Last Updated on May 30, 2023 by ThoughtsStained
Oh goodness, get prepared for both a celebratory and a spicy post, friends! Your girl has some OPINIONS she needs to get off her chest. As many of you know, I’ve been job searching for the past seven months. I am so excited that I finally found a new job! Thus, escaping my toxic job!
But, going through all of this has left me with a lot of Thoughts™. So, I wanted to dive into some of those, both to process for myself and to give some insight to others who might be in the same boat.
Spoiler alert: job searching right now is absolutely awful.
First: Celebration!
I’d be remiss to not celebrate the new job, before reflecting on the journey it took me to get here. (Honesty, I think Frodo had an easier time taking the One Ring to Mordor.) As I’ve written about before, my day job has grown increasingly toxic, to the point where I was in a massive depression.
I got a new job at the same university, but the new team (and, more importantly, supervisor) seem absolutely wonderful. I start at the end of June and I am so excited about it. Even more excited I’m allowed to use up my remaining vacation to take three weeks off in-between jobs.
Job Searching Journey
I started job searching in true earnest in December. Perhaps not the best move, considering things were winding down for the holidays. But, after the worst semester I’d ever had, I needed out. Perhaps it was my naivety, but I was excited about the idea of finding a new job over the holidays, starting off 2023 fresh.
*cries in capitalist hellscape*
For me, the goals were simple:
- Work fully remote
- Earn more than my current job (45K, pre-tax)
- Find a non-toxic environment
In all, I applied to over 200 jobs. Almost all of them included a personalized cover letter. It was hours upon hours of work. I targeted two main sectors: academia, where my 8+ years of professional experience stems and publishing/editorial work.
Out of those 200 jobs, I had:
- Roughly 50 jobs send a rejection notice
- Over 100 jobs send no update or resolution at all
- 6 that were initially interested, but then chose not to interview
- 3 informational interviews
- Ironically, NONE of these led to an actual interview, even for a job where I was personally recommended
- 4 interviews
Throughout it all, I also consistently heard a few different refrains. Most loudly was on TikTok, where other job seekers like me struggled to get noticed, interviewed or receive certain resolution for their applications, their searches tallying into the 100+ applications, too. Most annoyingly were those who claimed “no one wants to work anymore,” which I can’t for the life of me take seriously.
Regardless, it was one of the most disheartening experiences I’ve ever had.
Some Conclusions
There are a few conclusions I’ve come to, after a harrowing 7 months:
- Employers are not required to list things accurately, if they list them at all. The amount of jobs I applied to and then found out after the fact they were ‘remote with one day in person” was infuriating. Or how many refused to list pay, period. Many who did, do so by including a scale in a posting that, in the application materials, was well below the scale advertised.
- Everyone is underpaid. I was barely making a living wage at my current job (45K). My new job, I’m actually taking a pay cut (41K).* Yet almost every job I applied to was either a) asking for ridiculous levels of education and experience to justify a living wage; b) requiring overworking to an nth degree (with pay ranges from livable to abysmal); or c) offering pay that, when I started to get desperate and consider fully in-person jobs, nowhere near matched the cost of living. Let alone moving expenses.
- Entry level is a scam. Say it with me, employers: entry 👏🏻 level 👏🏻 cannot 👏🏻 require 👏🏻 experience! And yet!
- It’s still a popularity contest. What was most enlightening to me, though, was how little I was selected for interviews. All the interviews I received came when I started applying for lateral positions at my current university. Every one of them said they liked my application because I already worked there and “knew the culture,” even though it was always completely different departments. I didn’t get a single bite from a different employer. Despite being two months away from a completed Masters. Despite almost a decade working full-time. The fact I have won awards related to the jobs I was applying to and didn’t get a rejection notice, half the time?
Y’all, I can say this with confidence: it’s bullshit, right now. Systematically, we are setting up people to fail. From requiring education that puts you in debt before you can earn money (and now education is no longer enough to guarantee a paycheck); to refusing to pay living wages to reverting back to older, ableist practices, like forcing in-person work for remote-capable positions.
It all sucks.
*If that fact alone doesn’t speak to the volumes of toxicity I’m trying to escape, I don’t know what else would.
Changes I Want to See
Going through all that and landing a new job feels like a miracle. Yet it was a miracle where I had to compromise on all three items I initially set out in search for. So while I’m excited, I’m also disappointed.
