A and I ate fish balls near my house. It was a memorable snack, and it was cheap!
I am actively job hunting at the moment. It is not easy, and I have received rejections for most of my applications. I am not the easiest person to be with these days, as I am usually on my phone applying for jobs or reading to calm myself down after receiving a rejection email.
Due to the demands of an increasingly digital workforce, I was forced to have interviews via phone or even chat. It was difficult to describe my experiences through these mediums. It was impersonal, and it was not possible for interviewers to see my gestures. As a result, I got rejected for asking “too many questions”, being “too inquisitive”, and “sounding too authoritative” on the phone. These were exact words from interviews I have spoken to.
To overcome the anxiety that comes with jobhunting, I have resorted to asking my family and closest friends for feedback. I realized that yes, I do sound authoritative so I have learned to tone down my speech and modulate my voice. I have also been told that in recent HR training, questions from applicants are sometimes unwelcome because HR professionals these days are busy with countless recruitment interviews. They cannot even hold it in the office due to budget constraints. As a naturally inquisitive person, this is a pain to deal with. I am curious about the company culture, which is challenging to decipher if I am only speaking to a recruiter, or worse, being interviewed via chat. After many rejections, I have crowdsourced for job leads. I am thankful that I have friends who have sent links to openings and even possible career options which I have previously not considered. Hopefully, I will get callbacks this week, as I need the resources to survive the upcoming holiday season.
To live without an income is not easy, but I am getting by with the help of motivational podcasts, books, and my loved ones. I have been experiencing insomnia because all of the financial challenges have been haunting me at night. My family has raised me to live within my means, and I live mostly on my meager savings. My savings account is close to empty, as I have spent almost all of my allocated funds for my supposedly brief unemployment. It has been three months. I have acne due to sleepless nights worrying about the next few weeks.
I need a job. I hope I can be interviewed in person soon. I believe in myself, and I will get through this.
If you are also struggling like me with the unemployment game, remember to NEVER GIVE UP. There is a bright future ahead. Just live within your means. Try looking for meaningful ways to spend time with loved ones, just like the fish balls date I had with A yesterday. It was a cheap date, but the food was delicious and I was with the one I love the most. Even in my joblessness, I am loved. Find the silver lining and treasure what you have.
Keep on fighting!
***Comments are welcome at speakoutsam@gmail.com***