This post is in response to and solidarity with Anthony S.’s post on the lack of meaningful work in the area. I can definitely relate. I am incredibly salty about the job market in Grand Rapids. I’ve been trying to get paid for what I’ve been educated to do for about three years now.
Best Practice #1: Nepotism
My last semester of college I interned for free for a local nonprofit, and then worked part-time for $8/hr. I went through three job titles, was refused a job description when I asked for one, was told by the COO that my job would eventually become full-time, and was eventually fired for not meeting the expectations of my non-existent job description. My termination coincided neatly with the addition of two part-time positions, one hiree being the COO’s sister.
Best Practice #2: Sexual Harassment
At my next job for a Grand Rapids cultural institution, I was sexually harassed by my co-worker. He’d been reported by a patron for looking at porn on the Internet, using the front desk computer, but, for some reason, was never fired. I only made $7 an hour there.
After these two experiences, I decided that my suffering was a result of poor management. I decided to go get my Master’s in nonprofit management. I still have to complete my thesis, but for all practical purposes, I now have a Master’s degree. I have sent out probably about 40 resumes all over the country, and have gotten one interview. (This was a total fluke. I wasn’t qualified and had only applied because I thought it was a different, similarly-named organization.) My favourite thing is when you actually KNOW somebody, your cover letter starts with “Dear Ms. Soandso, at YOUR FRIEND’S recommendation, I am applying for this position” or, even better, “Dear Ms. Executive Director, at YOUR recommendation, I am applying…” and they still don’t call you back because, well, you don’t REALLY know them.
There are a lot of cool things going on in Grand Rapids. There are all sorts of nonprofits, a roller derby team, galleries, museums, arts centers, markets, artist live/work spaces, fashion shows, boutiques, and outdoor films. Despite its conservatism, the community is really supportive of new, innovative projects. Unfortunately, it doesn’t PAY people to do any of them. And this is really starting to piss me off.
The Grand Rapids community is starting to seem very closed to me. While at first glance it may seem that there are age, race, and gender issues, the real problem is that Grand Rapids is really just a small town pretending to be a big city. Other issues are simply symptomatic of the systemic nepotistic favoritism and who-you-know discrimination of GR’s human resource environment. It is so incredibly frustrating to me that people like Anthony, who is obviously bright, talented, personable, highly-skilled, even attractive is being overlooked for jobs. On the absurd grounds that he doesn’t type fast enough.
Aside: I type really fast. I’ve been clocked at 60 or 70 words per minute. The reason I type fast is because I worked a series of completely meaningless secretarial jobs. Is that the implied requirement for real employment now? Not only do you need experience in your field, but you should have worked outside your field as a secretary for a number of years…
So I think I might start sending out letters of inquiry. Just found this on the Internet. Here’s a sample I just found:
Dear Mr. Burns:
I learned of MEGATEK through online research using the CareerSearch database through Career Services at Virginia Tech where I am completing my Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering. From my research on your web site, I believe there would be a good fit between my skills and interests and your needs. I am interested in a software engineering position upon completion of my degree in May 2008.
As a graduate student, I am one of six members on a software development team where we are writing a computer aided aircraft design program for NASA. My responsibilities include designing, coding, and testing of a graphical portion of the program which requires the use of GIARO for graphics input and output. I have a strong background in computer aided design, software development, and engineering, and believe that these skills would benefit the designing and manufacturing aspects of Template software. Enclosed is my resume which further outlines my qualifications.
My qualifications make me well suited to the projects areas in which your division of MEGATEK is expanding efforts. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss a position with you, and will contact you in a week or ten days to answer any questions you may have and to see if you need any other information from me such as a company application form or transcripts. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
William Stevens
Do people really do this? I mean, when you call them in a week, how do you start off? “Um, this is Sally Tomato, I’m just calling to answer any questions you might have before you interview me… for this position… that I made up in my head…”
Sigh.
