Harrison_Win_P1_p2: Free-lance insecurity vs. a steady job?

In this dire 2011 economy, people entering the workforce are so desperate to find a job - any job - that it sometimes feels that anything will do. But if a choice presents itself, what choice would I make?

It seems that internships - the modern day version of the old apprenticeship - is taking over. But it seems we are moving from the old way of learning a valued skill from a kindly old pro to a 2011 version of Manpower temp agencies - doing free work for someone else, with no expectation that we won't be replaced in exactly 6 months time. Which looks more like the image on the right.

But in a perfect world, I prefer the reliability of a 9-5 job. The free-lance option (really, the most realistic expectation) has some great connotations of choice, freedom, leisure matched with potential paychecks - but it has its risks. It's a lot harder to drop up contracts for yourself, and it feels a lot harder to get clients to pay you when things go badly. I would rather pick up a paycheck every Friday.

As for a dream content for my dream job. I would like to be able to put as much of my personality as I can into any project, so that when I look at a potential portfolio, I see myself instead of just for-hire ideas. So in that regard, designing posters for Nike would not be for me, nor do I feel it would even be something I would be good at. With free-lance I might be more likely to express myself, but then again, I might run the risk of expressing only to myself.

Harrison_Win_P1_p1: The Snooty Life Test

I took the Ocean personality test/judgement as part of my LWIT blog final, the first entry of which you are reading here. Certainly the test had some accuracy - I do have a messy desk as it happens. It is deflating to consider that they describe a messy desk as an indicator of “disorganized, undependable & negligent.” Now my feelings are downright hurt. I thought I was just bohemian - hopefully my file management will be substantially more organized - clients would expect it.

Although in truth, my file management could historically withstand improvement.

I don’t typically seek out new experiences, the test says. On that I would agree - I’m cautious. The test says that a low score indicates “narrow interests, uncreative.” I like to think that it is more what PBS travel guru Rick Steves would call “ordering lower on the menu.” Life’s menu. And if more opportunities knock, who is to say I won’t adjust to. I feel I can speed up my work and my passions when I need to, when it’s possible.

Those jerks said I find it easy to criticize others, but what do they know? Just kidding, but on a more serious note, it’s worth considering the general mood I was in when I took the test. I was feeling a bit down, and perhaps the test reflected this. Perhaps the (more accurate) indicator that shows up later is “neuroticism”, where they claim “you are a generally anxious person and tend to worry about things.” That is certainly true, perhaps that’s why I answered some of the questions with no confidence?

Perhaps this is more of a self-esteem test? I was a little insecure about that, so when they asked for personal details at the end, I am a 96-year-old Finnish furtrapper who works in the Military Aviation field. I answered all the real questions with full honesty, but my age gender and field-related dreams I keep to myself.