Whenever I job search next, I hope I see the following changes:
- Pay transparency, required for every posting, by law.
- Penalties to employers who misadvertise.
- A cultural shift from “silent rejections” to guaranteeing a response in a timely manner.
- NOT HAVING APPLICATIONS THAT ASK YOU TO REGRUTITATE YOUR RESUME. For fucks’ sake.
- More flexible workplaces, spaces and relationship with work. For example: remote options, more time off, flexible working hours, less working days.
- Healthcare provided outside of the workforce.
Yes, I realized I’m asking for a more socialist approach, with universal healthcare, a living wage, a post-capitalist society and work life balance. So sue me.
But, as a working professional full-time since 2016 and having worked at least a part-time job since I was 14, I mean this with my full chest: capitalism is a hellish model to form your society off of. It has left me traumatized, asking to sacrifice my mental and physical health. I have burned out, had dreams crushed, gone into debt and lost opportunities because of it.
I will never, ever, support a society based off capitalism.
In Sum
Basically, I wouldn’t wish job searching on anyone right now. It’s a hellscape. If you are job searching right now, my heart goes out to you. I hope you find something that doesn’t ask for compromise and ticks all your boxes.
Also, if you’re a creative like me, you might be noticing some similarities with being in the query trenches, compared to the job market. Trust me, it was just as depressing for me to realize, too. 💀
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I started job searching around November and had a pretty similar experience. I did 3 interviews for a job that wanted to pay $40k, which was a much lower salary than I need, and it was basically a 4 month process only for them to reject me. I ended up just getting rehired by a job I previously worked at. Because, yeah, I was not getting a lot of interviews at all. In spite of this supposedly robust job market.
Oh yeah I didn’t even get into the really intense interview asks and processes that were just so bloody unnecessary. I’m so sorry you’ve dealt with that, too. I’m not sure if it will get better (or how, without some systemic changes) but gods I hope so.
I was honestly hoping I would get this one job because everyone else would drop out after a 4-month process! I think it really was between me and one other person, and the other person had the exact same job title before so . . . To be fair, the job I ultimately took pays SIGNIFICANTLY more, so I am not sad on that front, but I thought a months-long process with multiple interviews (and groups! like the whole department interviewed me!) for an entry-level job was a bit excessive. And really made me question how much they even needed to fill the role, honestly.
SUCH a good point!! I’ve had that, too, with multiple rounds of interviews, only to not be selected, even despite being a strong candidate.
I’m glad you got better pay, but I’m sorry your time was wasted in that way!
I understand all these feelings. I was on a long job hunt last year for months. I remember hearing good things from interviews never to hear back from the company again. It’s definitely not easy these days. I’m so happy to hear you got a new job at the same place with a new team. Hope this is less stressful than the other position.
Ugh, I definitely hate how many of us have felt this. I hope you’ve been able to find something better, too, Regina! And thank you so much for your kind words!
This doesn’t surprise me at all. I’ve had very similar experiences (though I can’t say I’ve ever had a job express interest and then not interview me–that one is new for sure!). There was something satisfying, though, about seeing employers complain about candidates ghosting them these past few years. Employers have been ghosting candidates for ages! A lot of employers must have the ability to auto-generate a bunch of form rejections and they can’t even bother? But I do think that those are perhaps the types of companies I wouldn’t want to work for, if that’s how they treat people.
I’ve also seen a lot of online complaints about jobs advertising WFH when it isn’t true, and, of course, the lack of pay transparency is a huge issue. As are the low wages. It feels like many jobs haven’t increased their salaries in years, but the cost of living has gone up in the meantime. I’d like to think things will change, but I don’t think they will unless employers somehow are legally required to behave differently.
It was a new experience for me, too! Oh yeah, I hope more and more employees are demanding more from employers. I had a job I was really excited about who delayed interviewing because they “still had to figure out their search committee,” which just proved I wouldn’t want to work for them, if they can’t even be organized for a job they are searching for. It’s bananas.
Oh yes, it’s been so frustrating with the WFH that aren’t actually WFH. I hate it. I agree with all of this and appreciate the affirmations, Krysta!
Well…I don’t see how hard a search committee could be. It usually means HR and your future direct supervisor. Maybe one or two other people who have a stake in the hire. Honestly, my best interview experiences had the least people involved. I don’t understand companies that make you meet with everyone in the building. Is some person from a different department I will seldom interact with actually going to be the reason they do or do not hire me? So, yeah, if they can’t figure out what should be a normal part of the hiring practice, I’d be a little worried.
