Because why do you need experience to get experience? Sweet jumping jellyfish, job hunting is a trying experience that’ll have you second guessing yourself, feeling foolish, desperate, frustrated, angry, helpless, *insert adjective for negative feeling here*, and so on. In short, it sucks.
I’m a freelance writer looking for my next gig, and so far, there haven’t been any takers. Of course, knowing that freelancing is not a stable job, I’ve been job hunting on the side. I like structure, I’m not great at pitching myself, I’d like a stable income, and I hate the feeling of uncertainty that comes with freelancing, so yeah, I wouldn’t mind a regular 9-5. I wouldn’t mind being a cog in the corporate wheel, or in any wheel, really.
But here’s the thing: searching for a job is hard. So, so very hard. It’s easier for some people, but for the majority? It’s tough. And I’m in the majority. So, I’m having a hard time of it. One reason is because, for some reason, practically all companies need you to have prior experience. But what happens when you don’t have experience? Because you need to have experience to get experience. So it’s a, what, a paradox?
I mean, come on.
I’ve applied for all kinds of roles; things I can do, things I think I could do, and things I know I can’t do but am willing to learn as I go, but no dice. For me, the most frustrating part is getting ghosted after applying. I’ve been ghosted more than than I’ve been outrightly rejected, and I hate it. I would rather be rejected and move on with my day than hear nothing but crickets after applying. Just send me a generic “thank you for your time” email. I don’t mind. I’ll take it like a champ.
A while ago, I applied for a content writing job at this company whose name I will not mention. They got back to me, telling me to write a sample article, which I did. I’m guessing they liked my article because they scheduled me for an interview.
Whoo, boy.
On the day of the interview, I was ready. Twenty minutes before it was scheduled to take place, I had my laptop set up, I was appropriately dressed, I was in a quiet corner of the house where I wouldn’t be disturbed. I was all set to go, go, go. But no, I was not to go, go, go, because the interviewer didn’t show up.
I waited about ten minutes then emailed the interviewer, who’d emailed me days before asking me to confirm my availability. The interviewer respond minutes later, misspelled my name, apologized for their inability to join the interview as scheduled, blaming circumstances, and told me they’d communicate a new time and date for the interview.
I never heard from them again. Which, dodged a bullet there, I’d say. They could have communicated well before hand that they wouldn’t be able to conduct the interview, but no, I had to reach out first ten minutes after the interview was supposed to start. Then they never got back to me on the new date and time for the interview.
It made me so mad. Not sad, just mad. Unfortunately, I can’t feed on anger, so back in the fray I went. And in the fray I’ve been since. I hate the fray. I want out of the fray. I’m hoping and praying it happens soon. Until then, I’ll be on my toes, eyes peeled, watching for an opening, an opportunity.
Good luck to me, I guess.
Oh yeah, since I’m on the subject of job hunting, if you know anyone who’s looking for a content writer or ghostwriter, help a body out.
Till next time, folks.
In Which She Talks 