Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Employed Again! (Naturally)



They say good things come to those who wait. In my case, the good things have been well worth the wait and hard work.

I got a job! And not just any job, I'm going to be a copywriter! With the company Magic Yellow, one of the world's largest online resources with the yellow pages. My official title will be SEO Copywriter which means I write and review original articles, copy, and content developed for the site, research, manage, and update keyword lists, and track the performance of SEO techniques.

I feel so lucky. Beyond lucky actually! If you live anywhere near the Calabasas county outside of Los Angeles, you might have heard my shrieks of joy echoing throughout city and surrounding counties.

Aside from the fact that being employed means I get to pay off my credit card bills, student loan bills, and continue living in my gorgeous apartment with my two roomies, this job is very special to me in another way.

It was exactly the type of work I had anticipated going into as a post-grad.

Journalism is an extremely difficult field to get a job in these days. It's highly competitive and having an edge in this industry is growing tougher. Since social media is so new these days, I often use this as my "edge" of sorts, but the problem I face is that everyone who graduated with me is fairly well-versed in it too. We're the Facebook generation. Texting is our language. My competition, in many ways, is myself. Girls my age with my same skills, hungry for the job and ready to shove anyone else out of the way.

This position is fantastic for me because while I do have journalistic work behind me, I lack experience in the next field I want to go into: advertising. By working here, I can garner a good reputation and move on to the bigger leagues, with my main goal being Leo Burnett (since I was six, I fantasized about working at the same company that was responsible for giving me my favorite icon, the Pillsbury Doughboy).

I might be able to become a "Mad Woman" sooner than I thought I would!



Once I got off the phone from receiving the good news, I updated my Facebook status and walked the rest of the way back to the apartment, feeling nearly shell-shocked. Honestly, I didn't know how to react! Two months of being unemployed, countless hours of applications, resumes, and cover letters, staying up until 2am sending email after email, all of the disastrous interviews I went on, and every night where I went to sleep feeling terrified that in less than three weeks time, I might have to do the unthinkable and move back home.

Up until Monday, I kept whispering to myself whenever I was going to go to sleep, "Times are hard for dreamers." The line from Amelie I am so fond of. I would whisper it again and again, clutching my pillow, scared and nervous of what tomorrow would bring. How would I pay for things? How long could I stay positive? When would I just have to admit defeat and give up? Could I even give up?

The answer to the last question is no, of course! I would crawl through the mud on bloody hands and knees to get a job. I'd fight for it until the very bitter end. Giving up just isn't in my blood. I just applied for jobs everywhere, every position you could imagine, and stayed optimistic that something good would come out of it.

It's like a huge weight has fallen off of my shoulders. Good pay, full time, health benefits, and close to commute to. I worked hard for this and I can't wait to go into that office and work with them! 200%, instead of 100%!



So...I start on the 26th. My plans for my last week and a half of not working include:

1) Continue going into the Fender office and wrap up the end of my internship. Can you believe I've been there for six months? I still remember the first day...wow!

2) Celebrate with my girls! I have such a great support system of friends, it's ridiculous. They stuck by me during this time so wonderfully and I love them so much for it!

3) New. Office. Dresses. I tried on two in Macy's on Saturday that were perfect. I'm going back to get them and some pretty new pumps to match!

4) VEGAS this weekend! Yesss!!!

And oh yes, a big, big THANK YOU to my followers for commenting and supporting me on this journey! It's been tough, but you guys definitely cheered me up and made me feel super fabulous! THANK YOU!!!!

Love to you all,
Heather

29 comments:

Jo said...

Hooray!! This is GREAT news!! Congratulations!!!! xox

Anonymous said...

That's great, congratulations!!!

English Rose ♥ said...

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY!!!!!!!! SO SO SO SO proud of you Heather!! Congratulations!!!!

Merci beaucoup for your wonderful comments and support darling, it really means a lot ♥

Je suis très très TRÈS désolée for the late reply!

