I have a Master of Science in Historic Preservation. Since October, I have applied for at least two dozen jobs. I have written, analyzed, massaged, and fretted over my resume. I have, and continue to, networked and shmoozed. Some days I wake up in the middle of the night with a clenched jaw wondering when it will all pay off. I currently make zero dollars an hour. I am a zero-aire.

I am unemployed.

Drives me crazy, it does. In a lot of ways grad school was a huge confidence builder. I learned what I could do, that I am a capable person. That, in addition to my vast stockpile of useless knowledge, I might have a smaller-but-more-impressive arsenal of useful knowledge that a future employer might need.  I walked out of the grad program confident in myself and confident that I wanted to make a career of historic preservation and that I would be a valuable addition to any organization.

I guess I didn’t realize that it would be so hard to convince a potential employer of that.

I mean, sure, the economy sucks and the job market right now is terrible and just give it time things will turn around and you’ll look back on these days and laugh and besides its good for your character.

Which, of course, is all true.

Doesn’t make it suck any less.