So…I didn’t get the job last week. From the feedback I received, I was beat out more a broader range of skills and more technical background. Very frustrating but out of my control.

In many ways, that interview was a victory: my first tech company interview! It gave me hope that more interviews like this might happen.

But it does feel a bit like a pyrrhic victory. After 9 months of searching and over 110 applications, that was the first tech company interview. My applications are pretty evenly split between tech and insurance, and I’ve had only one interview in either field. What makes these two fields similar is their abundance in this region, and my lack of industry experience. I’m getting beat out because I don’t have industry experience, but how do you get experience if no one will hire you?

This week, I’m going to try and change my focus. I’m researching the marketing agencies in the area and sending in applications. If my search for marketing jobs has been failing because of applying to industries I have no specific experience in, maybe I’ll have better luck just focusing on marketing.

If nothing else, I’m trying to avoid insanity by doing something different instead of repeating unsuccessful action and hoping for a different result.

On other social media, I’ve been talking about my ongoing job hunt. Not much on here and only in passing on Twitter. Okay, mostly on Facebook.

There are certain schools of thought that say you shouldn’t talk about job hunting.

For some, it will jinx getting interviews or offers. I don’t really believe that. If karma is preventing me from getting interview and job offers, I’m pretty sure it’s for things worse than and unrelated to discussing the job hunt.

Some companies will search social media to see what a person is saying about a company. This is actually a thing. I’m always very careful not to mention specifics about companies I’m applying to. I may mock part of a  job posting if it’s got something bizarre or if the job gets repeatedly posted in a short period of time. But I don’t link to it or mention the company name. And if I’m mocking a posting, I’m probably not applying anyway.

Many people don’t talk about job hunting because they don’t want current colleagues knowing that they want to jump ship. I totally get that. But since I am sans-job since the lay off, that’s not really an issue.

I’m going to keep talking about the job hunt simply because it’s a big part of my life right now. It’s a source of stress and frustration. Talking about it helps me cope. Friends reacting, offering sympathy and offering help makes it suck less. I thank you all for putting up with it.

Also, if I didn’t talk about it, I would probably not use social media as much. It can be tough to only post about happy things. Otherwise all you’ll get is half-baked reflections on games and superheroes. Maybe a bit on cooking or being a dad. If I don’t talk about the bad things too, I’m not really being me.

 

Looking for work is some of the hardest work you will ever have to do. Maybe not physically anymore, but emotionally it can be really tough.

The part of applying for jobs that can take the most out of you is writing cover letters. You know, the letter you write that tells the company how you fit their job description and how excited you are to work for them? You want creative writing samples: just look at cover letters.

You want to find something personal to connect to either the company or their product. You need to let them know how much you want to work for them. You want to work, but it’s really hard to know much about a company from their website, social media and any press they may have.

Sometimes it’s really hard to be excited about a company or their product. How much do you love carpeting and flooring? Did you have a life changing event involving pairing sink and faucet designs? Did you meet your partner while picking a case for your smartphone? “We both reached for the MegaDefensor model. Our hands touched. Our eyes met and we knew. We knew that by both longing for the ultimate in device protection that we also shared a similar worldview…we shared a soul.”

Can’t I just say “You have a job posted requiring X experience. I happen to have that experience and would like to be paid to use said experience. I’m sure I will learn to love your company.”?