Serial Youtubing

Web design software, IBM’s SPSS statistical package, fundraising techniques, Algebra II accelerated, iSee System’s computer modeling software, education administration, anthropological research, finance policy analysis.

What do all these things have in common?

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Nothing.

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The only common denominator, whatsoever, is that each of the above skills is something that I would have to conceivably master (or brush up on) in order to be competitive for the jobs for which I am applying.

I first heard the term “serial mastery” in a recent special edition of The Economist, which focused on joblessness. The days of majoring in journalism, for example, and becoming a journalist are over – and I know that I am not the first to say this. But because of my recent entry into the job market, I have been realizing explicitly – and painfully – how true this is. One’s marketability has virtually nothing to do with the knowledge and experience he or she has already gained; it has everything to do with that person’s ability to continue learning. However, I am not talking a candidate's ability to adapt; that is just an obvious characteristic any serious employer would be looking for. I am talking about mastering something in a matter of weeks, or days.

It seems that no matter what job I want to get, I have about 90% of the desired skill set mentioned in the job posting. Granted, I realize that my situation could be much worse, say, having none of the desired skill set. However, what makes this process so difficult is that the 10% of desired skills that I do not have for any given position is COMPLETELY different for each consecutive job. So, in practice, what this means is having to watch hours of Youtube tutorial videos, solving tons of math problems, researching policy implications of campaign finance reform, or downloading a new computer application between the time of submitting each individual application and (hopefully) being offered an interview.

"Exhausting" is the only word I can use to explain this seemingly endless cycle. The roller coaster ride of getting excited about one job, being let down, and then rekindling excitement about the next can only be described as clinically-recognized, bipolar, mental anguish.

But that aside, learning is what people were made to do. So I say:

Thank you Wikipedia.
Thank you Google.
Thank you digital media.
Thank you Youtube.

F$%& you resume.
F#$% you C.V.
F&#$ you interview.
F#$% you application fee.