The Struggle is Real: a Love Letter to My Fellow Job Seekers

April 1, 2020. I knew it was coming. I had been told, reminded and then the date came. The end of my over 10 years in a Corporate Communications career at a healthcare company that I had really loved working at. In the times of so much change in corporations, the experience I, and many others, went through as we witnessed our small but mighty business get taken over and integrated into a larger more well known corporation was something we had heard about for years.

When the final decision was made, our company was not only disbanded, but a large majority of the employees lost their jobs. Some had their positions eliminated. Others had family or other responsibilities keeping them in Connecticut without the luxury of being able to relocate to another state to continue employment with the company.

I was one of those whose position was eliminated. I was grateful to be given more notice to prepare, and was not handed a box to fill my desk belongings and get walked out the same day I was told of my impending job loss; however it still felt like a punch in the gut. And this was happening in the end of 2019, right before 2020 even began. It was a time when none of us had any idea what would be in store for us as the page turned from one year to the next.

As with most of the other workers across the globe, those of us left in the office in early 2020  were told to work from home full time in the middle of March and then not to return to our offices at all. With the majority of us losing our jobs on April 1 there was no way to say “goodbye” to the co-workers that many of us had been working alongside for over a decade or more. The pandemic brought finality to this job loss that was even more painful than just walking out the doors of a building and never returning.

All this being said, I had hope. I had begun to think of this change as a blessing, a fresh start. The ability to begin again in a new industry or perhaps even a new role. I took to the challenge with gusto. I updated my LinkedIn profile. I met with a career counselor. I signed up for several classes that were going to help me stand out when redoing my resume or cover letter and preparing for interview questions. I had a notebook (yes, I’m old school like that) and I kept a log of the notes I took during these sessions with my counselor (who I absolutely adored by the way and am ever grateful to have been connected to her) and during the courses that I took.

But ever the overachiever, I also enrolled in courses that were not part of my “separation program” that had been given to us by my now former employer. I wanted to build skills and add to my “career tool kit.” I knew that looking at the job descriptions out there companies were looking for me to be more of a jack-of-all-trades employee vs. an expert in one area. Not only was I to be a Communications Manager or Specialist who could write, but I had to be a web designer, graphic designer, video producer, an HTML code expert, a Social Media savant, and on and on.

I do understand that perhaps a company doesn’t need you to know ALL of these skills, but it became clear to me that I needed to “up” my game and really be more proficient in areas that I may not have had exposure to in my past roles. I knew that it was time to look at what skills I had gained over my last role’s experience and that might be lacking for me to get a little stronger with.

As a lifelong learner I was up for the challenge. I wanted to know how to do more and enhance my skill set. I enrolled in a program for Social Media Marketing through an online school and over the course of six months I completed five courses on all of the major aspects of social media. I took courses on Pinterest, Instagram and taught myself how to use the program Canva.

I built myself a website so I could showcase my online portfolio of writing. I started a Blog where I write about small businesses, wineries and my own experiences during my job search. As someone who gives talks on Connecticut wineries, I built a brand around these presentations and have grown a following on Instagram as this brand where I share not only the wineries but also many local and small businesses in Connecticut and New England.

I joined an organization in February called the New England Coastal Creative and being a part of this group has expanded my network exponentially. I have learned so much from all those individuals and small businesses I’ve been connected with and this membership has made such a great difference in my time of full time unemployment.

I’ve not only written for my own blog but I am now writing for a friend’s company’s blog. This opportunity to write would not have come around without the strong network I have been blessed to surround myself with and the initiative I took to build a website to share my written work.

And still, with all that I have done to grow my skills, build my network and keep plugging away in the great search for a full time gig, I’ve interviewed for several roles at various companies and been one of the top candidates and then… heard crickets or finally the rejection email arrives.

It’s disheartening but I am always one who tries to stay positive. I look at a rejection as not the right fit. I’m optimistic that the role I am meant to be in is still out there and I am continuing to persevere.

But it’s hard. I worry about paying bills or running out of money. I worry about what my retirement or financial future will look like in a year or two if things don’t change. I worry that I am getting too old and my skills aren’t relevant or I have too much experience and I’m too expensive for companies to consider. I know I’m not alone in these fears.

However, I credit myself for my ability to remain hopeful and confident that I can change my course at any time. Perhaps I will need to work for myself for awhile. Perhaps I will work several part time gigs to pay my bills and just restructure the way I have worked before. I realize the world is changing, especially the work world. Things are not the same as when I entered the work force years ago.

But, learning to grow, adapt and adjust the way I do things is a great way to create my future. I’m lucky to be able to begin again and shape my career and my road ahead.

For all of you who have been job searching for any amount of time, I hope you know you are not alone. It is a tough time out there, especially for many of us who have been in roles for many years and are beginning the search again. But, there are many resources out there and people willing to help. With technology outlets and being able to stay connected through online channels, there are ways to reach out to others without leaving our homes.

If you want to learn a skill or gain more insights into a career path or role, the one thing I can say with certainty is something my younger colleagues used to say to me all the time, “Just Google it.” And, they are right. Entering a word or two into the Google search bar online can start you on a journey towards so much knowledge.

Never underestimate the power of others’ willingness to help you either. Ask your friends or your friends’ kids for their assistance if you are unsure about a program or how to set up a LinkedIn profile. Use your network to find out who may be an expert at a skill you’d like to gain. I know that if you don’t use it, you lose it. So, try to incorporate 15-30 min a day or perhaps like three times a week to keep the skills you are learning fresh if you are not already using them in a new role.

I believe that I can shape my own destiny. And, even if the image I had in my head of what my future was going to look like isn’t quite forming the way I envisioned, I can take a new picture and create a way of living that works for me.

No matter where you are in your search, please don’t give up. Remember you are not alone and there are many others like you, at all stages in their search, their career journey and their lives. Take it one day at a time and even one hour at a time. Keep exploring all avenues and say “yes” even when it’s something a little bit outside your comfort zone.

I promise you, you won’t regret it.