Got a job! Research Interviewer for UIC. I will conduct field interviews with residents of neighborhoods throughout Chicago on various topics, the first study being one on health care. The subjects are compensated for their time (they receive $40 for a 45-minute interview) so hopefully everyone will be a bit more friendly and willing to participate than they would otherwise. I start training tomorrow & Sunday. Yes, huge relief. It was too good to pass up. The lady seemed impressed. I just did very well on the mock survey that was part of the test. The great news is that it’s paid training, all transportation is reimbursed, and all TRAVEL time is paid as well. I just couldnt say no to all that. It looks like my field interviewing will be done in humboldt park and/or west town. The study runs through January, at which time I may elect to do another study or possibly join the office staff at the reserach lab.

It’s certainly a weird sequence of events. It was listed on craigslist.org. I replied the same day, got a call, interviwed & hired the next day. Wow. Then this morning I shocked Anya & Shana by showing up at the coffeehouse at 6 am. I just woke up early. Whereas Andy had that late-night shift last night and didn’t even get into bed until 5.

With this job I choose my own hours basically, as long as I work a minimum of 18 per week. I’d like to do at least 25-30 a week. That’s enough to pay the bills. Frees up a lot of time for other things. There’ll be time enough for novel-writing in November. And of course due to the nature of the work, I won’t be working on holidays (people won’t want to be bothered on Thanksgiving with doing a survey). I’m just really hoping that there’s not some hidden snag to throw a monkey wrench in things.

It’s rainy, wet, cold, and gray this morning but it’s beautiful too.