It’s been a while. I moved to a new state and struggled to find a good fit. I got sick and couldn’t work for a year. Then the pandemic hit and I just settled into life.
I’d like to work. I’ve still got a lot to offer. Honestly, I could use the money.
I’m willing to sell my skills and to do good work on behalf of your project or company.
I’ll write and edit. I’ll plan and research. I’ll collaborate. I’ll help you communicate persuasively and clearly. These are things I’m good at.
I’ll find the voice you’re looking for and learn how to speak effectively to your target audience. I’ll proofread and check the appropriate style guide. I’ll get to know your product or service. I’ll brush up on HTML and learn a new CMS.
I’ll do it remotely. I’ll be professional. I’ll deliver quality work on time. If history is any indication, I’ll exceed expectations pretty regularly.
But there are things I’m just not willing to do anymore.
I won’t blow smoke up your ass about how I’m up for a challenge or am a born multitasker. I won’t give you examples of how I’ve sacrificed for my job, or spin a story about how my flexible, dynamic personality or positive energy make me a good fit for your team. I’m a good team member because I’m a responsible, respectful, generous teammate.
I won’t say that I’m passionate about things like building your brand or learning about your customers. I’ll be moderately intrigued at best. I like learning new things and will probably get a handle on your stuff pretty quickly. I’ll enjoy doing it. But my passion is reserved for the people and things in my life that fill my soul.
I won’t tell you the true stories of how I’ve put up with abuse in past jobs, managed horrible people, or coddled unreasonable clients, so that I can prove to you that I’m willing to go above and beyond. I’m not. I don’t do that any more. Now I set reasonable boundaries.
I won’t work for free. I won’t undervalue my time. I won’t be chained to my computer or have my time tracked like a child. But I’ll show up on time and prepared to take on the task at hand.
I won’t jump through hoops to get you to hire me. I won’t pretend. I won’t lie. I’ll update my resume and send you a link with some writing samples that include technical user guides and training materials, marketing and fundraising materials, editorials and some random other stuff I’ve done. I’ll direct you to my impressive, if a bit out of date, LinkedIn profile and encourage you to reach out to the people who have given me public references there.
I think that about covers it.
I’m not trying to build a career. I did that pretty successfully once. It served me well–sort of and sometimes.
I’ve gained some skills over the years. I think they’re valuable. I’d like to use those skills to make enough money to pay for more of the things in life that really matter to me. Apparently this is not a desirable attitude. But it’s the one I’ve got.
Maybe all of this makes me unemployable. Maybe not. I guess we’ll see.
As I write, that ever-present little voice in my head is saying, “who do you think you are?” It is creeping in to convince me that I’m being, “too big for my britches.”
So I told it to STFU.
