The itch...

I was speaking with a coworker (who happens to be one of the only people I trust at work) the other day about job searching. Every once in a while we converse about how it might be time to look for a new job.  We usually say things like, "i don't think I'm going anywhere in this place", or "i need something more fulfilling", or "this place SUCKS". We then ultimately start talking about how there doesn't seem to be any opportunities out there when we search online. I know from experience, especially lately, when I spend hours trolling the internet on sites like Career Builder, or Indeed, etc., and I find all these job postings listed that don't fit my criteria, or I'm over- or under qualified for, I just end up feeling dejected and frustrated. There doesn't seem to be anything available to me out there.  I tell my coworker that she's more than qualified for any job she finds. She's ridiculously smart and a really fast learner, which are two things that you really need to be when you get a new job.  But I think she probably feels the same way; that there's just nothing out there that makes her want to take a leap of faith and pursue.

I often end my random internet job search marathons, reminding myself that no job I've ever had was obtained through random internet searches. It's true. I've never gotten a job without knowing someone who's gotten me in the door. Which ultimately makes me think I shouldn't bother wasting my time searching online, because i'll just never find anything on my own. I need to start asking people I know if they can get me in the door where they work.

I've interviewed plenty of people for positions at my company over the last few years who have explained that they make job searching a full time position. They spend hours searching, applying, interviewing, etc. I don't think i've ever hired any of those people, come to think of it. Maybe it's true then, that you just don't find jobs on your own, you have to know someone in order to get in the door.

I guess I've been fortunate never to be put in the position of having to find a job on my own.  Looking back, I've had 8 jobs since I started working at 13 years old.
I stuffed inserts into newspapers at The Shopper's Guide when I was 13, and I got the job because of Jessica, a classmate at the time.
I started working at a tool sharpening shop owned by a family friend. He gave me the job (and why he didn't fire me after the first week, I'll never know!)
When I was 16, a friend got me a job at West Coast Video.
When I was 17, a friend got me a job at Salvation Army Thrift Store (which was dangerous, because of all the cool stuff I "found" and brought home with me!)
When I was 18, and just started college, another friend got me a job at a restaurant. I hated the job, and the owner, but that's another story.

After the restaurant job I think I grew up a little. I stopped working shit jobs and got a job at a company working in group homes with mentally retarded people. Again, my friend at the time, Sandy, got me in the door.  That job last 6 years.

After that, I took a job (which was practically GIVEN to me) working at another agency with mentally retarded people. That job last a little over 2 years. I hated it.

I've been at my current job for almost 7 years now. I got in the door because of the coworker I mentioned above. She happened to be friends with a certain psychotic ex-wife of mine, so fortunately, I got the word that they were hiring and took the chance.

So, after all that rambling, you can see that EVERY job I've ever had was because I knew someone.
Seriously, this really was a long post of nothing but thoughts about working, flowing out of my brain.
Well, whatever. I titled this post "The itch" because of that phrase "the seven year itch". Is that what it is? Or is it the 4 year itch? I can't remember, but anyway, I have "the itch" again. I need a new job. I need to branch out and continue to grow. I need someone I know to mention a job that I would love. And I need to jump at the chance to go get it. I have the itch.