Screwtape Chronicles

12 February 2008

Week One: Holding Patterns

Posted by Ryan

You can't tell, but that's a Brooklyn subway map. I live right off the light green line, the G train, at the Myrtle Willoughby stop.

Well, it's been a little more than a week since I moved to Brooklyn. And… not much has yet happened.

That's because it takes a little time to set up shop. And also because I decided that working at Borders wasn't the right call. Of course, I'm going in to talk to the manager tomorrow, so I might get roped into a few shifts. But really, I have no intention of working there. The pay is terrible.

Which means I'm rolling the dice with the temp agencies. They will pay better. The key, though, is getting in the door. I've had many agencies recommended to me and I'm still going through the process of following up on those recommendations. In fact, I'm going to an interview tomorrow (after the Borders meeting), so we'll see how that goes. I went out and bought some nice clothes for all of this, which makes me find kind of silly because the suit and tie look is not my normal look and I don't yet feel comfortable in that kind of skin. But if I have to wear a suit to get paid well, then that's what I'll do. I even taught myself how to tie a tie! Using youtube! Seriously.

What's really happening is that I am holding out for a permanent job at a hedge fund in Manhattan. They advertise themselves as encouraging those with "other agenda" priorities to apply to work there, and their corporate atmosphere is very laid back (no suits!). They also pay well and have insurance and all that other jazz. In essence, it's perfect for someone like me. Unfortunately, their hiring process takes forever. My contact there apparently went through in excess of ten interviews before he was offered a job. Obviously, that kind of process takes weeks. Which is why I am looking to work at a temp agency. Why not work for Borders, you might ask? Because the pay is terrible. And more practically, if the hedge fund doesn't work out, then I need to be gaining office experience in order to go after other administrative work… experience I cannot gain at Borders. So Borders is pretty much out.

Otherwise, Brooklyn and Manhattan have been treating me well. I've caught up with some old friends, been to a couple shows, seen a movie, and spent some time walking around some Brooklyn neighborhoods. It's been fun, thus far, and I hope it continues to be.

Here’s a list of things I have already learned in my first eight days:

-however much time you think it will take to get somewhere, add fifteen minutes.

-don’t leave to go drinking on the Upper East Side at 10:30 P.M. on a Saturday night if you live in Brooklyn, unless you’re cool with getting home at 5 A.M.; in fact, just don’t go to the Upper East Side to drink on a Saturday night if you live in Brooklyn, just go to Brooklyn because you are already there.

-it’s very cold here in February.

6 Comments currently posted. Trackback URL

Matt Hanson says:

I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you.

Matt Hanson

Ryan says:

Welcome to the site! As you might be able to tell, I just moved to New York. As soon as I settle in, though, I’ll be posting content that isn’t just personal blogs… so stick around if you’re into that. I’ll poke around your blog tomorrow…

Charles says:

Hey, glad you’re still alive. I think it would be awesome if you posted a picture in a suit and tie. We all need a smile now and again.

Good luck with the hedge fund. As far as health care goes, she said she’s not happy with hers, but something’s better than nothing, right? Anyway, we’re praying for you, and thinking nice thoughts.

Ryan says:

I’m having problems with loading my pictures on to my computer… every time I put the card into the computer the computer just shuts down. I took pictures of myself after I tied the tie so I could judge how it looked… I’ll get those up sometime.

Who is the she you are referring to?

Charles says:

Oh, I forgot a sentence. please insert, “I hear Chelsea Clinton works at one of those,” after, “Good luck with the hedge fund.” That should clear it all up.