As graduation quickly approached, I still hadn't secured a full-time position in a job. I'll admit I was freaking out. I was nervous I'd never get a job. I was nervous it would just get harder from here on out.
I applied for jobs I honestly didn't even want. I applied for jobs almost strictly in NYC because my heart was set on being in one of my absolute favorite cities.
When I got an email for a phone interview, and then an email for an in-person interview for a cold calling sales job in NYC, it was exciting. It was right by Penn Station. It was in the city I desperately wanted to work in. But it definitely wasn't the job I desperately wanted.
What I didn't realize was how much goes into accepting a job offer. You have to think of transportation costs, out-of-state taxes, and your own personal happiness.
I put myself under the impression that to get a job I really wanted, I had to accept a job I really didn't want which, in some cases, can be true to an extent. But this was not one of them.
I'm a creative person. I want to make people excited about a product or a service. I want to draw them in with a really cool design or really interesting copy.
Sure, I love people, and getting to talk to people all day is right up my alley. However, sales is definitely not. I couldn't imagine being at work from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. every day, and seven of those nine hours would be spent on the phone.
When you live and work in two different states, you have to pay taxes in both. Did you know that? So, think of the chunk that takes out of an already low salary.
From the train station I would commute to the city from, it would cost me $500 a month to take the train, and an additional $100 to park at the station per month. Plus, the gas in my car to and from the station five days a week, so we're at a cool $700 a month in travel alone.
With all these things combined, I did something I didn't think I'd do when I got offered a job post-grad. I turned it down. I thanked the HR recruiter for his time and the opportunity, and I moved on.
But this taught me something. Yes, you can have dreams and ambition of working in one of your favorite places, but sometimes those dreams and ambitions have to be put on hold. NYC is a competitive place, but I know one day I'll get there.
Most importantly, it taught me not to sacrifice what I truly want for the sake of getting a job. Another job offer will come that will likely make me happier, so I'll keep waiting.
