The Museum Job

Greetings from Cancun. Chris and I left for the tropical destination last Saturday and tomorrow we will make the trek back to Canada. First stop Toronto, and then a final flight into Calgary on Monday evening. Our vacation came at just the right time: To kick the fall off and to officially (and appropriately I might add) say goodbye to the summer.

I haven’t written in a while because a) I was waiting to get some news on some potential job change and b) when the news came and then went again, I was able to duck under the cover of a trip to Mexico in order to put thought into the outcome and consequences of what happened in the span of a week. Today I’m feeling somewhat at ease about the entire thing, but last week at this time, I wasn’t feeling so hot.

I interviewed with a museum. They were looking for a special events coordinator and so, on a whim I applied for the job and never put any stock into hearing a response. As fate would have it, I heard the next day and interviewed a week later. I came out of the interview feeling like things had gone alright, but the overwhelming feeling of me getting the job wasn’t there, so I chalked it up to good interviewing experience and kept pushing forward. I waited an entire week and by the next Friday, I got a call from the man in interviewed with and he said that they really liked me, and were really happy with what they saw (insert huge ego boost here!) He was leaving on vacation and couldn’t make a decision before his departure, but he wanted me to know that he was really excited by my personality and in his mind, I was top of the list. He also cautioned that they were looking for a person who would handle the workload as well as have absolute dedication to the position. I quickly assured him that I too was also looking for both those things and would give the 200% necessary for the job. We ended the phone conversation on a positive note and I was assured that he would be getting back to me once he returned from vacation.

Not more than two hours later he called me back and said that he wanted to give me the job. I nearly jumped through the phone with sheer delight and told him I would be standing by for the job offer. I waited and waited and waited. In the span of a week, I spoke with his right hand lady twice who assured me that the paperwork was coming, it had just gotten caught up in HR and I continued to wait. Monday turned into Thursday and I was getting concerned about the no show on the job offer. Secondly, I was concerned about the fact that on the Saturday I was hoping a plane to Mexico and quitting my old job via email just didn’t seem fair.

I carried my cell phone with me everywhere with the hope that I might hear something. And the call finally appeared on Friday morning, last week. The man I interviewed with, who was on vacation somewhere in the United States, called to tell me that my job offer was being pulled and the soonest that he could look to officially hire me again wouldn’t be until at least the end of October, maybe even into November. He went on to say that the museum was currently under a hiring freeze, but given his workload he had been given special permission to hire someone, which was revoked by one of his colleagues. He apologized profusely and said that we would be in touch, that the job position was closed and he was sorry he was being so cryptic etc. etc.

See, it’s a good thing I have been in Mexico for the last week.

I understand that he was in a position that wasn’t easy. Shit, I wouldn’t want to hire someone and then tell him or her that the HR paperwork was never coming. Further to this, given the state of the economy, it comes as no surprise to me that the museum is under a hiring freeze. My biggest question still remains, Now what? I keep getting told that everything happens for a reason, and I’m sure it does, but right now, I’m not feeling so much love for that phrase. I know it’s meant as a sign of hope and encouragement, but it’s not really helping. When I first got the job interview I was super ecstatic that I was even considered, and when I got the job, I was even more thrilled that I was hired. I was looking forward to moving to a company that had work for me to do. I was looking forward to being able to get up in the morning and state that my being at work was making a difference. I was really looking forward to working with people who were connected to the arts and who were involved in the community. I know that in two or three months time that might be the case, but until then, what do I do? My current work situation has turned from bad to ugly and although September started 4 days ago, I have little faith that my current work situation is going to turn around, as everyone within the walls of my office continues to assure me. There are too many factors and variables to work against the notion that the month of September is going to change that.

I take courage in the fact that he stated that they have found their candidate and they job posting is closed. I take solace in the fact that it wasn’t me or my skills but rather a condition of the economy and forces beyond my control. I will keep in touch with the museum and continue to look at the situation, as much as necessary. I’m too much of a realist to put any stock into the end of October, beginning of November. In my experience, November can easily turn into April. I am blessed to have people who are in my corner though, and for that I am extremely grateful. R. from work is on a Calgary wide hunt for something else for me, and I don’t think she will ever know how grateful I am to her for that.

At the end of it all, I feel like maybe I am coming out on top. At least that’s what a week in Mexico has told me. I will enroll in a fall class on event planning (incase the museum actually comes through) and I now have the ability to put all efforts towards getting my gallery up and running for the 2nd of October. I can also put some thought and energy into getting more cupcakes produced and sold and all this while getting paid for something else. Maybe that isn’t so bad. Finally, I’ve been asked by the medical group that my mom does volunteer work for if I would go with them to Iraq in November to photograph their journey, and I have agreed with no hesitation. Maybe this is all supposed to happen before I can focus on the museum. Maybe not. When I return to my old job on Tuesday, I’m sure the sinking feeling and heaviness in my chest will return, but that’s ok. I will keep my eye on the prize. I love me, and right now, that’s all that matters.

As a shameless plug, please mark your calendars for October 2, 2009. My gallery will be opening in High River at the Art and Soul Gallery, and I would like nothing more than for you to join me. Starting at 6:30 and going until whenever.

As a poetic ending or potential ending to the story of the almost museum hire, I’m sending an invitation to the man I interviewed with at the museum. I hope he makes it.