Chelsey in Chicago

As you've probably been able to figure out from subtle references in my summer posts, I have been looking for a job since graduation. Before graduation I applied to several internships, which I obviously did not get (except for one unpaid one and I was sooo certain I could find a paying job by now). Dream job: Working in a research/writing capacity for a nonprofit focused on the environment. Reality: Applying to nonprofits doing a variety of work and for a variety of positions. How am I going about the job hunt? I job search and apply. I look primarily on idealist.org, NPO.net, and LinkedIn. I also get an email from the associate director of MAPH, who has been sharing jobs she finds and thinks we would be interested in. The number of jobs I apply to really varies. Some weeks it's one job. Others, it's two a day for a week straight. I have gotten much quicker at producing a tailored resume and cover letter and can usually complete both within two hours. It helps that...

I decided to visit Patrick July 31-Aug 6 because I can job search just as well from his couch as I can from my big red chair. I originally intended it to be a surprise, but I had to tell him so he could arrange some work things. However, I told him I was coming Aug 2, and not July 31 (his birthday). I arrived and took a Lyft to his apartment, let myself in the building (he thought I didn't know the code), and text him to check his mail for a surprise package. When he opened the door - SURPISE - I was standing there! That was a Tuesday so Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday while he was at work during the day, I job searched, napped (we had to wake up at 4:40AM to run together), read, did the dishes and watched Netflix. In the evening we went out to dinner or hung out eating ice cream on the couch. Saturday we went "over the water" to Norfolk. Patrick lives a few blocks from a ferry that will take you from Portsmouth to Norfolk where there is a park, restaurants, a mu...