pick_me

7/31/2008

When will I have enough ...

Enough experience that is. I did not get the position for gardener at the condo. It was perfect with flexible hours and a chance to get my feet into gardening and seeing if it is something I want to do. Can you guess why I didn't get chosen? Not enough experience, yep. Over a year of accumulating knowledge, volunteering and getting whatever plant related job possible and even being an intern for a wholesale nursery is not enough experience. You would be surprised how many people I have met in the industry that I know more than...it's scary. I guess I'm not convincing enough that I know stuff and can do a great job and learn on my own without being trained if I don't know something.

I'm upset and I will cry when I get home after my final. I don't know how I will do on my final either since I can't seem to retain anything with what has been going on this week. I'm sad but at least I do have a job and a position waiting for me, it's just not a position that I think will be all that fun for very long. So I can't really complain because where I intern they do like me and there are more than one person who wants me to work for them at the nursery. It just takes them seeing me work to believe I know something and can do it. Unfortunately I can not be convincing to employers that I know stuff and will be wonderful.

I did put a resume I guess you call it on craigslist asking if anyone out there has a garden or landscape they need to be maintained and upkept. So maybe something great will come up soon that I didn't expect. I knew something was fishy with that position since I never got called for an interview or talked to on the phone but was just asked a few 3 liner questions over email. I feel like a failure really when I have applied for two jobs I really really wanted only to be chopped down and told I don't have enough experience. It's hard to get that experience they all talk about. I thought the internship would give me that experience to be convincing to employers. The internship was great and the company is pretty good don't get me wrong, but wholesale nursery work is not really my cup of tea like I thought it would be. Maybe another nursery another time in another place doing seed or propagation. I still got my eye on propagation and maybe this position I am being offered will be what I wanted after all and I'm just scared that I will hate it and am trying to run away. I think that is it really. I am scared I won't like being a grower in prop. But also I want to try the gardening thing too just so I know that I didn't wait for so long to find out I don't like it.

Sorry for being so down lately really everyone. It's just been a rollercoaster. Sorry for no photos either. I really don't like my entries with no pretty photos but I just have to vent and let it out to people who will listen and comfort me in a plant lovers way.

8 comments:

Katie said...

Hey - things will get better! I'm a firm believer in that things happen for a reason, and when it is revealed you will be SO glad you didn't get the condo job.

Seriously.

When I was at my last job, I just wanted out. It was a terrible job and I worked with monsters. Over a year, I applied for 50+ jobs - and I applied for anything that sounded like I had a shot in hell of getting it (you're being a little more selective than I was!). Of those 50, I got one call back - the job I work now. I LOVE my job. Well, I really like it as much as you can like a 9-5.

You will land a totally awesome job - just keep at it!

Unknown said...

So sorry to hear that. Too bad they can't see your true potential, but many jobs seem to do that. I can't tell you how many jobs I've applied for and not gotten. As Katie said, there's a reason for everything. Don't get too down on yourself, I'm sure that everything will work out for you. Hold your chin up and be proud. You haven't graduated yet and you already have a job offer. That's AWESOME!!!!!

Katarina said...

Don't be scared - even if this is not your dream job, you will get experince, right? And with more experience (of any kind9 you will get your dream job, right?
/Katarina

Priscilla George said...

Thank you everyone for the kind words! I am sure I will find my dream job.You area all right and have such useful tips and info. All your comments cheered me up. A few days have gone by and I feel better now. I told my current place I want to stay and they were excited. I'll just keep an eye out for any more jobs that pop up just in case. This will give me more experience too of course staying at one company longer anyways looks good too right? Thanks all.

Wicked Gardener said...

I'm sorry you didn't get the position - your post is heartbreaking. I think finding job is hard for a lot of people right now. You are not alone. Keep your head up. Have you tried contacting some gardners doing what you want to do for a mentorship? Maybe they have some advice for gaining experience.

Anonymous said...

Sorry about the job troubles. Things will start looking up.

Does Texas have a Master Gardener Program? Here in Louisiana our County Extension Service has free Master Gardener courses, in exchange for a certain about of gardening-related community service hours. It's a great experience and people usually seem impressed by the 'master gardener' title. Might be worth looking into.

Priscilla George said...

Wicked- I don't know anyone in the gardening end. There is someone that used to work at the company i work at now that works at the Botanical Garden, no one knows if he is still there though or what his number is. .

MrTumnas- Yes there is a master gardener program. I would like to take it but I can't because the classes are 1-5 on wednesday. I work full time and go to school full time already, the time and day is not convenient to me.

Admin said...

Don't get down about it. Getting a job has a lot to do with luck and timing. Something better will come along. It's hard for women to work in the male dominated industry of horticulture and landscaping. At a garden center women do not get fair pay, compared to their male counterparts. Ideally you could have a little landscaping business. I believe there is validity to a female-headed landscaping company. Just starting with a few clients, word of mouth would spread like crazy, before you know it you'll be doing all the gardens on the block!