JOB SEARCH---- POST WWll

THE BIG JOB HUNT--- post WW ll


Beverly and her parents having settled
me with a nice older couple in Long
Beach, I set about a serious search for
work--- a good job.

Omar McGee, Beverly`s father insisted
on taking me around to old friends to
introduce me and open doors.
I insisted first on canvassing the job
market myself.

First I started in downtown Los
Angelos.  Knocking on doors, filling
out applications in empoyment offices
and answering newspaper ads.

Nothing worked.  Servicemen were
being discharged by the hundreds of
thousands .  It seemed that every
other man on the street was about
my age.

OK., Mr. McGee.   Your turn.

Mr. McGee and I started early one
morning.   We were met with the
utmost civility at every stop.

We went to the famous Hollywood
drugstore where actors and actresses
had been "discovered".  The owner
of the store offered to give me a job
in the back room, learning the
pharmaceutical business.
Minimum wage.  I could`nt hack it.

We called on an old friend of McGee`s
The co-owner of a famous line of
beauty products.  A similar result.

We interviewed with producers,
directors, photographers until we
were ready to drop, but no "big"
offers.

After leaving the McGee`s one after
noon, I walked by an insurance Co.
and  on impulse asked to talk to the
owner.   The owner was a fine young
woman, about 30, actually beautiful.
We talked for a long while and she
asked if I would be interested in
working as her Administrative Assist.

Phew !  It did not require a great
imagination to think how Beverly
would like me working here.
I just sat on this offer.   Thought
about it --- then sat on it.

I decided my chances were better
in the Bay Area and left.

JOB SEARCH IN SAN FRANCISCO.

An ad in the newspaper kept coming
to mind--- Paris Supply Company.
Fair salary plus commission.  Lots of
inducements to a young man out of
work.   I`m hired ?  What do  we sell ?
Beauty supplies ?   I thought it over,
then , decided to give it a try.

Calling on beauty shops.    Not bad,
my sales were excellent, the people
were all nice---But I could not stand
the smells--- so, I kept looking.

The War Assets Administration in
Alameda, California.   Right where
I lived.   A government agency for
the sale of war surplus merchandise.

The pay was excellent and my title
was Pharmaceutical Agent.
My job, selling pharmaceuticals.
After about six months my conscience
was really bothering me.  I had never
been able to find any pharmaceuticals
to sell. 

One day a fellow by the name of Bog
Crain and I decided to quit and start
our own Surplus Sales Company.
We painted the length of our bldg.,
with CRAIN - CROWLEY  RETAIL --
WHOLESALE---HARDWARE AND
TEXTILES.  Figuring that would
cover almost anything we could dig up.

This part is a long, long story---I will
abreviate as much as possible.

We became about the most popular
surplus dealers in the Bay Area.
Not only did we get a lot o f choice
deals, but we managed to work deals
for other dealers.

Down the line we got an order from
the Army of Chiang Kai  Scheck ,
Emperor of China, to supply his
expanding army wth tents, blankets
and all the living neccessities to
pursue his battle against the
Communists encroaching from the
North.

So, we did --- we found it all and
contracted for everything from
Coast to Coast.  Then, our agents
hired to front the deal, told them
where everything was located and
when we returned the deal was
gone.

We managed to recover a couple
hundred thousand, but our  dream
of riches had vanished and our
moral bit the dust.

Bob took a job mixng printer`s ink
in San Francisco and I became the
Administrative Assistant to the
owner of Instantsteam in Oakland.

One night in Bakersfield, California,
perusing the Los Angelos paper, I
saw the ad of  Boyle and Company,
Pharmaceutical Mfg.  Salesman
wanted.  I called , "Can you come
in to see us?"  I walked in to their
office the next morning and they
hired me as thier representative in
the San Francisco Bay Area. Nice
salary, nice commission and a new
car furnished, plus all expenses.

Now that was a job !

Before picking up my new car for
the return trip, I dropped down to
visit Beverly-----Sorry her Momma
said, Beverly is being married.
He has a place in the Canjon and
he is very substantial.

So, I picked up my new car and left
for home----- again.

-----  John Crowley