now, who knows, I'm not in academia anymore) I knew a lot of people who had PhDs. They couldn't find any tenure track positions (too many scientists!) so they were looking for jobs in the business world. Many of them finally realized they could only get a job if they convinced people they weren't too over qualified. All the hiring businesses were so sure these PhDs would go off and find a better job that they kept giving these jobs to crappier people! Eventually, most people I knew started leaving their PhD off their resume.

Sick, huh? You go thorugh that hell of getting one and then you have to hide it. :P

Good luck on the next try! :(

[Lil' Sis]

Man, I cried so hard on Thursday.

Screw all that noise.

I am getting this chick fired within 90 days.
I can do it. Like He-Man said, "I have the power."

There is no way she would be better at the job than you. I know exactly how right you are for it.
In the meantime, I think you should call Debbie and express interest in the farther-away one. They may be able to adjust when the hours are. Plus it will be easier to move over if you're in already...

I know I should be emailing all this to you but I can't do that from the office and I have been WAY too busy to use the computer at home this weekend.

We'll go out for drinks Thursday night. My treat.

miao.