A Fear of Perfect Endings

It’s a bit late, but I’ve just finished my first summer reading! And as with any good book, countless reflections flooded my mind as soon as I closed the back cover.

So, let’s start with my first thought, a question:

What if there were mechanical presidential candidates? You know, just bolts and rust instead of handshakes and idiocy?

Evidently, there would be fewer gaffes concerning sporting events, but that’s a story for another time.

Now, where was I? Ah, the book!

Written by the famed Kurt Vonnegut, Player Piano illustrates a world more dependent on machines than a teenage girl with her mobile Facebook app. There are super computers, mindlessly calculating how many door knobs, dinner plates, television sets, washing machines and everything else to produce for society. There are engineers, whose doctoral degrees allow them to sit behind office desks and act only when an instrument requires wire-replacement. Then, with one flick of a switch, another machine whirs to swap out the faulty cables.

Of course, the number of necessary engineers is also determined by the computers.

At face value, Vonnegut paints an unwelcome conclusion to the post-Second World War culture. Yet, I find it hard to believe that he really expected us to fear dominance by machinery – after all, most of us are probably too busy clicking on Groupon deals to contemplate such nonsense. Instead, I wonder if, beneath the irony and genius in Kurt’s prose, a deeper anxiety awaits to be found.

Perhaps it is a fear of the perfect ending. See, even in Vonnegut’s flawless world where the robots do all the hard work – and replace our kitchen appliances every few years! – the humans aren’t happy.

To refrain from spoilers, I’ll just reiterate that last part; the humans aren’t happy.

Is it because we prefer continual change over finality? Does the idea of “progress” signify the root of all our desires? Would we really rather live with a malfunctioning dishwasher?

I have zero sufficient answers but, hell, at the very least, maybe we just enjoy watching presidential candidates who stupidly criticize Olympics preparations.

What are your thoughts on Vonnegut, machines and the likes? An inquiring mind wants to know.

Creative Bullet Points

Having just graduated from university, applying to jobs nowadays has become a full-time job in itself. So far, it’s been a hectic mixture of finding opportunities, creating objectives, e-mails, phone calls, contacts, cover letters, and resumes.

Or should I write Résumé?

Since the single-page PDF document is incredibly important for seeking employment, there’s a constant editing process in making sure every bullet point is concise and significant. After all, recruiters can only be so attentive with the many dozens (or hundreds) of applicants – which has led me to wonder, what can I do to grab their attention?

Here’s one answer that might just work: Underneath that magazine internship, jot down “Obtained valuable professional experiences in retrieving coffee.” Sure, it may catch your employer off-guard, but there are many positives as well! It shows that you value the importance of a little humor – and maybe even the small details at work. Least of all, it demonstrates your readiness to be different. Be creative. Be BOLD.

What could possibly go wrong?

At worst, one recruiter will just chuckle and say to another, “You know, I could really use a good cup o’ coffee right now.”

Yes, that’s how I will grab their attention.

But for now, I’ll let you try it first. Let me know how it goes. In case you get stuck somewhere between the Education, Professional Experience and Qualifications sections, here are a few more suggestions:

– Fluent in Microsoft Paint applications.

– [Insert name here] will be an equal opportunity employee. Women and minorities are encouraged to hire.

– Graduated within top hundred percent of class.

So, how are your job-searching experiences? Any pointers for resumes – or do you prefer Résumé?

Enter: Modaya!

Modaya!

That’s a nickname a friend of mine has for me. Sometimes, she’ll say it after a wisp of laughter. Once in a while, it’s with a soft smile and a scolding glance. But of course, she always means it in an endearing manner.

So, it’s too bad that Modaya translates to “idiot” in Sinhalese.

Anyway, here’s to writing stories laced with bad puns and lukewarm humor – which is usually why my friend shoots me those scolding glances. Maybe, somewhere in-between the inanity, there will be a few meaningful insights and food for thought.

Speaking of food, though, be warned: I may profess my love for cheesecake just a bit too often…

Perhaps Modaya is fitting after all.