Working Within The Bubble That Is Government
I got the lowliest job in the county and I am very pleased
By Nedroj Walker
I was driven to Japan in part by the abuses of a police officer, but in a greater part by the state of the economy and the difficulty in a meandering soul such as myself finding work in a 2002 Portland. I came back because I had a bundle of cash and confidence that it would last until I found a dream job. After a number of months further meandering I was struck with the thought of working for the library. This was not the first time I had thought of this, but before I was living month to month and knew I couldn’t jump through the necessary hoops.
This rethought, this rekindled dream, started me on the long and arduous process of getting a job with Multnomah County Library. First I volunteered and built up rapport with the supervisor of my community library. Later she would prove to be a key reference and vouch that I had some experience in a library setting. Next I had to wait a year for any position to open up that didn’t require a Master’s degree or fluency in Spanish.
I applied along with over six hundred fellow desperadoes, many of whom I know were far more over qualified then myself. Four hundred and thirty-some of us took the test. Twelve, including myself, got a perfect score. Ten were interviewed. My interview as at the beginning of last month and I made a terrible error in confusing the days. In short I shot myself in the foot but the bullet amazingly went between my toes. I interviewed really well and was the first pick. I got the job. Out of all those people I made it. Oddly I wasn’t surprised. Intellectually I knew I should be, but deep down I was so sure I would get the job.
This month I have finished training, in the basics anyway, and have begun my regular schedule. I am very much in the “awe” stage of this job. After the relative hell of the temp world, getting a government job is truly heaven. Though the angels, my coworkers, don’t seem to be enjoying themselves. It is a bit early to pass judgment, but I’d guess since there hasn’t been any new blood in over a year they have forgotten, if they ever knew, how harsh working life is outside the government bubble.
I have a wife now. Even with the stunted benefits given to a part-time worker I am in better shape then I would be in at any entry level corporate position. The pay, though a topic of great disgruntlement, is a league above minimum wage, and this is the lowest paying job in the county. It also blows me away that advancement is entirely seniority based.
This is my first job were I’ve had to join a union. I feel like I just moved to a communist country. I must be very clear that I am not complaining. I feel very secure in my new position, and more importantly my wife does too. I am so thankful that things are finally working out after so much pain, but it is my nature to question. I can’t stop, even in heaven.