Job Hunt Recession ‘o9
I was looking for a job in the Great Recession of ’09. Having no luck breaking into the education field, I decided to look for a restaurant job. Money was running out. Thanks to my man, I finally faced the numbers to see how much I owed on my student loans, and how much it would cost to pay back. In the nick of time, I stopped taking out loans. I post-poned taking thesis credit hours, and went on the job hunt at a pretty treacherous time. Jobs were out there, but there were much much more job seekers. At first, I applied to anything I could find I could do on Craigslist. I applied at offices, I applied at universities, I applied at cleaning companies, I applied at schools…
The first job I applied for was a new charter school. I waited around all summer for it, but it never got off the ground. That job would have been cool, a mentorship job at a school for kids that were not making it in the public schools, but oh well. Perhaps getting that first job like that would have made it too easy.
Then I found from an intern job at school for learning English. It was fun at first, but then it was disasterous due to a clash of energies with an office Queen. It only paid minimum wage, and I was overqualified. It was not a good fit for me. It became apparent that it would not serve in taking me closer to where I am going- to what I intend to do.
I came to the conclusion that for my resume, the best job I could get that was the best paying was restaurant work. Even though I had said that there was no restaurant on my horizon after Bang! whom I love and which has been the ultimate for me as far as a service career. After removing this restriction on restaurant work, I pursued the service industry again.
I started applying to anything that popped up on Craigslist.
I applied at a newly opening pool hall in Northglenn. When I walked into the room the day they were seeing applicants, there was a huge line and there were maybe fifty people in the room. There was one lady interviewing a bartender applicant. Luckily, another lady surfaced and she called the girls applying for server/waitress positions in tow groups. There were six others in the room with me, and at the end of the group interview, two of ten went home. I was happy I had the job. I was happy that I had a job.
But when the pool hall actually opened, it was in actuality a cocktail job. I remembered that I really dislike cocktailing. This place was far away from home, it was slow with just opening, and they charged money for water. $1 for even just tap water. This rule, aimed at kids who hog up tables from drinking customers, was off-putting to customers, and to me. It was a drag, and so I quit. It was a good practice of saying “no, thank you” to a scenario.
At this point I went on a shamanic journey with Antonio. I was looking forward to laying down and putting my feet up, and even just dozing off. When I arrived I paid a visit to the Great Mother to do her services and ask her to release jobs for the community.
I just wanted a restaurant job where I could just be a dinner server.
That is exactly what came about with the Indian restaurant. I had a friend there, but the other server was this Indian chick who was reasonably nice, but trained me harshly, expecting me to memorize every word she said, and then humiliated me if I needed to ask something she somehow expected me to know. Again, as with the office Queen, I tried to stay compassionate and take her meanness as an opportunity to practice not allowing myself to be thrust into hatred and antagonism.
I was so submissive, I needed this job, and I just took her abuse when she dished it out. I wore my blue velour pantsuit from K-mart that I just had to have. I needed some bling to go with it. I got out my gold chain my mom gave me with a south-western gold bear pendant that I hadn’t appreciated until now.
I dreamed about a circular room with six doors surrounding its parameter. Two warring mobsters came out of the doorways to stand-off with guns, but a great bear came out as well and put the men to shame with her ferocity.
There was a Bang! reunion when Christina and Shannon were in town with Jen, Josh, and Dani Gaines. I went into work in my black uniform with the golden bear swinging under my blouse as I tapped into this gold bear energy. It was perfect. Noone, not even the mean waitress could fuck with me. However, with the owner supposedly in a deep hole not paying some employees and the energy off, I knew I had to find something better. I found a dear friend there in a Nepali man with a beautiful wife that I wish the best for always. I had to leave before I told any more people how awful that unfortunate place was. Cockroaches (as have the other restaurants in the oldest part of downtown) and burst sewer line in the frigid arctic weather we had.
I remembered that I had to be specific in what I wished for. I wished for a job that was a good atmosphere that made me good money and that had good people, nice co-workers and customers.
I found an add for Poppies, applied, (I was the second person there) and got hired the next morning. I told the waitress and the owner why I was leaving in the nicest way possible, and I went in to work at Poppies, which seems just fine. It’s not forever, but it’s a great for now.
Nina Lois is a graduate student at the University of Colorado at Denver obtaining a Master's Degree in Humanities with a B.A. in political science. Her passions are broad when it comes to the human condition. She is deeply interested in philosophy, psychology, environmental and social justice, peace studies, music, nutrition, tradition, and progress. 
Upon her imminent graduation, she wishes to contribute to the health, wealth, and happiness of the community through involvement, writing, and research. For goodness's sake, love the body, cultivate the mind and a garden, and feed the soul!
Thanks again