A Day of Hope.

A few months ago, I realized what would probably be a dream job for me.

Based on my outstanding quality service skills, ability to build business relationships, and devotion to the consultative sales technique, I realized that I think I could be fantastic as a Financial Advisor.  And I would like it.

Think about it.  Someone would be sitting across the desk from me, with a goal and a dream.  My task would be to find out how to acheive that goal.  That is totally up my alley.  Finding financial solutions has been one of my strongest points at both my previous employers.

And being a loan collector was NEVER my thing.

I know I want to be a Financial Planner.  Hopefully, I will one day become Certified as such.  It's a universally accepted truth that having acronyms after your name means you make more money.  I'll make more money as Uvon, CFP than I would as Uvon.  Stunning, but true.

Not to mention that Uvon, CFP sounds fucking awesome.  Almost as good as Dr. Uvon sounded when I thought my destiny lie in getting a PhD in Musicology.

I love having Uvon as my name. 

Back to Financial Advising.  I have learned that the CFP certification is not necessary to get started in that career.  There are certain certifications and licenses I will need (a license to sell insurance, for example), but some Financial Service companies will hire you conditionally.  The condition being that, within a reasonable time frame, you will acquire the requisite licenses and certifications.

So, that is the primary focus of my job search now.  I already have a version of my résumé which focuses on my experience and skills within the financial industry.  I just need a snazzy cover letter.

This is especially important, because I received a letter from the Department of Employment Security (read: Unemployment Office) today.  IF I'm eligible for unemployment (and that's a fairly big "IF"), the amount I will receive is, truthfully, barely enough to cover my needs.  It's roughly half of what I was making before.  And I was only scraping by with that.

By my calculations, I probably have enough liquid assets to see me to the end of the year.  So, if I'm denied unemployment, I might make it.  I may have to swallow pride and borrow money from such friends and relations as can spare some funds (I won't need much...one of the advantages to growing up rather poor is that you learn how to get by with Not Much).  But borrowing might not be strictly necessary.  Thank God I don't eat much!  And my knowledge of credit is sufficient that I know what payments I can skip, if necessary.  I certainly don't want to do that, but I have the knowledge if I need it.

So, this weekend, I'm going to write the Cover Letter of the Gods, and send it with my résumé to every financial service company and brokerage I can think of with Chicago Offices.  I will also sign on with a temp agency at some point next week, because I'm neither stupid enough nor masochistic enough to think I can avoid that completely.  I HAVE to be employed by January 1.  My goal is to at least have some interviews lined up by December 1.  Ideally, I'll start working before then, but hey, with the holidays coming up, I know that's going to take some time.

I'm also going to polish up some of my more effective writings (i.e. The Gospel of Michael (see July 28, 2004)) and see how I might manage to get them published.  I don't think I'm quite prepared to make a living as a writer, but anything that might provide some extra funds right now, outside escorting, is worth pursuing (I'll save the escorting for 2005 (I'm kidding (mostly))).

Gotta love parentheses within parentheses.  Almost makes me nostalgic for algebra.

I also need to look into voice over work again.  I have a couple contacts that I acquired over the summer.  It's time for follow-up calls.

If it comes to it, I suppose I can also look for another church gig.  As much as I enjoy going to church, being a paid church musician has never been something I enjoyed much.

For the record, I think I'm mostly past the drama of earlier in the week, when the Shock of My Situation finally hit.  Don't get me wrong - I'm still scared half out of my considerably substantial wits, but, I have some focus right now.

Besides...Drama = Ugh.  I'm all about a Partnership for a Drama-Free Gaymerica, kids.

EDIT:  Plus, Successful Financial Advisors make pretty decent money.  This could have very pleasant ramifications for us, my charming little Shopping Partner-in-Crime.