“Tough” is an understatement when describing the current job market. “Demoralizing” is perhaps a more accurate description, especially when you take into account the vast number of people who are practically begging for work on LinkedIn. My heart, soul, and third testicle aches for each one of them.
I saw one post recently from a woman who was looking for a position as a copywriter. She had years of experience, a fantastic portfolio, certifications…heck, even her certifications had certifications!
This woman is my competition for copywriting positions.
Yet here she was, completely broke and moving back in with her parents because she couldn’t find work after being laid off from her job several months prior. To feel so helpless is truly…
…demoralizing.
It’s also the manner in which people are struggling to find work. Tech companies are laying people off by the thousands (only to hire thousands more ten minutes later, wtf). Recruiters routinely ghost without warning. Job openings are canceled. C-level executives try to convince hordes of employees that in-office work is the only way to function, despite the fact that everyone knows those c-level executives are borderline sociopaths. Perhaps working in an office is better for you, but for a majority of employees it’s not nor has it ever been.
The point is: I got so frustrated looking for a new job that I needed to step away. Being ghosted by recruiters is obnoxious. Not receiving an interview for a position that you know is exclusive to your skillset is baffling. Manually entering your work history after uploading your resume is a colossal waste of time, and I have no clue why companies continue to associate with crack-house work “solutions” like Workday.
My current goal is to practice patience and self-compassion as I seek out a position that I truly care about.
Keyword: care.
I want to work for an organization that I believe in with a mission and vision I can get behind. I want to proudly where a t-shirt or hat that has my company logo on it. I want to do something that matters.
I would like to return to working with animals in a behind-the-scenes marketing/creative idea-type position. This could be for an animal welfare organization, pet food, pet insurance, veterinary hospitals, or any combination thereof. Volunteering with animals has always been where I’ve been happiest, and I feel like that would be a great opportunity for me. The jobs I’m looking for aren’t as plentiful, so that’s why I’m practicing a lot of patience and self-compassion.
I think it’s also important that I can see a vision for where my career may take me. Right now, I am a “Project Manager” in name only. A PINO, if you will (I just looked up PINO to make sure it wasn’t anything overtly vulgar, and it can represent “President In Name Only,” a little person, or a sex object, so I think the term is safe). But my position does not have an actual job description. There is no pathway or future. I was randomly placed into this position to work on random projects that I receive zero formal training for. I feel like I’m being set up for failure half the time. It’s frustrating.
Additionally, since my team became a thing a little more than two years ago, not one person has been promoted. Take that for what it’s worth.
Maybe “patience” isn’t even the right word here. Would the people begging for work on LinkedIn really be keen to accept “patience” as a strategy when they have mouths to feed? Fortunately, I have a job.
Perhaps “vigilance” is the better idea.