The Industry

     I’ve come to terms with the whole “need-a-second-job-to-sustain-life-thing” and although it’s common, it’s very uncommon that a person try and pursue two extremely popular and competitive jobs to put bacon on the table (side note: I am now craving bacon…).

Obviously radio is my main objective. If you haven’t gotten that by now then, well, you’re probably a first time reader to which I say “welcome, there’s punch in the corner, links and archives are on the side and if you want to share your story about broadcasting send me an email to mitch.hawes@gmail.com”. 

However, like I talked about yesterday, an entry level, full time radio job is barely enough to survive off of, let alone a part time entry level job. So like a lion stalking it’s prey, I’m on the hunt for a second job where I can use my skills and not just flip burgers all day.

I thought about it for a little while and I discovered that through this blog, I really enjoy writing, albeit, this blog is casual and mostly for fun and networking. I thought that maybe I would try and write some freelance articles or something like that but when I searched online, it turns out that freelance journalism/writing is more popular and even more competitive then radio. I haven’t given up hope, but that is going to take a lot of work and I mean A LOT of work to get anything published. The kicker, it’s even worse pay. One 500 word article may only get you $15. Once again, freelance writing… back burner.

With this other very challenging aspiration subsiding due to it’s lack of a constant pay cheque, I’m leaning back towards that minimum wage job and there is nothing wrong with that. The problem is, I have never had to search for a minimum wage job. Now before you go all “whatcha talkin’ about Willis” on me, let me explain. I have had a bunch of different jobs. Forklift operator, nightshift freight assembler, office clerk, deli clerk, movie theatre, camp photographer the list goes on, but all of these jobs came to me. I didn’t have to search for them.

The first three… all apart of my parent’s company. I heard about the movie theatre position through a friend. I stumbled across the deli clerk position on a TV commercial and the camp photographer position was one of those right place at the right time deals. My question is…. where do you find a job when it doesn’t hit you in the face?

Naturally I have tried the whole online thing. Workopolis.ca, Monster.ca and even Craigslist (although I’m skeptical about the majority of postings) and it turns out that unless I have a marketing or accounting degree, there are no jobs! Of course this is ridiculous. There is always jobs out there, but what I am coming to realize is, it literally comes down to printing off a bunch of resumes and handing them out to every place you walk past. This is in my near future. I’m not opposed to it, I just hope something magically falls into my lap, because although I’m a people person, begging for a job is not one of my strong suits!

Can you relate? Do you have a similar story? You know the drill, send me your story. Give me hope and wish me luck… again.

-Mitch