Job stuff

If you're a writer or editor who has ever spent a significant amount of time looking for a job writing or editing, you are no doubt familiar with the scourge of the interview process – the edit test.

The edit test is abstract. There are "no wrong answers," except for, you know, the wrong ones. Sometimes, the amount of work that goes into an edit test is so extensive you think they might just be trying to get you to write stuff they can later use for free. (I'm talking to you, Seventeen.com) Sometimes you're asked to rewrite someone else's work. But who? Your future boss? The chick who got fired last? If you think about it too much, it can get pretty nervewracking. In the three months I've been unemployed, I've completed many edit tests. In one case, I even did two for the same company.

Today I put my beef with the edit test to rest. Why? Because I got to write this for one, and it made it all worthwhile:

Red, White & Screw
The Mainstreaming of Sex in America

Even if they don't hire me, I had a blast working on it. If I get the gig, I'll share the one I did for the hardcore Japanese porn. Another reason to want the job? It will help me keep my rep intact.

In other job-related news, I sent in a resume for my dream job last week. I didn't think I was qualified. Now, that's not me being self-deprecating – it's a pretty big deal job. I emailed the resume on a whim, thinking maybe there was a lower-level position open as well, and they'd consider me for that. Well, apparently they thought I was qualified for the dream job, because yesterday I interviewed for it. And the interview went really well. And I don't want to get my hopes up, but the words "second round of interviews" came up at the end. I called my Little Italian Grandma earlier to tell her about it.

"So is this the one you want?"

"Yes."

"Should I stop praying for the other one?"

"No."

"Okay, but I'll pray a little harder for this one."

"Thanks Grandma."

If I get the dream job, I'll have Grandma and her candle-lighting to thank. Incidentally, she loved my "Red, White & Screw" promo.