Saturday, October 16, 2010

The Toll of Temporary Employment

Since I finished my assignment at the spcaLA last week, I've been shuffled through three different assignments at vastly different companies. Turns out, the ability to answer a phone is a transferable skill (sarcasm).

On Monday I worked 8 hours at a small movie studio which I forgot to take a picture of.

Tuesday-Thursday I worked at an outdoor furniture company that sells "to the trade", which means to professional decorators and designers only.


Apparently, designer-only furniture and decor stores operate out of design centers like this: the Pacific Design Center, known affectionately as the "blue whale" by Angelenos.




The building is super-ritzy, hosting Oscar after-parties, and including two restaurants by Wolfgang Puck (who is apparently very famous).

Finally, on Friday I worked for the "Latino Business Association's 2002 Business of the Year", a commercial realty group.


And I already know that on Monday, I can look forward to working, from 11-6, at a team building "Beach Olympics" on the Santa Monica Beach. ?!?

Obviously, there are some perks regarding temp work. Working at three different companies in a week is interesting, and allows me to observe a lot of different fields. Also, I'm still getting a kick out of the Los Angeles nature of the problems I get to field. I'd be lying if I said I didn't find it exciting to go from transferring calls from the offices of Paramount execs on Monday, to finding out the "status of the other 37 pieces for Dr. Phil" on Wednesday, to overhearing leasing arguments with WalMart brokers on Friday. And did I mention that I am going to be helping out with an executive team-building "Beach Olympics" on Monday? What is this life I'm living?

Of course, I am also aware that considering the economy, it's saying a lot that I have a job that lets me work at least close to the hours of 8-5 on weekdays only. And the companies I have worked for so far have been really professional and friendly towards me, which is saying a lot.

But on the other hand, as you probably know, I am a ROUTINE and a SCHEDULE person. I have been known to hyperventilate when my daily planner went missing for 15 minutes. I made Sarah and Figgy sit through epic 5 hour musical-schedule-planning-sessions EVERY SUNDAY of HH! and WSS. So you can only imagine how much it upsets me to not know how, where, or when I'll be making money on a day-to-day basis.

I almost glared at one of my agency's staffing managers this week when she mentioned off-hand, how great a way to make money temping is. (It's not a great idea to glare at the people finding you jobs.) M and my mom will both tell you that I have NOT been happy this week. And I am entirely aware that that is all in my head, not in the situation itself.

I am just really, REALLY realizing from this experience that I need a routine to settle in to, and a project that is both ongoing, and exciting and worthwhile for me. Just working a job every day is not enough for my happiness. I need to find a vocation for my life to seem bright and full of color. Do you think that's unrealistic?

2 comments:

  1. That's not unrealistic at all. In fact, you're very fortunate, because for most people, having a routine is something to complain about, and ongoing projects are things to escape from. What you're learning now is that when you settle into your "calling" some day soon, you will enjoy its regularity that much more. :-)

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  2. Definitely not. Each to their own - some thrive on spontaneity (i.e. Rachel), some do not. You will find a vocation to call your own and a routine you enjoy. You have a nurturing nature and like to watch things come into bloom, so it's natural that you would like to have an ongoing project you may tend to and observe its progress. :)

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