Waiting For Bar Results

I don't think I've discussed this before, as I'm generally reticent to talk about my work or work history here.  But today I was read Carolyn Hax's weekly live advice chat, and I read a question from someone who is getting ready to sit for the bar again (best of luck to you!) and wondered how to answer the inevitable, "What do you do?" question. 

Here's what I did while I studied for the bar and waited for results:  I worked a series of contract jobs.  I worked for MDA on its fundraising campaign for a brief period of time.  Man, did I hate that job.  I fully support the cause, but I didn't like the efforts to get donations, and as I am a terrible salesperson, I hated cold-calling people for more support.  Took me about five weeks before I called the agency to beg for a new assignment.

(Psst - the MDA website has music.  Who does that anymore?)

After that I went to work for a mortgage broker at what was then Wachovia.  That was an interesting experience - this was summer 2008, and I could see her selling those Pic-A-Payment mortgages to customers and thinking what a terrible idea this all was.  Now, don't assume that all the buyers were dopes - many were engineers and scientists.  I think so many were taken it because of either naivete or extremely high self-esteem. 

The point of this is to remember that I've learned a lot about the nature of business and the nature of myself from contract jobs.  So, to that young person who's waiting, I say, learn as much as you can, because it will come in handy.  I can do real estate work much more readily because I've built mortgage application submission packets and I've reviewed the closings that returned from the brokers.  I can work with all kinds of people on both sides of the "cash register".  So study hard, don't freak out, and learn what you can.  You'll use it, I promise.