I graduated in May with a shiny new Master’s degree–in the worst field ever, it now seems. My background is in public history, mostly museum education, but I can do archival and library work as well. I’ve got plenty of skills that would transfer to most non-profits: fundraising, research, grant writing, public speaking. The economy is so bad, though, that very few places are hiring. I interviewed for a fundraising position at the YWCA–the job paid $25,000 a year, and there were over 80 applicants. I’ve been temping at $8.50 an hour. All a bit discouraging.
I had an interview on Friday with “America’s largest home”–once the summer retreat of a robber baron, now Asheville’s biggest tourist attraction. They’re looking for people to guide school tours. The pay is $7.50 an hour, and the job would be, at most, 15 hours a week. I’m considering taking it, and descending back into the depths of retail hell for a second job.