Cloud Nine has Got a Job... A Happy Ending

I feel this post is long overdue. There is no perfect way to write it, so I'm just going to say it:

... I HAVE A JOB! Woohoo!.....

After years of applying for jobs and trying to be confident in interviews, and trying the academic and the non-academic jobs, and facing the rejections and the blank stares ('You're an academic. Why do you want a job HERE?', and 'You were SO personable and friendly and you could clearly have done the job. Someone else had more office experience...') - I've got a job.

It was around January-February when the Lover said to me,

'Hey, you've been (at your institution) for four years now, doing casual work for them. Why don't you ask for a permanent job?'

And I was like - oh, OK then, I will!...

And we drafted the email together, and I summed up my four-years-experience, and I requested a meeting with my head of department. I asked for a permanent part-time post.

And now it's several months later, and I've got it. I had to apply, and interview, and jump the usual hoops for it, and live through the stress; but I've got it, and it's mine.

It was the afternoon of the interview day. I went outside, walked to the city centre, and just as I was reaching the good shops, my mobile rang. It was the head of department, offering me my job.

And as I hung up the phone, a cheesy reminder flashed up on my screen (because, you see, over the years I've set up various reminders in my phone, reminding me that I have a nice life and to be 'positive) - and the reminder happened to be the one that says 'Today is the best day of my life.'

And then I walked into a wine bar - because I needed somewhere nice to sit so I could bask in the glow of Having a Job, and also so I could message all my friends - and I just got so drunk. It was the sweet drunkenness of relief.

And now I have a job.

Lots of love to you all, and thanks for reading the blog - and good luck everyone who is working on their PhDs today

Cloud Nine x

(Got A Job Only Four Years After the PhD! Woohoo!)

(And She Lived Happily Ever After...)

Blogger isn't letting me write the blog post I want, so here is a picture instead: 'Work, Interrupted.' (I know how she feels. Procrastination strikes again?...)