Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
I’ve been steadily looking for archival work for three months without success, which means that I’ve spent pretty much every weekday applying to jobs in archival work and (more often) records management without a single callback. I’ve also been busy making connections with people in my field by having meetings to talk shop, but although they were helpful and I’m so grateful to the people who made time in their busy schedules for me, I was still waking up every day feeling very little hope about my prospects. And true, three months is arguably not a long time in the grand scheme of things to be looking for a master’s-degree-level job, but all I can say is that my anxiety levels were consistently through the roof, and every day that I didn’t get so much as a flicker of interest from any company led me further into despair.
I did manage to find a volunteer archivist position for a not-for-profit that I think will be invaluable to building my experience and expertise, but I also needed a paying job to make ends meet. Recently my friend Anna was also looking for work, having completed her zoology degree as a mature student. It was nice to be in the job hunt with someone else because it made me feel less alone, but Anna soon got hired in a lab setting and I was on my own again, facing a mountain of unanswered job applications. When another spot opened in her department, she encouraged me to apply for it, knowing that I’ve worked with animals on and off since I was twelve. I was interested in the position and thought that it wouldn’t hurt to apply outside of my field, so I wrote a cover letter and sent it in, along with my resume.
A couple of days later I received an email setting up an interview, so I studied various animal and lab protocols in preparation, memorizing acronyms and definitions. Despite being out of practice, the interview was one of the best I’ve ever had, and I thought I had a good chance of getting the job even though I lacked the preferred certifications. I interviewed on a Friday and was told that they’d make their decision early the next week, so I spent Saturday through Tuesday sweating over my prospects. By Tuesday night I was convinced they’d gone with a different candidate with better credentials. However, on Wednesday I received an email with the unofficial job offer, and I signed the paperwork a few days later.
I remember being asked in the interview, “I see that you have your master’s degree in archival studies. What are your plans, if any, for that degree?” It was a fair question – what was someone with my degree doing applying for a radically different job in animal care? I answered that Calgary was a different job arena than Vancouver. The latter had an archival program in its city, so it made sense that there were lots of related jobs available, while Calgary had less opportunities. As previously mentioned, my mom’s memory issues were a big reason that I moved back home, and with that move I had to accept that my prospects would likely not be as good here. Besides, I don’t yet have the experience that every single posting I saw seemed to require, and I’ve always loved working with animals. I gave an abbreviated version of this answer to my interviewers, and they didn’t seem phased. In my mind, it was better to get a job and support myself instead of relying on my savings, while still getting archival experience through my volunteer position. I could have waited for the perfect job in my field, but at this point I don’t know if it even exists, so this feels like a good alternative.
I start work tomorrow but part of my is still grappling with my decision. On the one hand, I’m so grateful to be employed in a good (union) job that will allow me to build archival experience in my spare time. It will also give me an inside edge if the university (parent company) has archival positions that open up in the future. The pay, though not my ideal salary, is still more than I’ve ever made, and I think my boss and I will get along well. On the other hand, part of me wonders why I spent two years working my ass off, only to take a job that isn’t’ in my field. Am I going to fall behind my program cohort and get left behind? This certainly feels like a possibility. And what happens to a dream deferred? Is that perfect entry-level archival job out there waiting for me? Am I turning my back on opportunity in favour of security? Am I making a mistake?
I already seem to have lost touch with so many friends from the program, so I don’t exactly have an archival sounding board to consult, but I hope that I’m making the right decision, at least for now. Despite my trepidation, this does feel like a step forward. I think I will enjoy the work and I’m not giving up on my dream just yet. I’ll continue to build my experience while bringing in much-needed cash, and we’ll see where the future takes me.
I realize that this isn’t my usual type of essay, but life has sped up recently and having a place to process my thoughts is incredibly useful. Have you ever trained for one type of job and then gone in a completely different direction, even if just temporarily? If so, please tell me in the comments. I’d be interested to know.
It’s definitely a step forward. Like you said, you can get more archival experience from your volunteer posting, but who knows? You may love this job and there may be further opportunities there. And the master’s isn’t wasted. I have an inkling that you wouldn’t have been offered this job without it. It shows that you’re smart, capable, and tenacious. Good luck with it!