Friday, March 17, 2006
Professional Quandary
I have not yet signed my contract with Ircam. They required proof that the internship was required by my university in order to receive my degree. It took a little while for the university to get back to me, but I now have all of the papers I need. I have hesitated about calling them to sign...I don't know why.
Yesterday I received an e-mail from one of my professor's who I'd met with a few weeks ago (before I had the Ircam internship) about my professional future. She encouraged me to look into large comm and advertising agencies, where I would have the chance to really progress relatively quickly. But she gave me no contacts, no possibilities. She said she had to think about it. The e-mail said that another professor, who is a partner in a major French advertising company, was interested in speaking to me and possibly offering me an internship within his company. I have a meeting with him next week at the Café Marly.
I received a different e-mail a few days ago from the Louvre saying that they are looking--"urgently"--for someone to take over the maintenance of the Louvre English-language Web site (which is what I did for them as an internship).
Now, I have thought a lot about the possibility of selling out. But I am not really a "go-getter" and usually wait until something falls into my lap, like it has just now. Usually this attitude reduces the number of possible paths and makes my choices relatively clear.
I have also thought a lot about how to succeed in the cultural field. Now, Ircam is cool. And I would probably be able to find a job in the massive French cultural network of France. But would this job lead me to an eventual position of real responsibility? I have enough experience to know that given the choice between someone who has worked for 10 years in cultural institutions and someone who spent 10 years as a consultant for major commercial structures, even the coolest cultural institution will go for the commercial experience when choosing a manager.
Then again, do I really want a career that will define my life or do I just want a way to have some money, low-stress and plenty of room for a family? And so my American side and that Protestant work-ethic clashes with my French side that doesn't see the point in working so hard.
Plus, working for 4 months at an advertising agency, giving up all of my culture contacts that I have cultivated for the past 8 years and having to start anew in a country that doesn't recognize my American diplomas or experiences is a big risk. Tempting, but a risk nonetheless. And I have a feeling that at this moment, when so many other things are changing in my life--my relationship status, my name, my residency, my hair color, my wardrobe--should I keep one constant or should I just bet it all and let the ball drop where it will?
Yesterday I received an e-mail from one of my professor's who I'd met with a few weeks ago (before I had the Ircam internship) about my professional future. She encouraged me to look into large comm and advertising agencies, where I would have the chance to really progress relatively quickly. But she gave me no contacts, no possibilities. She said she had to think about it. The e-mail said that another professor, who is a partner in a major French advertising company, was interested in speaking to me and possibly offering me an internship within his company. I have a meeting with him next week at the Café Marly.
I received a different e-mail a few days ago from the Louvre saying that they are looking--"urgently"--for someone to take over the maintenance of the Louvre English-language Web site (which is what I did for them as an internship).
Now, I have thought a lot about the possibility of selling out. But I am not really a "go-getter" and usually wait until something falls into my lap, like it has just now. Usually this attitude reduces the number of possible paths and makes my choices relatively clear.
I have also thought a lot about how to succeed in the cultural field. Now, Ircam is cool. And I would probably be able to find a job in the massive French cultural network of France. But would this job lead me to an eventual position of real responsibility? I have enough experience to know that given the choice between someone who has worked for 10 years in cultural institutions and someone who spent 10 years as a consultant for major commercial structures, even the coolest cultural institution will go for the commercial experience when choosing a manager.
Then again, do I really want a career that will define my life or do I just want a way to have some money, low-stress and plenty of room for a family? And so my American side and that Protestant work-ethic clashes with my French side that doesn't see the point in working so hard.
Plus, working for 4 months at an advertising agency, giving up all of my culture contacts that I have cultivated for the past 8 years and having to start anew in a country that doesn't recognize my American diplomas or experiences is a big risk. Tempting, but a risk nonetheless. And I have a feeling that at this moment, when so many other things are changing in my life--my relationship status, my name, my residency, my hair color, my wardrobe--should I keep one constant or should I just bet it all and let the ball drop where it will?
Comments:
Post a Comment
