The Great Experience Paradox

Ugh.

That's all I can say. Just...ugh.

There's nothing less appealing than looking for a job. Am I the only person out there who feels it's a huge invasion of privacy? I mean, when you fill out an application, you're telling complete strangers all about you. Where you've worked, who your friends (references) are, and your skills.

I can understand that they need to know things like that. It's important to know where a person has worked, and for how long, and what skills they might have that you, the employer, can use.

...and yet, I have this image in my mind of the human resources director looking at my resume (or application, depending on how classy the company is), and just seeing all my mistakes.

You see, I'm a serial quitter. In my entire working life, since age seventeen or so, I've probably only given the customary two-weeks notice three times that I know of. This, naturally, is not included in my work history by me, but it's still there, and I feel like the personnel directors of the world can sniff me out, like a rotten egg in the back of the refridgerator.

It's not that I don't feel bad when I don't give notice. My problem is, by the time I'm ready to leave a job, and fling myself into the insecurity of unemployment, I'm sick of the job. I have trouble with getting bored.

I can't say that I've ever had a job that really challenged me, or really used my skills and potential in any sort of real way.

You know why?

Because of the experience paradox.

You all know what I'm talking about. The great mystery of the human resources dynamic.

The potential employer wants people skilled in _________.

In order for someone to become skilled in ________, one must work in that field.

Unfortunately, all of the potential employers want someone already skilled in ________.

I am fairly certain that I could do something like graphic design if I was hired on to do something in that field, and given about a week to learn the programs. Let's be honest, a person almost always learns more when doing something hands-on than in a classroom situation.

So why am I not working in graphic design?

Because I haven't done it in a "paid" situation.

So, I'll be doing what any stupid monkey can do. It doesn't even need and intelligent monkey. A stupid one can do it.

Ugh.