Hey Nerds,
Earlier this year, my agency learned that our client to which I am dedicated was reducing scope. While we aren’t losing their business, my team’s efforts were no longer needed. Did it suck hearing that? You betcha. Is it part of the reality of working for an agency? Absolutely.
Our team was tasked with continuing our work through the end of August, while starting transitions as early as April. Our leadership is doing everything in their power to win new business for us in the future. Of course, no guarantees in this situation about our future with the agency. It is clear that our leadership did not see this coming and are doing everything they can to keep us.
Wait, so what about the job search?
Yes, the agency very much wants to keep us BUT that doesn’t mean they will. Come October I absolutely could find that I have no continued role and join the ranks of the unemployed.
Fun Fact: even though we moved to Colorado, I still have a house in Texas with a mortgage. I’d very much like to keep paying that mortgage. To do that, I need an income.
So here we are, dear nerds, your Head Nerd gainfully employed but in an employment limbo. The prudent thing to do is apply for jobs, which I am. However, everything may pan out–I keep my job and nothing changes. Until then, we stress and we selectively apply for jobs.
What do you mean by “selectively apply”?
Great question! Presently, I’m not “rage applying” to anything I think I could maybe kinda sort of qualify to do. Instead, I’m looking for roles solidly within my skill sets and background that would fit within a career path. Also factoring into the equation is remote/hybrid/on site and the location of the job. There are cities I simply have no interest in relocating to at this time. Ultimately, Colorado and Texas jobs are preferable, with a few other locations my Nerd Partner 4 Life (NP4L) and I agreed we wouldn’t mind calling home. Remote working is of course the dream, as I’m currently 4 years into remote work and absolutely love my commute.
Since learning of our situation, I have applied to 16 jobs in total ranging from consumer packaged goods companies to professional sports teams, tech to hospitality companies, all focused on roles related to loyalty, partnerships, and related marketing. These roles include jobs I’ve done in the past, directly related my current role, and opportunities I know I could rock.
Let’s talk the job search numbers
Of the 16 jobs I’ve applied to:
- 1 – progressed to a virtual screen with talent acquisition, a virtual interview with the hiring manager, and then a canned rejection email from the same talent acquisition team member that included grammatical errors
- My favorite part was them touting their company culture where they value their people…unless you’re an applicant
- 1 – progressed to a recorded screen and then silence
- A “recorded screen” is what I’m calling the process of having you record your answers to 5-7 questions without talking to anyone and then them basing their hiring off your answers
- I cannot overstate how much I hate this process since it puts all the work on the applicant and it’s awkward as hell
- 1 – started calling me within an hour of applying, leaving voicemails, emailing me, and messaging me on LinkedIn while I was busy on a call for my current job; when I worked to schedule a time to speak the next day, no call came
- Feels a little sus, right?
- 5 – emailed me telling me I’m not what they are looking for and wishing me the best in my job search
- 8 – radio silence
- There’s an absolute lack of courtesy to applicants; you have the tools to send a canned rejection and you don’t, leaving people to wonder and (god forbid) hope
- That’s shitty
What’s the point of this post?
Partly, I really wanted to get off my chest the frustration I have on this small scale job search. For those out there looking for a job because they are unemployed or in a heinous work environment, these results add an undue extra level of stress. Between the silence and the suspicious job postings, the interviews and then the impersonal rejections, who wants to deal with this bull? It’s moments like these I wish I had a trust fund or generational wealth or a family business to join.
It’s also the realization that jobs out there are ridiculous. Hybrid Senior Manager roles in NYC paying $70-90K? Excuse me? In this economy? Employers thinking “free lunch!” and “pool tables in the break room” are what’s going to motivate ANY generation to want to work for them? Getting “your birthday off!” as a holiday because they value their people. Greeeaaaaat.
Give me an employer that pays me enough money to pay my rent, dine out occasionally, keep my TCU season tickets, take my cat to the vet when needed, cover when I need to go to the dentist and optometrist, and give me time to take off when I want and need a break. I’m not asking for unlimited PTO (though a study showed that employees with unlimited PTO took less days on average than those with fixed PTO amounts.) I’m just want a level of existence that doesn’t make me angry with everything and everyone around me.
One final thing
I need to note that I recognize my massive amount of privilege in this post. Boohoo my job search is hard when I may not actually lose my job. You’re right. In that sense, I’m an asshole.
BUT, it doesn’t negate any of the experiences that are absolutely happening to other people in far worse situations. If it’s happening to me on this small scale, it’s happening at epic scales to those grinding day in and out to find a job. This is why when anyone I know reaches out about an open role at my employer, I always tell them to send me their resume. I personally email the talent acquisition team about them and ask if there’s anything I can share about the applicant to help them in their decision. We’ve got to help each other and show basic empathy. Oh, and send those damn rejection emails to not leave people hanging.
Cheers,
Head Nerd