A New Job

So, I am starting a new job. That new job is at the Census doing the 2010 Enumeration of the census. Basically my job will be to go to places that did not return a census form for whatever reason, ask them questions, and turn in the paperwork associated with the answers. For anyone who doesn't know, these numbers are used in determining funding for schools, number of representatives, etc…

So far I am doing orientation / training today. I find it interesting that the training information they are giving us is being read directly out of a booklet word for word. I can understand it, but I can't imagine how tedious it is for the people running the training. It is a job though, and it is a surprisingly well paid job, $11.50 an hour. Now my part in this job won't last longer than June and may end before that. I personally find that this sucks but it is what I expected. It is funny, already the imaginary carrot is being dangled in front of us with the suggestion that we can keep positions if we do well enough, even though the position of enumerator is going to have ended there could be other positions for us to move into if we like our jobs and do well at them. Carrot, carrot, carrot. See the carrot? Go for the carrot!

It reminds me so very much of Charlie Brown and the never-ending football placed by Lucy. It always amuses and annoys me how very much like that analogy the real world is. There is always someone dangling something in front of you that you want, want it bad enough you have to chase it. Always it is with the promise (either by yourself for others) that this time it will be different, this time it won't be for nothing. It is hard to keep together a real sense or hope and improvement when everyone uses the carrot but so few people ever actually plan to let you have the carrot.