Fifty-six weeks. Over a year of searching, applying, waiting, and hoping. I knew finding a job wouldn’t be easy, but I never imagined it would take this long. One interview this week. Another chance. Another hope. But no call back—at least, not yet.
I’ve filled out more applications than I can count. I’m pretty sure I’ve applied to the same job multiple times, like a goldfish swimming around the bowl and getting excited about the same castle every lap. Every morning, I wake up, check job boards, refresh my email, and send out another round of resumes. Some days, it feels like screaming into the void. Other days, it feels like the void is screaming back, laughing at my futile attempts.
It’s easy to get discouraged. The longer the search drags on, the louder the doubts become. Maybe I’m not good enough. Maybe I’m wasting my time. Maybe I should just stop looking, stop hoping, stop trying. Maybe I should take up interpretive dance or start a farm with a single goat and a dream.
But I can’t. I won’t.
Somewhere out there, my job exists. The right fit. The right opportunity. The one that makes all of this waiting, all of this frustration, worth it. But I’ll never find it if I give up. So, I keep going.
Along the way, I’ve learned a few things:
Rejection Emails Are an Art Form – Some are blunt: “We regret to inform you…” Others try to soften the blow: “We were overwhelmed by the number of amazing candidates…” (Translation: Not you, buddy.) And then there are the ones that ghost me entirely.
Interviews Are Like Dating – You show up, put on your best face, try not to sound desperate, and hope they like you. Sometimes there’s chemistry. Sometimes you’re just awkwardly answering questions about your weaknesses while sweating through your shirt.
Patience Is NOT My Strength – If I had a nickel for every time someone said, "It just takes time," I wouldn’t need a job. I could retire on my growing fortune of useless advice.
You Gotta Laugh – If I took this too seriously, I’d be curled up in a blanket burrito crying over LinkedIn. Instead, I choose to laugh at the absurdity. Like the time I got an interview, prepped for hours, and then they hired the CEO’s nephew. Classic.
If you’re in this same fight, I see you. I know the exhaustion, the rejection, the fear. But I also know this: if we stop looking, we stop moving. And if we stop moving, we sink.
So, I choose to keep pushing forward. One more application. One more interview. One more day closer to the yes I need. And I believe it’s coming. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow—but it’s out there.
In the meantime, I’ll keep refining my resume, sharpening my interview skills, and resisting the urge to send all hiring managers a strongly worded email demanding answers. Because this is a process, and I’m still in it.
And if all else fails, I hear the goat farm industry is booming.
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