If you’re job hunting like I’ve been all summer, there is a good chance you will become discouraged at some point in the process. Nail four interviews, get four rejections, and frantically apply for twenty more jobs and you’re about where I am right now. I’ve had my hopes up about several very good positions this summer. I’ve prepared for interviews, put on my most stylish adult clothes, fought traffic to get downtown on time, and left the interview feeling extremely confident over and over. And somehow I’m still unemployed. There’s still some reason why the job I thought I would be great at wasn’t a good fit on the other end.
I won’t lie, being jobless is insanely stressful. I know it’s still early in my search, and I only graduated two and a half months ago, but being rejected never feels good. It feels like I’m failing, and I’m not one to sit still when things aren’t going my way. The whole idea of having absolutely no idea where I’ll be a month from now (forget anything past that), is making me anxious. I’m a planner. I’ve always been one to plan ahead and have a general direction on life things. Being at the mercy of hiring managers doesn’t sit well with me. I just want some sort of security that I’ll have a job and an income. I’ve read plenty of “What it’s like to be in your 20’s” articles, and while they’re helpful in keeping my mind off of things, I just can’t heed the advice to relax and let things unfold the way they’re supposed to. |
I’m impatient, I’m antsy and I’m broke. And I don’t like it. I realize that I’m going to have to be resilient when it comes to these things. To brush off the rejections, let go of my faux plans, and focus on the here and now. I had a great interview today and one scheduled for next week, so things are promising, and I’m still managing to be optimistic. I’m thankful that living at home cuts down on my expenses and I’m trying as hard as I can to not ask my parents for money. But, if there’s one thing I’m sure of, I’m ambitious and I’ve set a high bar for myself. I’m very sure that I can be successful and have a fun time while doing it. I just have to wait for the right opportunity, and be resilient rather than discouraged when a door closes on me.