I started job hunting again this week. 10+ applications sent out. 4 rejections received. Things aren’t looking good.
When I got that first rejection letter, I wasn’t surprised. When I got the second one, I started feeling hopeless. And then when I got the third, I lost all confidence in myself. I skipped going to the gym. My stomach problems came back. I was feeling dejected and frustrated.
I thought that by attending my data analytics program and adding machine learning and data engineering to my resume, I would at least have a higher chance of getting an interview. But things are just turning out like they did at the beginning of the year. I sent out 50+ applications and never got an interview.
What hurts even more is that I’m hearing from others how they found new jobs. A co-worker of mine also went through a program and once he graduated, he landed a job that he wanted. I was both happy for him and jealous.
Why is it so hard to find a new job? Even in a tough job market, these job hunting websites are listing out new jobs everyday.
I know my situation is different than most of my friends trying to find a new job – I’m trying to transition into a new career and industry, so the odds are well stacked against me. I just didn’t think job hunting would be this difficult.
Is it a setup or a setback?
I went to get a haircut yesterday and my barber said, “Every failure you encounter can set you back or set you up. It’s all about your perspective.”
I agreed with him, but I told him that every rejection felt like I was just being set back. I mean I went part time to study and gain new skills. I set back my financial plans and goals. How am I setting myself up?
Building up the calluses
It feels like a punch to the stomach every time I get a rejection email. It hurts.
But maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be. Maybe I need to get used to the pain and difficulty.
This sort of reminds me of rock climbing. When I first got into rock climbing, my skin hurt real bad, but overtime, I developed calluses, and it didn’t hurt as much to climb.
I wonder if that’s what I’m going through right now with my job search. Am I developing the calluses?
Maybe that’s the set up in this.
I’m also starting to network more. I’m realizing that, as somebody who has little to no experience in data science, I’m at a disadvantage compared to those who have years of experience in data science. I need more than just a resume to get my foot in the door.
If you’re job hunting and struggling right now, you’re not alone. With all the layoffs going on, it’s a tough job market. A tough job market means you have to be a tough candidate. That sentence right there was even a reminder for myself…
