This last year I decided I was going to get 100 writing rejections. Which turned out to be a rather expensive endeavor because to submit work to places it costs $$. Sometimes upwards of 25 dollars per submission.
So in order to have the money to submit I have been applying like crazy to jobs. I have applied to teaching jobs, tutoring jobs, writing jobs, coaching jobs, fast food and sales positions and I am closing in on 50 applications.
Here are the stats…
8 months
44 applications
2 returned and accepted job applications
42 unreturned or denied job applications
This has been an incredibly painful experience. I have a hard time getting started when I need to call around places to get my car inspected knowing that most of them will reject me. To intentionally try to be rejected in writing well, that’s a just way to navigate and increase the likelihood of being accepted.
But applying for jobs, to make ends meet… that is survival. And it makes me feel desperate to find a job and that there is something wrong with me to not be accepted. To see my friends, partner, sibling, and others have jobs and not even be able to get in the door I am feeling very depressed.
I have been working 5ish~ jobs from managing our Airbnb, working with clients, working as a research staff assistant, tutoring, writing here on substack and substituting at schools.
I am still making only about $1,000-1,300 a month.
Anyways! I have many questions…
The more I search for jobs I qualify for or would even want to do I am finding more and more jobs want 3+ years experience for what they categorize as entry level. Like what is this trend? Are people not wanting to hire and train their employees? Do they want to get people with a lot of background experience for cheap? Why am I in this weird spot of being both overqualified and underqualified? Like what in the actual heck!? What more can I do to make an income? Do you land jobs simply by only finding connections anymore or is is the job market so tight where I live no one can move forward into affordable jobs? Why are all my skills “soft” skills? I can’t put those things in a portfolio. I feel like after a certain point it is just insulting to continue to offer people hourly wages that are as low as 10.50-18.00. Like come on that’s a trip to the grocery store for three things. How can this continue to be the norm?
I can’t be the only one experiencing this. Seriously. This is a bit of a complainy rant but it is also an ask for help.
I need a job. A JOB. Not 5. And one that pays a living wage.
Do you know anyone hiring or looking for someone with a host of superb soft skills? Anyone out there?
Jen, I totally love your goal! When I was doing Network Marketing my goal every day was to "Go For No!" and get 10 no's a day, which meant I was hustling "enough" to trust that the Universe would provide (and It DID!). Today, I am having a different kind of success with more ease (and less rejection)...I am curious if you have ever heard of Human Design before? Good luck with the job search!