======= ======= ====== ====== ====== ===== ==== ====== ====== ===== ==== ======= ======= ====== ====== ====== ===== ==== ====== ====== ===== ====
As I drive down the streets of Austin, Texas, one of the fastest growing cities in the country, where it is well-known that some 130+ average people move per day, I see construction workers, bus drivers, gas station employees, mailmen and businessmen that are waiting at the crosswalks downtown, and I can’t help but wonder, “How TF do ALL of these people have jobs and I don’t?!” I literally want to pull over and ask them, “Hey, man. Just wondering, but…how are you employed? How can I become employed, too? Got any tips for your girl?”
Besides having literally no idea ever what day of the week it is, much less the actual date, I am slowly losing touch with reality. I’ve been unemployed now for about four months. That is a LONG TIME to have literally nothing to do but apply to jobs. Sure, it’s nice in a way. Not having to put clothes on and step out of my house is cool (thank you, Jimmy John’s), but it gets old. Applying to a million jobs a day, going through the initial phone interview process, and going on actual interviews is no longer “exciting news” to tell my friends and family. It’s torture.
Now that you can apply to almost any and all jobs online, it makes the application process so freaking miserable. I’ve spent anywhere from 30 minutes to five hours on applications, just to hear a big, fat “NO” from companies in which I KNOW I would be a perfect fit. Most of the time, I hear nothing from these companies. Absolutely NOTHING. I have a freaking college degree in advertising and public relations. I went through college in the allotted time of four years. I am personable, outgoing, and talented (if you ask me), and I definitely know my shit. I’m not an idiot and really don’t think I should have to be pooled with a bunch of burnout losers who have been half-assing applications for the past year and a half and secretly enjoy being unemployed and having zero income.
The worst part is, the places I’ve gone in for interviews are not at all for the position in which I’ve spent hours applying. No, I did not get a Bachelor of Science at a respected university to stand at a freaking Walmart and beg innocent people to sign up for a different cable company at a discount. I did not work my attention deficit-having ass off for four years of my life to sit at a front desk all day and answer phones. I got a degree to do work that I know I am good at/extremely qualified to do. I am so mad at “the system” that it’s not even funny anymore.
My resumé is on-point. My interview skills are legit. I am at least somewhat attractive and put-together. I work well with other humans. I work well on my own. Seriously, companies of this city, WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT FROM ME? Do I need to start sending in freaking naked pictures of myself to CEOs? Do I need to start paying YOU to hire ME or at least to take one freaking glance at my application? Tell me, working world. Tell me what I need to do. AND, I know people. I know A LOT of people. I have connections. I have friends that are employed in my city. I have been referred so many times to companies in which I would love to work. I put my point-of-reference(s) in all my applications when asked. But does any of this help me one freaking ounce? NO! Can someone PLEASE tell me why?!
So now, with nowhere else to turn in my time of desperation, I’ve decided to get my real estate license. Sure, Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing” inspired me to do so, but the point is I’m doing it. I have always wanted to do this and always thought I’d be good at it and that’s all that matters. I have one more course to take until I can take my licensing exam, and GUESS WHAT companies of this city that have neglected to give me any sort of chance imaginable — I will be the best real estate agent this city has ever seen. I now have a fire lit under my ass that is so hot, it is about to burn my freaking tits off.
In closing, screw you, hiring managers of my past. You just missed out on the best employee you will never have. Don’t ever give up hope, my unemployed friends. Go out into the world and educate yourself on something new. Get another degree, get your master’s, take some courses on something you’ve been interested in all your life, and become the best whatever-it-is you can be. You deserve it. After all, being unemployed is the hardest job you will ever have — so things can only go up from here.
Respond
Maybe you’re overrating yourself?
Nah, get another degree and go into debt. It’s a helluva lot easier than reality. Besides, you’ve been doing school for the past 20+ years, why stop now? You just started getting good at it too.
Have you tried going by someones office to bring in a resume, calling as follow up to sending your resume, saying that you’d work for two weeks for free on trial to separate yourself from your competition and prove that you can do the job well? Going to college isn’t good enough anymore, you actually have to do work and prove yourself in the real world. Volunteer to work two weeks for free in your cover letters or email – I am guessing not only will you get a real shot but that they will end up paying you for those two weeks.
Someone should set her up with Gil Humplestead, they seem compatible.
I think your first problem would be that you drive past all those people, apart from the businessmen (maybe it’s because they’re men), and want to ask them the wrong question. First ask them, how many of you have college degrees. If you simply want a job, go to the local McDonalds. They will most probably hire you, over some degenerate from the street corner or highschool kid, mainly because you will at least have a work ethic.
Out of college, I worked at a local hotel while doing exactly what you did, and now I’ve begun my ascent into my lovely career. At least at the hotel, I impressed my managers so that I was making at least $12.25 an hour, so I could get by and save money.
Statistics have shown that the job market is improving and as Generation X gets closer to the nursing home (my parents have already talked about what I HAVE to do for that day, I’m only 23), Generation Y is on the rise.
But you’ve said you refuse to do that? In short then, the problem still is you. While you look good on paper, something YOU’RE not doing is stopping you. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and work in an environment that you are way overqualified for. Just as an interim though. Then you focus on honing your skills and learn to sell yourself at every interview you get. You may feel that you’re perfect for everything, but there’s always a bigger fish. That hiring manager decided that another person was much better than you.
No one, with a desired College Degree (excluded anthropology and other liberal majors) should ever be unemployed that long out of school. Find at least some shit-stain-on-the-underpants-of-life job for some income and stay working. Don’t spend $150,000 in schooling or more schooling just because of your lack of effort right out of college. Life Sucks, get over it.
I share so much with this it’s scary. If this was about Chicago and not Austin I would have assumed I submitted this while blacked out. I had a job after college and was one of many people laid off at my company last fall, and have been in the same turmoil since. I do the same thing everyday when I see everyone heading to work while I’m sending in apps and preparing for more interviews, just to get told no once again. I too have had tons of referrals from friends, family and former co-workers that have resulted in months of dialogue with a company and multiple interviews just to have to start all over again with another. For those that are employed and saying that you must be less qualified or not doing as much as you think, I think that sentiment is either ignorant, arrogant, or possibly both. I’ve met a lot of people along the way that are completely incompetent morons and somehow have a good job. Just how the world works sometimes.
I know it is hard to believe nowadays but you are not your job – remember that
I have a freaking college degree in advertising and public relations.
Precisely.
You can take experience at a fast food joint and bring it up in an interview to spin as a positive. What you can’t do is talk about having no experience. The longer you stay unemployed the less marketable you become. I do hope you nail this new career and it seems like it could complement your degree very well but remember that you’ll have to work your way up wherever you start and that its a lot easier to get a job when you have one already. I speak from experience. Best of luck!
Maybe there’s just too much competition in Austin.