I've learned to despise Friday afternoons.
For eight years in the workforce I loved them. They were the best. They were a time when everyone, teachers, students, co-workers, everyone was all set to kick back and relax for the next 60 or so hours. No matter what happened during the week or even the day, saying the phrase "Have a good weekend!" seemed to pep everyone up, especially those who you said it to right before they left the workplace.
Now is a different story.
It's a different story because employers traditionally use Friday afternoons to let their employees go and to let candidates know they are no longer being considered for a position. I've learned this the hard way the past couple months. The first time I got a rejection email I don't think I even paid attention to the date. However, that next Friday I got another rejection email. The Friday after that were three rejections. It's gotten to the point now where if I get an email notice on my phone on a Friday between the hours of 2 and 4 then I assume it's bad news. Often times, it is.
Dealing with rejection is part of life. All of us have at one point asked someone out, or asked them for a second date and we told "Thanks, but no thanks." When it happens, it stings but you eventually get over it. You realize that this person just didn't appreciate what you had to offer. That this person simply didn't realize what a catch you were. You pump yourself up and list all your positive traits. Why, if this person had chosen you then he/she would be with someone who can X, Y, and Z! You use the experience as motivation going forward. It was his or her loss, but you know you'll find someone out there who appreciates you for just the way you are.
Now imagine getting rejected 70 times in a row.
Your perspective would change a bit, wouldn't it? You'd begin to wonder if there was something seriously wrong with you. Is it your looks? Is it something you say in conversation? Is it an awkward introduction? Is it the venues you choose or let your date choose? Is it a nervous habit or twitch? Is it because you wait too long after the date to say you had a good time? Are you saying you had a good time and want to see this person again too soon? Is there something in your teeth? Are your teeth crooked? The concerns would go on and on.
That's me right now. Since I began my unemployment, I've kept a Word file of all the organizations I have applied to. That list has recently reached 70 names. Each of them told me "Thanks, but no thanks." Some at least gave me a shot. I've had a half-dozen or so phone interviews and a couple second interviews including one in person. But those so far have not yielded any successes. I also briefly tried a career in solar but that wasn't a good fit and so I went back to the drawing board after that experience.
So I'm now at a point where I've been into a lot of introspection. Why am I being rejected so often? Is it my resume? Is it my cover letter? Is it the initial email I send stating my interest in the position? Is it the quality of the writing sample for those that request that information? Is it the format of my reference list? Is it my answers I give over phone interviews? Is it a lack of research of the company or organization? Is it my questions that I have for the organization? The list goes on and on.
To be honest, there have been several positions I knew I wouldn't get. Applying to some of the more reputable organizations, you realize that due to name recognition alone you are going to be competing against the creme of the crop. Against those who have years of experience in a similar position for another outstanding organization. You realize that several of the positions require experience that you simply don't have but you want to apply to anyway because the application process itself is good experience. Those are the ones that don't sting as bad. Those are the ones that are like when you ask out the head cheerleader at the 8th grade dance. You've got nothing to lose so why not go for it? (Speaking from experience *cough* Alycia Torre *cough*)
However, for the jobs I generally sought out, I'm at a point now where I'm reevaluating my portfolio. I've been fortunate that my father has taken a look at my resume and passed it on to the vice-president of his company to help me edit. I'm now in the process of organizing my cover letters into similar groups so I can more easily modify them based on the position I'm applying for whether its environmental policy, educational policy, literacy-based nonprofits, political communications, or any other role I might apply to. I'm also taking a look at professional cover letters and modifying mine to better emulate them. It's hard to make yourself stand out with a simple piece of paper but any advantage I might potentially have I intend to fully pursue.
This also includes pursing any leads that my friends or family might have. I've recently reached out to my Facebook friends in various geographic locations as well as friends who are involved in fields that I may want to pursue. As much as I would like to earn a position all by myself, I am realistic. I know that a large number of people today who change careers are able to successfully do so because they have a contact in their new chosen field. As I update my cover letter and other resources, I know that it definitely wouldn't hurt to see if any friends have an "in" in a field that I would want to pursue. Everything I've done up to this point has been on my own and it has been a struggle.
Anything I can do to ease that struggle would be a great relief.
