Thanks for the NO
Sorry for the insanely delayed article but life got to me a bit lately as it does. Let’s take a second to laugh at me apologizing to my non existent fan base but manifestation am I right. A few months back I wrote an article about being laid off from my first job out of college. 2 years and 4 promotions later I got the big cut. Though I saw it coming it was still a blow to the heart and more so the ego. This place where I'‘ve put in so many hours and energy into suddenly gone but hey that’s how life goes. From that moment I’ve sent out application after application, revised my resume more times then I can count, and had a lifetimes worth of networking calls or zoom meetings I should say. I felt like I was on the right track but here I am still standing on the unemployment line waiting for my next opportunity.
Security of a job is an amazing but very dangerous thing. From the luxury of going to the doctor because of woot woot…health insurance to the endorphin rush of hitting a big sale. This time off has really opened my eyes to how much work creates our identity. Being that “hey wanna go to lunch at 11:00AM on a Tuesday” friend because oops forgot other people are still employed has been amazing but so depressing. I’m someone that wants to do the best they can at all times and gets pushed down by anxiety when that doesn’t happen. I’m the “yeah I can help you with that no problem” person of the office so…why am I still not in one. No matter how many revisions or networking I’ve done it’s still not working. What’s even worse is not being told why.
Now don’t get me wrong I’ve had a good amount of second round interviews and we really think you’d be a good candidates. But with every yes that I get there’s about 10 no’s that follow. It’s so easy to lose confidence and motivation after every no hits you straight in the chest. There’s only so many “ehh it’s fine didn’t really want to work there anyways” a person can say. Everyday is a battle of remembering I’m one of millions going through this and that opportunities show themselves in the timing that they should.
Now let me write something that actually has the title make sense. Though I have gotten my fair share of No’s, the silence I’ve received is what’s more concerning to me. The applications sent months ago that have you waiting in the wind thinking maybe today they’ll hit me back. The interviews that went oh so well but fall into the abyss once the phone call ends. Because of the shocking amount of emptiness that fills job hunting. I am so thankful for every no that I get. For a company showing me that they actually took the time to look. That they actually recognize that it’s not just the behavior of the applicant that shines bright but of the company 10 fold.
Thank you for every no that I’ve received and soft rejection sent my way. No matter how down you get and trust me I know how easy it is to fall into that hole. Keep at the forefront of your mind that there is a reason for it. The right opportunity will come you just have to allow it the space to do so. That next opportunity might not be exactly what you thought i’d look like but it will be exactly what you need. Just remember that with the 10 no’s you get that 1 yes will follow. Life is about your perspective so keep your head up and be thankful for that no.