I’ve been stepping up my co-op1 search in an effort to actually graduate some time in the next few years. Basically, this means my amount of work increases, while the time I have to complete said work stays exactly the same.

I’ve had little experience job hunting, so I have to go by what the co-op office tells me most of the time. Make callbacks often; apply to as many jobs as possible; apply to jobs even if you’re not qualified, let the employer sort you out, etc. Disillusionment is rearing its ugly head.

I made a callback today, my first since I resolved to start working hard at this. The woman I spoke with was surprised that I called, and remarked, “Usually the students don’t contact us directly.” Um? We’re told to be absolutely rabid about callbacks.

As if that weren’t discouraging enough, I tried to apply for a job in systems administration last night. I’ve applied to less-than-ideal jobs before: Taco Bell, Wegmans, indentured servant (well, maybe not that last one). The difference between Taco Bell and systems administrator is that the latter is akin to giving up on my search for a web development job. I won’t get this opportunity again. I’d like it to be meaningful and useful. I don’t want to spend six months of my life fighting with Microsoft IIS. I already know it sucks. That’s one thing I don’t need to learn.

1 “Co-op” is a fancy word for what most people would call “internship:” paid work in the field while registered with the university, for credit towards graducation. RIT requires me to co-op for nine months.