My Only Friend, The End

Okay, so it isn't my ONLY friend,... but it is one of them. What? Who? The end of the semester, duh! Yay! I get to see another batch of young adults take off into the sunset, communication skills enhanced, some more than others. This makes me happy. I see people improve.

People often ask me though, "How do you tolerate it? Why do you still teach, given how snotty kids can be, how bitchy and whiny and irresponsible they are sometimes? Why in the world do you do it, especially at your salary?!? Why put up with all the shit for the low pay?!?" Here's my answer: A year from now ONE of these people MIGHT come back and tell me some story of how the skills they learned in this class helped them in life. It may not sound like much, but that one person's story can make this job worthwhile.

Of course, I'm sure I'd be just as happy in a corporate communication job, especially if the pay was good. :) But those opportunities come along very seldomly. When I was searching for a job prior to accepting this one, I had several interviews for corporate positions as well as those in academia. I applied about 50% to the corporate world, and 50% to academia, so I interviewed at everywhere from Clemson University to up to the 4th interview with Blue Cross / Blue Shield of Illinois (in Chicago).

Sidebar here about that BCBS of Illinois position... I think I was shafted on that one. I went for four interviews. I was even shown where my office would be (20-something floor looking out over Lake Michigan). Everyone IU had interviewed with told me I was perfect for the job. At the last interview, I gave a PowerPoint presentation and speech, highlighting the functions of workplace communication groups. I could tell they liked it. Four people even winked at me or nodded at me with a subtle 'thumbs-up' gesture. The whole communication group is made up of Barbie-Doll-esque women, and one male. The one male is the head of the group. At BCBS, the group even has the nickname of the "Barbie-Doll Team" and it is common knowledge that the guy hires only Barbie-Doll-esque women.

From all their positive feedback I was sure I'd get the job. A few days later I got a call turning me down. I found out who he hired,... you guessed it,.. another Barbie Doll-esque woman. Through an inside source I found out she was not even as qualified as I am for the job. I seriously considered sueing the living fuck out of them. I know I'd have a case. I didn't though. I hate how litigious our society has become and I despise wrongful hiring practices. I've actually been TOLD by an employeer before that I was the best choice for the job but due to equality distributions he needed to hire a woman or a minority. Damnit, I don't care what kind of quotas we need to meet in this world to "show" our equality. Hire the person that is best for the job! I don't give a shit if they're male, female, black, white, or purple. I say get rid of all this anti-discrimination bullshit. Let people hire whoever they want to,.. and if they choose less-qualified people for the job, based solely on their gender or color, then fine! Let them FAIL in business because they were too damned shallow to hire the best person for the position!!!!

Oh yes, so anyway,.. about all those interviews,...
There was one company I applied to that I never heard back from. Leica instruments. They are a swiss company and make instruments for civil engineering. I used to do Civil Engineering Drafting & Design for about 12 years total. Now I have a Master's in Communication. They needed someone to do PR communications for them. Ummm.... HELLO!?!?!? Why the heck did they never contact me?!? I'd have been PERFECT for that job! *sigh* That one I still wonder about.

So, where does all this leave me? I am out for the semester. I teach during the month of June, 5 days a week. I am in an annual contract position at a local University west of Atlanta. I wish I had more stability than being on a yearly contract. Why is it that they have to do that? Government budgetting? Inability to committ to hiring someone permanently? Why can't they hire people on a yearly basis for the first 2 years then change them over to be a 'lecturer' position in which they have job security? Even worse is,.. there is an unwritten rule at this University, that they don't keep anyone more than 7 years. Why is that? I think there are a lot of things in academia that are screwed-up. And sometimes, yes, I question what the hell I'm doing here. But every now and then I get that one student with the story of life change and it makes it all worthwhile.

(But corporate America, keep an eye on me! If you need someone with my skills,... you know where to turn!)