Have a lovely week dearest =]

Stay safe and chic ma chérie,
English Rose x
http://iamanenglishrose.blogspot.com

Elisabeth said...

Pleased to meet you Heather and congratulations on your job. I used to say that if i could live my life over again, I'd have studied journalism. These days I'm not so sure about that, but I'd love to be able to spend my days writing, but not under anyone else's instructions. Good on you Heather for starting here. I'm sure it's the beginning of a wonderful career.

Meg O. said...

Hello! Congratulations on your new job! New office wardrobe is always a plus :) And have fun in Vegas. Btw, cute blog!!! -Meg @ oisme.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Yay! Congratulations! - G

drollgirl said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!! this is fantastic! and you have a bit of time to work in a LOT of fun before you start the job. well done!!!! WOO HOOOOOOOO!!!

Jaime @ laviejaime said...

CONGRATS!!

Meredith said...

new follower so i haven't been reading throughout your journey but many congratulations!! i'm so glad things are working out for you, and extra special marks for the beautiful amelie quotation.

heather said...

So many congratulations on your new job! And one that you like. I worked in SEO related stuff for a long time. Just the internet world in general and writing, it will be so much fun! Enjoy your last days off, celebrations, Vegas, baby, all knowing that your turning a new page soon!

Glad you found me, so I too found you!

Diana Mieczan said...

Yuppiieee........I am sooooooooooo Happy for you sweetie!!! That is a great news:) Enjoy enjoy enjoy!!!!! Great day:)
Muah and see you soon:)

Purple Cow said...

Congratulations Heather. Glad you got what you wanted, but beware what you want...

I'm a journalist, too, in Athens, Greece. But the truth is, I'm still trying to figure out what I wanna be when I grow up.

Unknown said...

Wow, such great news! Congrats to you!!!

Lydia Kang said...

That's great news! Congrats, and have a great time in Vegas!

Thanks for commenting on my blog, btw!

Jennifer Fabulous said...

Congrats on the new job!! That is such great news. :)

Amber said...

This is so cool. And kind of gives me hope that I'll also be able to find a cool job soon.

Unknown said...

Oh, congratulations, I am sure this will be excellent for your career!!! And I totally agree that being technological is no longer an upper hand, because well everyone can be.
Libby
http://fashionconfectionairy.weebly.com

Pearl Westwood said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Such wonderful news xx

Anonymous said...

big things are in your future - i can smell it or tell it. congratulations!

Dionne said...

That's great news! Good for you! Good things come to those who wait. And good excuse to go shopping for new outfits, I agree! :)

English Rose ♥ said...

Merci beaucoup for stopping by beautiful =]

Have a lovely week!

Stay safe and chic ma chérie,
English Rose x
http://iamanenglishrose.blogspot.com

Ren- Lady Of The Arts said...

That is so great!

I am happy for you that you got the job that you wanted.

Nice to 'meet' you via blogland.

Sadako said...

Congrats! :) Very happy for you.

Tiffany Kadani said...

Congratulations!!!!!!! I have been waiting for a post like this from you. So fun! And you must post those dresses! Secret of mine: I have always wanted to be a copy writer. Weird, huh, since I am a dancer!
Congrats and you are going to be amazing! You already are!

Martina said...

Hey Heather, this is FABULOUS!!!! Oh, how i love good news - and they sure will appreciate you and your work. Have a great celebration, i send some virtual pink champagne ;)

Andrew said...

Hey, hey -- I;m proud of you!
Good job!

Anonymous said...

congrats on your job! :)


http://hellomisschic.blogspot.com

Claire Kiefer said...

So exciting and what a relief! I'm starting the job search now and it is so tedious and grueling! I applied for two Copywriter jobs yesterday, in fact. Might as well try to use my graduate degree in writing, given all the debt it earned me, haha! Congrats on your amazing new job, and send some of that good luck my way now that you don't need it anymore ;)

Ashley said...

Congrats, girl! I am so happy for you! What an incredible feeling to finally get the job you really want. <3