You Won’t Be Sorry

Another day and another rejection email for a full time position.  Once again I was lucky enough to make it through to the final round of interviews, but that was where I also learned that someone internally who has been doing bits of the job under a different title was up against me.  It wasn’t a huge shock to hear I didn’t get the job, but it was a crushing blow.  Applying for jobs in this day and age can be difficult.

For those who apply to larger companies, just making it through the computer scan utilized by the HR department can be half the battle.  For those who apply to smaller companies, learning that it’s all about who you know can mean the difference between getting an interview or not.  No matter the size of the company, one thing is always the same, getting turned away and told that you’re the perfect asset for any team that might be lucky enough to interview you next is like being told “it’s not you, it’s me” by someone who is breaking up with you.

It may have taken having others point it out to me after my divorce, but I learned then that I am one heck of a catch and I’m refusing to forget that.  I am a hardworking, dedicated professional that would be an amazing asset to any team that is smart enough to realize it.  I may not be the choice that is already in-house and choosing me will most definitely bring in fresh eyes that can only help the team.  Please don’t let that frighten you potential employers.  There are enough years under my belt for me to know, without a doubt, that re-inventing the wheel isn’t the way to be a benefit to any team.  However, there’s no reason that having a new set of eyes look ahead for potholes is a bad tactic.

I will not back down.  I will not give up.  I know where I belong and I’m not stopping until I get there.  I am only one of many others that I know that are facing this repeated problem.  We are turned down for jobs that someone in HR declares we are overly qualified for and many are struggling to make ends meet because someone has decided that we wouldn’t be a good fit.  Trust me when I say that we wouldn’t have applied for the position if we weren’t interested and in some cases also need it, so please don’t cast our applications aside.

Coming from a background that many HR departments struggle to understand, I’ve encountered that company representatives find it almost impossible to figure out what box I belong in.  I’m a star-shaped peg that employers are trying to fit into the square, triangle, and circle holes.  I don’t exactly match perfectly to any of the areas so they cast me aside figuring it is best to move on to someone who better fits the mold.  Potential employees like myself can offer you fresh ideas that are as diverse as we are.  While we all keep foraging ahead in our job search I plead that employers be willing to take a chance every once in a while and I promise you won’t be sorry.