50 Jobs in 50 States

If you can't get one job, you may as well try to get 50. That seems to be the logic driving Daniel Seddiqui's recent success — but that's only after he failed to secure an offer from any of the 40 interviews he attended for a career in economics, his field of study. So, with $65,000 in college loans, a new ride and a go get 'em attitude, the 27-year-old recent college grad hit the road.

Nearly a year later, the guy who couldn't hear, "you're hired," has found work as a sugar-maker, an Indy race pit crew member, a meteorologist, and his most recent assignment — the first-base coach for the Brockton Rox AAA team in Brockton, Mass.They called him.

Not only is Seddiqui filling up his resume, he's also filling up his empty bank account. From a $100 gig as an Amish furniture builder to a medical device manufacturer in Minnesota for $3,000, he's earned upwards of $60,000. And thanks to his low overhead — he's been staying with generous host families along the way — it has all gone into savings.  He's currently at the home of Brockton Sox owner and former Brockton Mayor Jack Units.

When asked by the Boston Channel about any lessons learned, the Jack-of-all-Trades replied, "That you can land a job and it's all about persistence and networking and that's what I've been doing," Seddiqui said. His plan has worked out so well, that nearly every one of his bosses has offered him full-time employment, which poses a new problem (albeit a luxury one), which career should he pursue?

And while he's grateful for all the many opportunities, Seddiqui remains committed to finish his 50 in 50 adventure. On deck next: a stint with the Democrats in New Hampshire, followed by some down and dirty trapping as a Maine lobsterman. Hey, Seddiqui, good luck working a desk job after all this.

Photo courtesy of whiterice via Flickr