I think I mentioned the Ask a Manager blog before, but there are a lot of comments there from people complaining about fake WFH listings. Also some interesting discussions on how the U.S. states that legally require the pay to be posted in job listings are circumventing it by doing things like posting overly broad ranges and such.
I’m glad you found something better! I went through a similar situation a year back. I applied for so many jobs I stopped counting, and only had a handful of interviews. In the end, I wasn’t hired for anything, and have had to keep my old job. I don’t hate it, at least. But it seems like a dead-end and that I’ve just overstayed my welcome. I’m still looking, but not intensively. It just… didn’t seem productive, you know?
I’ve heard most places use AI to sort their resumés which I realize is easier, though it lacks the personal touch. And it undervalues your work. I didn’t have a single interview from a place that used AI. I don’t understand how everyone is so desperate to hire, and yet so incredibly picky—it’s mind-boggling.
I’ve no idea how people are meant to navigate this culture. But I’m really glad you managed to find something, and I really hope it turns out to be much better! One thing about Frodo though—um, how many fingers do you have left?
Thank you so much, Will! I am so sorry you’ve also had to deal with that. I hate how many people I’ve encountered who are basically like, “Oh yeah, this connection personally.” But I definitely feel that. And I hope you’re able to find something more fulfilling!
Yeah, I was wondering how much of it was related to AI or other tech that took away the human element. But you’re right: the amount of jobs that were listed as “urgently hiring” that I never heard back from is fucking wild.
HAHAHA, I literally laughed out loud. All ten so far, so maybe I should give Frodo more credit. 😂
Congrats on the new job!! ARRRRRR!
x The Captain
THANK YOU, Captain! 🖤
Congratulations on the new position! Escaping a toxic work environment is so important. The pay transparency issue is so frustrating — my state requires it, but I know a lot still don’t. And as someone who works in HR, I know the importance of responding to applicants, even if they’re not being considered further for a position. Silent rejections are just rude — and really damage an employer’s reputation! Completely agree on the healthcare issue. People shouldn’t be stuck in awful work situations because they’re dependent on employer-provided health insurance. In any case… wishing you all the best with the new job!
Thank you so much, Lisa! And I really appreciate hearing that you agree that it’s rude and, I’d argue, unprofessional, to say if we don’t respond, it’s a no (which publishing does so often).
And yes, healthcare was the most stressful thing, as there were times when I thought about quitting entirely, but with a chronic physical disability, couldn’t risk losing the healthcare. 🙄
Congratulations on the new role, I am so happy that you were able to find something in this economy, even though you had to make concessions. The job market is horrible right now and I think a lot of those job postings aren’t real – “ghost jobs” are a thing and they definitely shouldn’t be. With the amount of work it takes to submit an application, the salary should truly be included so you know if it is worth your time. It’s required in my state but even then, it’s usually just the pay band and not their budgeted salary.
I hope you’re enjoying your break between roles and are recharging your soul.
Thank you so much, Kal! RIGHT? I have heard so many horror stories about the job market (after experiencing some myself) and just the fact that “ghost jobs” are okay and allowed? Like, fuck off with that noise.
Congrats on your new role! I’ve been searching since my company first announced they were moving and finalized the location (which is an hour! and then some away! with traffic!) and it has been OH SO VERY DEMORALIZING especially since I also graduated RIGHT at the beginning of lockdown (and we won’t even get into how 95% of the doors were closed for me from the very beginning) – I think at some point I was going 200-300+ when I was getting heavily into it and then just stopped because yeah… capitalistic hellscape 🙁
Entry level requiring experience is such a HUGE pet peeve for me because it just locks the doors for so many people – which is just the surface level and not even going into the nitty gritty. The wildest one I saw once was 7 years (!!!) experience with a masters – just say you want to pay pennies for a unicorn and go, lol.
Thank you so much, Sophia!! UGH, I am so sorry you’re in the job searching sphere right now (and I don’t blame you because that commute sounds awful and absolutely not worth it).
Right!?! Or just like, I wish they’d just be honest and say, “We want to exploit you and take advantage of you because we’re trash” instead of being like, “We’re a family and we’ll buy you pizza sometime when we noticed we’ve burned you out, isn’t that enough for you!?!”
Anyway, I hope you find something that appreciates you, deserves you and PAYS you.