Resisting The Urge
9:32AM
Cellphone: Hello, this is Sayeed from mumblefarg, how are you today? I saw your resume on Dice, is this a good time to speak with you?
Me: Sure, go right ahead.
Cellphone: I have a technical writing opportunity in San Jose, would you be interested in that?
Me: I'm only looking for work in San Francisco.
Cellphone: You're only looking for work in San Francisco. It is a three to four month opportunity.
Me: I'm only looking for work in San Francisco.
Cellphone: I see. Thank you very much. *click*
11:19AM
Cellphone: Hello, this is Ram from whozawhatzit, how are you today?
Me: I'm just fine, how 'bout yourself?
Cellphone: I have a technical writing opportunity in Foster City for you.
Me: I'm only looking for work in San Francisco.
Cellphone: [pause] Not in Foster City?
Me: No.
Cellphone: OK, thank you very much. *click*
I am reminded of a certain Samuel L. Jackson line from a certain Quentin Tarantino film. If you, too, would like to be reminded of that certain line, and if you're not at work or near small children, click here.
I don't know how else to phrase it on my resume. I've checked off the Willing To Relocate? NO boxes on the job boards. I've even changed my contact address to this very Econolodge, so that automated Zip code searches won't locate me in Santa Barabara.
And still, they don't understand. I had an e-mail yesterday from someone with a gig for me in Detroit. This morning someone from Robert Half's New York office called me with a project for a reinsurance company in Princeton. That one I didn't mind so much, because he was articulate and understood what I said the first time I said it. Plus, I've signed up with Robert Half. His search of the company's resume database turned me up because my cell phone number still has a New York area code. Even the fact that it was 6:30AM my time didn't really bother me. He offered to alert the San Francisco office that I'm around, which was good of him.
But the others...I think I'll listen to that soundbite again, just to quell any urge I might have to play it into the phone, should the opportunity arise.
Granted, Foster City is only 21 miles from San Francisco. But my Plan does not involve auto ownership, nor does it involve significant commuting via public transport. Cycling, I'll do, but I'd like to keep it to around ten miles or so, which is within the bounds of San Francisco. Until such time as it becomes clear that living and working in this city is an unattainable goal at this time, I'll stick to the Plan. I've only been here since Tuesday, after all.
It's raining, today. Doug called me and said, "Thanks for bringin' tha rain, ya jerk!" I honestly thought I had left the rain in my other duffel bag, but apparently not.
So, there won't be much walking around today, because although I brought my Gore-Tex raingear, I don't feel like plodding around in the damp just to plod around in the damp. I'll stay here, plugged in to the Puter, until around 4PM or so, when I'll go meet the aforementioned Doug at a sports bar in the Mission district, where I will not drink beer while socializing.
Perhaps there will be someone there who will offer me a technical writing opportunity in Gnome, Alaska.
UPDATE:
Late this afternoon I had two calls from recruiters who are actually in San Francisco. No gig as of yet, but this is progress.
