Job Market -v- Food Market

When I go to something called a food market, I see plenty of one of my favorite foods: fruits. I love berries, peaches, and melons, for example. If I hear of a new food market opening up, I expect it would have those same things and probably more, and at competitive prices, too.

On the other hand, when I search through the job market I have a very hard time finding what I want, especially at the salary I want. I wonder if my ideal job is even there at all! Do I have to modify what I want? Do I have to be the best conformer? Occasionally, I'll find something vaguely similar to the position I seek, but the location or salary is outside my desired range.

My experience is like finding bruises on all the peaches. I wonder what the inside looks like if I can see a bruise on the outside. Likewise, the job market is full of things I don't want. It's like the ultimate package offered on satellite TV: hundreds of channels you don't want. I can go to another nearby food market, but I can't go to another nearby job market. If I wanted, I could relocate for a job, which is what I'd have to do if I wanted another cable provider. But what if I want to stay?

I think the "job market" needs to be renamed. From my perspective, it's not a market at all! It's more like a network of channels, most of which I really don't want. Networking is the greatest tool in finding an appropriate position. It's not like I can breeze through the 'want ads' and see plenty of one of my favorite jobs. I have to surf the channels, test the networks, and become part of the network. There are few TV channels that I really enjoy.

It's only a market when employers go shopping. They pick from the selection of available stock and offer a competitive price. It's my job to be a juicy-looking peach. How humiliating! This is the reason I'd rather be self-employed, or at least avoid corporations that place the worship of profits before the serving of people. Sorry pal, I'm not a peach. I'd rather network or broadcast. After all, it's about people - relating to them, getting to know them, letting them know me, and serving them. The opportunity is out there, shopping. Let it find me. Leave the market for food or some other abundance of selection.