My Menial Job(s)

I am a receptionist. I also like to add “administrative assistant” in there from time to time; but, let’s face it, I graduated college and now I answer phones. I mean I even wear a headset.

It’s slightly embarrassing; yet much more comfortable than the back of my earring jamming into my ear.

It isn’t like this is my first menial job; I’ve been working them since I was thirteen. Retail, Food Service, Nanny, Camp Counselor; I have done it all. And after I graduated college, I expected to go through a bout of menial jobs and laborious internships to get there (there being a real job with salary and benefits). I just never expected it to go on for this long.

I mean, I’m a writer, so I kind of expected this type of unemployment. But with a totally kick-ass resume and some awesome experience to back it up, a girl still can’t get a job. So I landed this, a long term temp reception gig at a pretty chill event production company.

And I actually really like it.

I know I won’t be a receptionist forever. I mean it’s what I do for now, not what I am. But so many times, talking to girls I graduated with or when meeting new people they always ask, “So… What do you do?” It took me a long time to be able to confidently say “I’m a writer and a receptionist.”

Sure, it isn’t glamorous and it sure as hell doesn’t have benefits, but I’ve learned a few things along the way.

Working a menial job, although it can feel incredibly… I mean slightly… beneath you, can totally reap its benefits. It has given me stability and a reason to stop sitting around watching TV on the internet day after day. It has given me a real work environment where I am comfortable and appreciated instead of feeling degraded and ignored. I am working forty hours a week instead of sixty and one job as opposed to three.

And better yet, I know that every week there will be a paycheck waiting instead of wondering how this month’s rent money will miraculously appear.

So, ladies with menial jobs, UNITE! Be proud that you are working for your money and not sitting around leaning on the ‘rents. Right now, at our age, it doesn’t matter what we are doing just that we are always learning, always trying and always going for more.

I feel so damn inspired, I think I might just apply for a real job now.