So, I have 2 freaking Master’s and can’t land/keep a professional job. Is it because I am not smart enough or talented enough? No. It is because I live in a highly competitive area, so much so that there are more people with advanced degrees than anywhere else in the country. The young 20 something barista in my ‘hood is getting her freaking PhD! So I find myself being so tired of doing work that I don’t care for, and that I am over skilled for. But I guess that is life, or is that just causing me stress by not doing something that would help me to reach my true potential?

So, I apply for things and go on 2-3 interviews and do not snag them or I only get contract jobs. I don’t have that millennial confidence or tech prowess, yet I am not quite an old chick and do know quite a lot about quite a lot. So, as a single mom, I have legit gone back to nanny work and ughhhh I may start cleaning houses again. It’s just I have this huge student loan debt and a growing girl and the bills have to be paid.

I mean I do other things, but I don’t get paid very much. My main gig of 45 hours a week pays okay and then I get 500 dollars a month for a very part-time virtual job and 100 a month for a social media editing job. So, I have a little side income, but it is so little that it basically covers utilities and car insurance. I am grateful for that, but part time gigs need to be 4 times the amount for me to really make it in this expensive world, especially D.C.

Is it just me, or do contract and temporary jobs seem to be the wave of the future. I mean if you have a highly specialized skill set than, you may not run into these issues. My guy has a particular niche kind of job. So if he applies for a job, maybe 25-30 people will apply for the same job. The kind of skill set I have, you can have one of 15 degrees to qualify!

I am serious! I was looking for a social media job the other day and these were people who could apply: English majors, Journalism, Psychology, Sociology, Linguistics, Marketing, PR, etc. That makes it really difficult to stand out in a pool of 500+ applicants for every single job I apply for. And I get so frustrated because I know most jobs are about who you know.

I have applied for tons of county jobs in my area because they do work share and flex time and are just wonderful for a parent. But, though I am highly skilled in 90 percent of the jobs I have applied for, I do not hear back! What happens with a lot of govt based jobs is that they are required by law to list a position, even if they already filled it or have someone in mind.

So, what is a girl to do? For me it was logical. My roots. Taking care of kiddos and organizing and cleaning. When I did cleaning in my 20’s, I was all like, “I will NEVER clean houses again!” My, my, time for me to eat some humble pie. Because as the saying goes-“Desperate times require desperate measures.” Or something like that.:)

One thing about me, I don’t think I am too good to do a certain type of job. So many educated people claim that they are unable to find a job for a year when I know in many cases it is because they want a position, not a job. But don’t we all? Don’t we all strive to have people run around and do the menial duties? Isn’t it true that we would rather have a grand office with a great view instead of a cubby next to someone with chronic gas or that laughs loudly all day?

I want a million dollars(as my mom used to say), but it does not mean I will get it. Or at least not yet. So, I will do what I have to do to feed my hungry little hippos (cat and kid:) and to keep the lights on. Am I more talented than the work that I do? Of course, but aren’t a lot of us? At the end of the day, I don’t care what it is I do. As long as it is honest, pays the bills and isn’t too stressful.

I would be lying if I said I want to keep doing household jobs. But they are easy to find and the pay is decent and the checks come quickly. But until I can snag the job that makes my heart sing, I will simply sing while doing my job, only because I suck at whistling while I work. (haha)

I don’t love what I do. It doesn’t make me happy nor do I have passion for it, but I can at least harmonize while hating it:)

Simply~

Dee