McCall’s Cooking School: Mexican Salad Bowl (1985)

So my unemployment continues. I became officially unemployed as of June 30. So what, I’m at 7 weeks of not working? It’s weird, dude.

It’s fine because I was able to cash out all my unused PTO, etc. from two jobs ago. But if I still had a job that was going to be like mad money–I could go on a trip or pay off my car. But now it’s just paying my mortgage and health insurance. And that’s not fun or cool.

And do we want to talk about how expensive health insurance is?

Oh I just wish that I didn’t have to work at all. I wish I was independently wealthy or won the lotto or married a dude with a trust fund. I wouldn’t have to worry about anything! I could just spend all my time working on DiS1972, watching Lifetime movies, and drinking Pinot Grigio.

Well, I guess I currently am spending all my time working on DiS1972, watching Lifetime movies, and drinking Pinot Grigio, but it’s not the same. I’ve got bills to pay and a cat to feed and there’s that whole health insurance thing.

I haven’t earnestly looked for a new job in over ten years, so I feel like I’m still getting used to the whole employment search. I don’t want to say that the search is terrible, because here are jobs out there for which I am qualified, and I do get interviews on the regular. It’s just that none of them have turned into actual work.

And I know you want to say to me: something is out there blah blah blah you just haven’t found it blah blah blah.

Sounds familiar because it reminds me so much of online dating.

I was going through old posts and I found this one, which really highlights just how fucking difficult it is to date in the internet age (it’s worth revisiting).

With the profiles and the cover letters and the emailing pre- and post-interview, I 100% feel like I’m on the OK Cupid/Tinder/etc. merry-go-round.

As of late, the companies I’ve been interviewing with have been great about correspondence, but at the very beginning it was rough.

There was one school for which I applied.  I was contacted because they were interested. They asked for writing and video samples, which I sent.

And then I didn’t hear from them for a week. So I did a follow-up email. Did the attachments not work? Do you have any questions? Do you want to schedule an interview?

They never contacted me again.

I almost feel like I was stood up.

Was my portfolio that bad? Was it just not what you are looking for? Or was it totally amateur-ish?

It’s like texting a guy for a few weeks but when you ask if they want to get together IRL it’s like they never existed.

This was not the case when I was doing this years ago, but now if you apply to a job and the employer is interested, a lot of job search engines provide proficiency screenings and personality tests.

I have no problem with doing writing exercises or tests regarding management styles. But those personality tests are the worst. Especially when you take those and you never hear back.

What was it about my personality? Does it say that I’m unstable? Were the test results that I’m a sociopath?

The ultimate is when you go to an actual face-to-face interview and you’re ghosted. I mean, at least send me a boilerplate “thanks but no thanks” email.  I paid for parking to meet you, asshat. I deserve a proper goodbye!

So here’s my question for you: what is worse, being rejected by a single man or by an entire organization? Or not being picked because of your work or your personality?

And what the fuck does any of this have to do with Mexican Salad Bowl?

Not a damn thing.

I made it.

I didn’t hate it.

Check out the original and my version: