The Lemon Life | online magazine offering a fresh perspective on post-grad life.

Words by: Emma Murray

Image by: Cuttlefish

Had I been told six months ago what post-graduation life would hold I suspect I would have been disappointed. Despite not having a clear idea of what I wanted to do, I think a part of me suspected that a creative, fulfilling and worthwhile job - which conveniently paid a handsome salary - would be gloriously passed my way. Of course, my sheltered undergraduate existence was wrong. The real world just doesn’t work that way. Graduating as one of the doomed class of 2009, I found getting a ‘proper’ job difficult so I turned to temp work in order to make some much-needed cash.

My job certainly merits a strong association with ‘meh’ and it couldn’t be further removed from what I see myself eventually doing. For one, I work in a hospital. The Medics I lived with for three years found it hilarious that my ignorant, artsy mind had been let into this institution. Fortunately for the patients of St. Georges they aren’t letting me anywhere near the wards. Instead, on my first day I was sent to a grim annex called the ‘The Boiler Room’ at the back of the hospital to begin work as an administrator in the Engineering department. I had never worked as an administrator before let alone an engineering administrator so everything was entirely new. Lucky for me administration is pretty much common sense with a dash of organisation. I was a natural - or at least I could do it.

Despite the disconnection between my current job and my dream career, I love it. I really do. I work with rotund, northern middle-aged men whose views differ greatly from my own but men with whom I would never normally come into contact. That is the simplistic beauty of temp jobs, their indiscriminate randomness. I learn a lot from these slightly socially awkward men and having spent a lot of my life surrounded by women it is a refreshing change. They swear, they are unpretentious and occasionally they play the part of gentlemen towards me, the only female in the office.

It is not only the people who make me overlook the underlying ‘mehness’ that pervades my current employment. For a temp job, it pays exceptionally well. My temp colleagues in the hospital are earning about 20% less than me an hour and have to work 20% harder. It is great to see my bank balance rising each week and the low stress nature of the work means that I am never tired.

There are many perks to this job that are unlikely to be available in every ‘meh’ job. Travel time is half an hour from home, I can enjoy gossipy lunches with a school friend who also works here, I am learning some useful IT skills and I manage my own time. I love this job so much that I turned down an offer from the BBC, albeit unpaid, to stay.

In addition to the perks, part of the attraction of this job is its temporary nature. If I thought I would become my predecessor and stay here for nine years, I don’t think I would be as cheery. So if the BBC asks nicely, I’m available!

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