(from march 30, 2009… original post without tweaks found here)

i graduated from college, accepted a job at the small internet company i interned with during breaks from school, and got laid off 6 months later. i then accepted a three-month digital communications internship at a public relations agency. i really thought i’d love it – and i was really wrong. after three months of incorrect pay (causing me to hardly make ends meet) and being treated like dirt, i was back on the [job] market.  i did some freelance gigs, coached some cheerleading, and relied on my savings to make ends meet.

i was being picky.  i only wanted to work at a creative agency and didn’t want to settle… but money was low and i told myself that i was going to accept the next offer that came through my door and i did.  i accepted a position as “marketing coordinator” at a small non-profit about ten minutes away from my house.  the job seemed pretty cool.  by no means was it my dream job, and i knew that, but i liked the people and the work and it payed the bills.

as time went on, i came to realize that my boss, the “marketing director”, really knew nothing about marketing (and was subsequently fired for that very reason… and a few more) and neither did anyone else in my office.  i also learned that coming in as a twenty-four year old “kid,” my professional opinion held no water with the old curmudgeons i was working with.

long story short, they decided to eliminate the marketing department… it just “wasn’t working.”  bygones will be bygones, but if you ask me, that’s the dumbest decision a company can make…

so here i am again, faced with the same quandary i faced about a year ago: to settle or not to settle?

i can get any corporate-whatever job. i can likely land an offer blindfolded and with my hands tied behind my back – but that’s not what i want. i want to work in a creative agency. period.

i’m seriously struggling with the idea of accepting (or even looking for and considering) a position doing something other than marketing/advertising/digital – i don’t want to work somewhere else where my coworkers hate their jobs… i want to work somewhere where everyone is brilliant, outgoing, proud of their work, and happy to be where they are.

yeah, yeah i know. most of you are probably cursing me as a typical twenty-something gen-y millennial who wants to have their cake and eat it too. and what i’m going to say next will likely prompt you to continue cursing me and my naivete … i think i’m good enough to not have to settle.

hell, i think i’m downright great. i’m outgoing, always give more than 100%, bubbly and smiley, talented, smart as hell, and i’m assertive. so what if i’m only twenty-four? i’ve learned a lot, lived a lot, done a lot and have no problem acknowledging that i still have a lot to learn… and that excites me.

being a semi-recent graduate (almost two years ago) in this economy sucks. furthermore, add to the mix that i’m in marketing, well it sucks even more. marketing and HR have been the first things to go – and all the marketing jobs i’ve seen out there are either part time or “admin” positions. and i’m sorry, but when did “marketing” become “admin”? people are seeking “marketing assistants” and only offering $8/hr but requiring a degree? who the hell do these employers think they are?

ugh. must stop ranting.

anyway. i’m looking for a job in a creative agency – be it advertising, web design, whatever. i’m super passionate about the web, and have a fair amount of experience in it. i have great confidence in my abilities and know i’ll land the job of my dreams, but let’s face it. times are tight, and i need a job now.

i’ve found a couple of great agencies, who think i’m just as great and want to hire me. the problem? hello. we’re in a recession, and they need more business to hire me. all of these agencies are great and i’m willing to wait but while i’m waiting i’ll likely run out of money, get evicted, lose my health insurance (which i currently pay a ridiculous monthly premium for) and my mind, fall back on my car payments… and well, i’m pretty sure you can imagine the rest.

if anyone has any leads, pointers, or love, please feel free to comment… i could sure use the pick-me-up.