Looking For Work

Unfortunately I am not very good at looking for a job.

Today I decided I would follow up on some job leads. That's what the Internet says to do. So I called a few places. One of them, with a job I *really* wanted, booking travel to Italy - I called and asked for Mr. So and So. Turns out that the boss is a woman (with a traditionally male name). So there went strike one. Then, when the girl on the phone asked me if I had travel experience, I said that I'd just been booking flights, accommodation, and rail for the last few months. She then assumed I'd *only just* qualified (I qualified for Travel and Tourism in 1999). So then I had to explain that to her. Then she said that they were a small company looking for something *very specific*. I work out of Italy sometimes, and I just don't know how much more specific you can get. I have an interest in wine, and good food - all requirements of the post - experience ticketing travel, etc, and three college degrees. What more do you need? She asked if I'd been working 'in travel since then' - no, mostly tourism - but that's not good enough apparently - even though in the last several months I've been doing travel and accommodation. I am confused as to what people want. I have experience, I am educated, and I am unemployed.

I've noticed this lately - people being *incredibly* anal about how and who they hire. If you don't have *exactly this* experience, or that degree, you will not find work. That means, of course, that if someone advertises for a bellydancing Scottish historian tour guide streetfighter, I'll at least be in the running - but that is the only job that I am apparently qualified for. My master's degree in history/literature isn't good enough to let me work in a museum - no, it has to be 'museum studies' and absolutely nothing else. I am tearing my hair out over here. Of course, I realize now that I should have just asked for the manager's full name, or not asked for the manager at all, and I take that as my own mistake. However - the rest of the reasons weren't good enough reasons for me not to be considered. And - really? There actually ARE employees out there with the *perfect CV*? I once saw an ad for a bellydancing bouncer - now there is a job I would qualify for - but how often do you get someone more qualified than I was for the travel post? I understand not getting jobs, but I can't even get to the interview stage.

Am I doing something wrong, or is this just how the work world is at the moment? I would really love to know what it was like not to be broke.