Whether you're a newly graduated college student, a college student searching for a summer job or a fourth-year graduate student searching for a job to get you through your final year of graduate school, you know how much of a pain in the ass the job hunt can be.
I've applied for countless jobs over the years, mostly online. I have tried to apply in-person, only to be told, "You'll have to apply online". When I do apply online, I'm tailoring my resume to a specific position in addition to editing and re-editing my cover letter while researching the position and company. By the third or fourth application, I'm frustrated, burned out and unmotivated.
After all of that work, I read yet another generic rejection email, "Thank you for your interest in XYZ position with ABC Company, but we have decided to move forward with another candidate who best meets the qualifications for this position, good luck with your job search, yadda, yadda, yadda."
Ugh. That was a waste of time.
Anyway, here to tell you about the tedious and awful process that is job hunting are my favorite animal of all time, cats!
1. Filling out information that's already on your resume
So, you're telling me I have to re-write everything that's already on my resume? Can't I just import the information and edit it? There has to be a better way to complete this process.
2. Needing five years of experience for an entry-level position
I've only been out of college for three years. How do you expect me to have five years of experience for an entry-level position that doesn't even pay the greatest?
3. Being contacted by shady companies for too-good-to-be-true positions
Yeah, somehow I don't think that public relations assistant position you're offering me is the real deal. I researched your company and saw that it is a sales position and you mislead candidates regularly. No thank you! Also, no company calls a candidate every single day trying to set up an interview. C'mon now, I'm not that naive.
4. Being "ghosted" by companies that offered you an interview
So, is that a yes or no on the interview? No response? Oh, okay. I'll take that as a no. Thanks for wasting my time.
5. When you realize you forgot to change the name of the company/organization in your cover letter
I think I'll go hide under my covers now and never come out again.
6. When you discover another candidate with less experience was offered the position you were highly qualified for
Thanks for interviewing me, but seriously? Was this an act of nepotism or was it sexism? (Disclosure: I interviewed for a position in a male dominated industry and discovered a male candidate had been chosen even though he had less experience than I did. Surprise, Surprise).
7. When you wait to hear back after an interview for what seems like forever
So did I get the job or not? TELL ME!
8. Re-writing your cover letter over and over
My eyes and fingers hurt from staring at a screen and typing cover letter jargon for hours. *Re-reads it three times more to make sure I included the correct name of the company*
9. When you receive yet ANOTHER GENERIC REJECTION LETTER VIA EMAIL
Yeah, you don't sincerely wish me the best of luck in my job search, LIAR.
10. Reminding yourself to never give up on the job search no matter how many times you are rejected
Don't let those rejection letters, bad interviews or let-downs cause you to give up. The job search is hard, dreadful, tedious and can be downright discouraging. Remember, you will get a job if you don't give up. Hard work and determination DO pay off.