Today, I'm writing this from a two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan where I'll be living with Matt, with whom I've resolved all issues and for whom I have nothing but love. Today, I was offered a full-time position with the company for which I am interning. Tonight, Matt and I went to dinner at the restaurant where he'll start working full time in three weeks. Today, 06/25/2012, was a very, very good day.
I just... can't believe the way life works sometimes.
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With that said... How 'bout a little story?
LAST THURSDAY, I went for gelato with another intern because the office was too warm to sit there any longer. (The air conditioner has been failing for a few weeks now...) We talked about how I expected to eventually end up in Chicago, and she said she wanted to go to Boston. She asked me what I wanted to do with the company we're both at now. My response was simple: I'd ride it out as an intern for a few months (I figured three months) and then see if they had any use for me as a full-time employee. If they didn't, I'd apply elsewhere.
An hour or so after this outting, I got an email from my managing editor saying that a few positions were going to become available in the office. She said that people spoke highly of me and my work and she asked if I'd be interested in working full-time on the staff. I almost fell over myself as I (practically) ran to her office to express my sincere interest. We talked about my past experiences, I took a copyediting test, and then I waited. I didn't tell many people about it, just in case it didn't work out.
I didn't hear anything about the job on Friday, but a few people did come into the office to interview for that position and others. Today, all dressed up for my date with Matt, I entered the office expecting just another normal day. By 10:30, I had an email in my inbox saying I did really well on the copyediting test and to stop by the managing editor's office when I got a second.
A FEW MINUTES LATER, I had been offered—and had accepted—the position of editorial assistant to the publisher. The girl in the position now is going to medical school, and I'll take over for her this coming Monday. The pay isn't fantastic, but I didn't expect it to be. And honestly, I don't even really care about that part... What matters most to me is that I'll be doing things that I've wanted to do since high school—since I decided that I wanted to work with books.
Responsibilities of my new position will include mostly editorial work, such as working with the authors to develop text; passing manuscripts through production phases (proofreading/copyediting), working with the designers to produce jacket copies; writing back cover copy; writing catalogue copy; and drawing up contracts. I'll also be working directly with/for the president/publisher of the company. So anything he wants, editorial-wise, I'll handle. Contacting authors, negotiating contracts, research, reading book proposals, and taking messages from authors for the publisher... I'm excited. It's going to be a ton of work, but it's all stuff that I've always wanted to do. I'll be at my new desk on Monday!
In the past, I expressed an interest in wanting to avoid editorial assistant positions because I thought they were mostly secretarial. I feel that if I were at a bigger company, I'd be answering phones, making copies, and sending faxes all day. And that's fine, but I really wanted something more editorial. At an independent publishing company as small as mine now, I'll be given more responsibilities (for a lower price, unfortunately, but again... that's not what matters right now) and can hopefully take those responsibilities with me to a bigger company/another city when the time comes.
BEFORE I MOVED TO MANHATTAN, Matt told me that he figured I'd be promoted quickly. He actually said weeks, but I figured—if it happened—it'd be a few months. When I got to know the other interns and employees and found out that most interns in the past were promoted within five or six months, I definitely thought I had a while to go. There are interns that I work with now who have been there for six months or more and, in a way, I feel bad that I was given this promotion and they weren't. I mean, anyone in my position would have absolutely accepted without a thought about the others, but... I feel a little guilty. (Of course. I wouldn't be me if I didn't.)
I know exactly what the others must think. I'd be pissed at me, too. And the company. Especially if I'd been there for many, many months and someone new came in and was handed a position within three weeks. But... it happened. And I didn't set out to get it. I didn't find out about a position and apply behind anyone's back. It just happened. I did my work, they emailed me, I accepted. The end. I hope I get a chance to talk about this with the others, but I don't know that any intern lunches/happy hours will happen any time soon. And if they do, I don't think I'll be invited. A few people in the office aren't even meeting my eye right now. It bothers me because there are a few people who I hoped I'd become pretty good friends with. I hope that as time passes and I stay friendly and try to maintain a connection with them, they'll come around. But who knows.
The way I got this job reminds me of the way I got my first full-time job. I didn't go looking for it; it came to me. I was in King of Prussia with Matt a week or so before college graduation and I got a Facebook message asking me if I'd found a full-time job yet. I went into the office where I'd been working part-time/freelance, talked about the position, and started working three or four days after graduation. That was the end of it. It's weird the way things come full circle...
SO... to celebrate my promotion, Matt and I went to the restaurant where he'll be working. He's been in NYC since Sunday morning, when he arrived by bus and then attended the Gay Pride Parade with Andrew and me. (Pictures to come; uploading time is too long tonight.) He seems to like the apartment, and every once in a while, he'll come out of a room and say, "We live in New York City!" He's experiencing the disbelief that I did/still am when I think about everything that's happened in the past month. Of course, he won't be officially moved in until July 9, but it's nice to have him here. He's good for carrying heavy bags, reaching high shelves, and making beds (apparently—I just learned about this one today).
Anyway, we went to David Burke Kitchen to check out the lay of the land and make sure that Matt knew where he was going once he was off the subway. He's doing a trial run on Wednesday, learning the kitchen and the menu and what not. We walked around Soho for a little while, saw a ton of restaurants and shops (I went to try this Mexican sushi place we passed!), and then got a drink at a little bar. At dinner, we were both pleased with what we ordered. And the monkey bread for two, which was our dessert, was effing fantastic. The rest of it is in the fridge right now, just waiting to be devoured tomorrow night. The experience was wonderful. The food is a step or two above what Matt's cooking now, and I think he's pretty happy with the appearance and the location. It was pretty busy for a rainy Monday night, so that's a good sign! I'll find out more after he works on Wednesday.
IT'S BEEN A CRAZY COUPLE OF DAYS. I had my first house guest Friday (Andrew and I ordered Chinese) and then on Saturday, Andrew and I trekked across lower Manhattan. We went to the Union Square Farmers' Market, Barnes & Noble, the Stroud Bookstore, Max Brennan's restaurant, and Battery Park. We stared at Lady Liberty for a while and then stalked a pair of pigeons (Fred and Joanne, we decided) before heading back to his place to eat sandwiches (both of which were made incorrectly) on his roof. We watched the Empire State Building go gay and then went to the movies to see Brave—which was so good! We both enjoyed it. Then Sunday was the parade and Matt came to town and then today was just... chaotic, but... it's a happy crazy.
Matt and I met a guy while we were waiting for the A-train tonight who kind of made us realize just how lucky we are right now. People come to New York City every day, hoping to make a career out of their dreams. This happens in our specific industries quite a bit. And here we are... with jobs at decent companies, a nice place to live, and each other—built in best friends, I suppose. I love it. I love all of it right now. I honestly couldn't ask for anything more.
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