I hate job interviews, so much so that I actively do my best to minimize how often I have to participate in them [editor's note: Dear BBY, I am comfortable in my role as SWAT at 1120 and am NOT, and have NOT been seeking employment elsewhere! I am not wanting this post or its opening to get passed around as a rumor. Please read on for content which will put this opening into perspective...]. I am at a crossroads in my life (have I mentioned my hatred for and dread of change?) having just concluded schooling, round two. The resultant degree makes me happy and leaves me with an amazing feeling of accomplishment and pride, as well as a substantial amount of debt to repay.

When taking note of my aforementioned phobia, it becomes clear that I need to transition from my current role of ‘knuckle-dragger’ to that of ‘web designer’ at my own pace, but that the previously mentioned moneys must still be re-paid. I currently have a great job, where I work with (and for) some amazing people, earn an honest wage, keep GREAT hours, and am given great benefits, and all this while working for a great company where I really feel valued and taken care of (this is not b.s., or one of my trademarked sarcastic tirades: I really do have a great job, despite my occasional bitching). Phobia or not, I plan on keeping my current job for a long while to come. These two factors (debt and existing job) make a few things clear: first, I need to find additional income, enough at least to cover the additional expense of tuition; second, I need to do this on my own time, so as to not interfere with what is still my primary source of income. I am left with one clear course of action: freelance work. This course certainly has both advantages and disadvantages. On an up note, I am able to gain valuable experience, build my portfolio and get involved in all kinds of cool projects. On the down side, I have to find work. I’ll repeat the title: I can’t sell myself. You can know everything about how to interview well, having read articles, research tips and watched videos, but that doesn’t change the fact that you have to sell yourself. And don’t be fooled, meeting with clients is an interview (reference first line: see, its all coming together), regardless of what one might label it as.

The only reason I’m going off on this rant is because for the better part of the morning I was doing everything in my power (including a shave and a haircut, see post I from today) to take my mind off the fact that I had a meeting early in the afternoon with a client. None of my distractions worked: I had a crap-tastic headache and felt like vomiting all day. I felt unprepared and inadequate during the meeting, second guessing myself and my skill level before and after. My first official meeting with a client in a web developer capacity having ended (whether it ended well or not is a matter of perception), and it being one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in a while, I’ll chalk this day up as a win and write the rest of the night off as ‘me time’… or rather, ‘me and beer time’.