quelquefois » job? http://quelquefois.net/toujours Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:16:25 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 [Unfinished] Personal Thoughts on the U.S. Economic Collapse http://quelquefois.net/toujours/2011/01/15/personal-thoughts-on-the-u-s-economic-collapse/ http://quelquefois.net/toujours/2011/01/15/personal-thoughts-on-the-u-s-economic-collapse/#comments Sat, 15 Jan 2011 19:20:48 +0000 Chang http://quelquefois.net/toujours/?p=556 It’s ironic that I started (and, obviously, never finished) writing this blog just a few days before I was offered a fellowship. Four days later, I was approached by another company for interviews. Things seem to be coming together now, and I’ve never been more grateful for the support I received from friends, colleagues, and mentors. Where I go from here is still a mystery, but I remain optimistic, and I think that is the hardest part.

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I left a stable job (and ample opportunities) in Beijing, China to come back to the U.S. to segue into new experiences and bolster my credentials for a future career (whatever that may be). I am currently an intern at a think tank. While I have never enjoyed my research, workplace, and colleagues more, a modest stipend is hardly sustainable.

The employment market for 18- to 24-year-olds is astonishingly poor, with the unemployment rate hovering around 20-24%, which is about twice as high as the national average (see The Economist graph below). In the past several months, I: applied to over twenty-four jobs; was interviewed multiple times; was a finalist for a position that was ultimately given to someone completely overqualified.

It is so immensely hard to stay positive and persistent. Applying for jobs has eaten up my free time and  kept me from pursuing more more productive outlets (read: an accomplishment; something to add to the resume). It’s a deathly cycle that’s difficult to break out of.

]]> http://quelquefois.net/toujours/2011/01/15/personal-thoughts-on-the-u-s-economic-collapse/feed/ 0 My New Resume http://quelquefois.net/toujours/2010/07/18/my-new-resume/ http://quelquefois.net/toujours/2010/07/18/my-new-resume/#comments Sat, 17 Jul 2010 17:01:30 +0000 Chang http://quelquefois.net/toujours/?p=506 Chang's New Resume

]]> http://quelquefois.net/toujours/2010/07/18/my-new-resume/feed/ 4 And Back Again http://quelquefois.net/toujours/2009/11/28/and-back-again/ http://quelquefois.net/toujours/2009/11/28/and-back-again/#comments Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:25:31 +0000 Chang http://quelquefois.net/toujours/?p=464 Ten days ago I was certain I was going home. I had mentally prepared myself, started allocating things (i.e., throw away versus keep versus donate), and listed things I needed to do before leaving Beijing (yes, going to the Forbidden City for the first time in my life is one of them).

Two days ago I bought my one-way return flight back to China. In the past week or so, I got offered a job that promises professional development and is challenging. So I accepted. Looks like I’m in for another year.

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