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041 – Finding Work

Hey hey, kiddos! Time for a question! YourFireTheorist: Hey Dad. How do you go about finding a new job? Hoping you might have an idea on how to find those unique odd-jobs that people usually don't think about. As someone who has been mostly self-employed since 2008, this is a tricky question to answer. Especially these days where finding work is, uh. Difficult. Then again, now may be as good a time as any to think outside the box and take a chance on a job you otherwise wouldn’t have considered!  Before we go into that, let’s go through my employment history. That way, you know whether you should listen to me or not. First real job! 2004! Christmas Buffet Worker. I got this job because I’d done my work experience at that restaurant the year before. Second job, 2005! Chef assistant at an Italian Restaurant! My cousin told me they needed someone, I did a test shift and got hired for the summer. After that, several jobs as a comic teacher at different study associations. The first one I applied for in person, the other two approached me because they heard I’d done it before. 2007! I worked as a food sample server at a grocery store for eight days and I hated it. Got that job because a friend already worked for them.  Also 2007! Spent four months in a café that treated me awfully! Another friend tipped me off to that one!  2009! Local bookstore on weekends! Uncle Daniel’s mom was the manager and she’d known me for years! 2018! Different bookstore for the Christmas season! I’d wanted to work there since I was fifteen, and got lucky. Oh, and I very nearly got a gig as a cook on an actual viking ship when I was nineteen. If I hadn’t been nineteen I think I would’ve done it. That’s all the real jobs I’ve had. Very limited experience, but I think about work all the time so maybe that makes up for it.  When looking for a weird job, I think you have to be open minded. Don’t worry so much about what kind of job, but instead think about 1. what you can do and 2. are willing to do. Once you have a good idea of your skills and limitations, you can look for work that fits.  In my experience, weird jobs are something you get through word of mouth. Ask around, if anyone know anyone looking for help. If you’re interested in a particular field, ask people what you need to do to work there.  Keep an open mind. There are jobs out there that I think most of us don’t even know exist! Maybe there are seasonal things, or short term projects you could get in on. Most of all, I think all experiences lead to something. We never know where life will take us if we open ourselves up to it.  Uncle Daniel went to school for child care, had a detour as a black jack dealer for 12 years and now he works at a museum. He’s got a degree and everything! Be brave, try things, talk to people! If you can drive a car, you can maybe drive a hearse! If you’re good at sewing, or cooking, or carpentry, you could end up working a circus or ren faire or theatre! One last, very important thing: be vigilant. Be safe. Make sure you know your rights and whatever safety precautions your employer needs to fulfil. Make sure you get paid. I know worker’s rights aren’t great in a lot of places, especially not for gig workers but do what you can. Have you had an unusual job? Any tips for getting a side gig that I didn’t already cover? Tell us in the comments! Until next time. I love you, kiddo.
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