Five months, 56 job applications: job hunting at 50
For the last five months, I tried to find a job. I had been working as a freelancer for most of the year, but was finding the inconsistency wasn’t working for me (I live in the Bay Area and have a mortgage.) I set up job alerts, visited Indeed and LinkedIn on a regular basis (loved that sort by the last 24 hours option), and had my inbox flooded with job search results and updates several times a day.
I applied to 56 specific job openings.
As a communications professional since 2004, I have seen and done it all. But, for this job search, I mostly focused on copywriter positions. I wanted to narrow my scope a little (but still stay in my sphere), and I knew I’d enjoy being focused on writing for my new position. I was a Marketing Writer at UCSF back in 2007, but over the years, I have held job titles such as Associate Director of Web Communications, Senior Digital Editor, and Director of Marketing and Communication. I have mostly worked in the education and non-profit worlds, had a nice stint working for a luxury real estate brokerage, and had some recent experience writing for a real estate tech company as a freelance writer.
Writing and editing has been part of my job functions since 2004. I have written/edited copy for catalogs, guides, websites, social media, products, marketing and advertising campaigns, blogs, paid social campaigns, newsletters, event programs, real estate listings, articles for local papers (as a ghostwriter for an executive), and on and on. If it required words, I wrote some.
I applied for various positions over these five months: including: copywriter, content marketer, content writer, senior writer, digital writer, social media specialist, marketing writer, staff writer, website content manager, product marketer, and a few marketing/communications positions.
Some things that happened to me along the way:
Had a great call with a hiring manager, sounded like everything was a go for next steps (I had very, very relevant experience), never heard from him again, saw the job reposted a month later and then reposted again a few months later.
Had a great call with a recruiter and then a nice video interview with a hiring manager, was told I was going to be sent a writing test (step 2), wasn’t sent the test, followed up with both people and was ignored/ghosted.
Had a video call with a friend of a friend (who owns a firm), was told it was going to be a chat about the company but it ended up being a full-blown interview by three people, thought it went okay, never heard from them again.
I prepared my cover letter and resume for a job I saw posted on a website. When I went to actually apply, the link did not work. I emailed the organization, and then was told that the job must have expired, sorry.
Had seven video or in-person conversations with people from a firm. Yes, I did say seven. Over the course of a month, I talked to potential teammates, the recruiter, the hiring manager, and the hiring manager’s boss. Had great feedback from all, was told a few days after the last interview that they were going with someone who had “a little more relevant experience,” but they’d like to find me a role at the company because they liked me, and said they were going to send me info on a new role coming up. I saw the role on LinkedIn a few days later, applied for the job and let the recruiter know, heard back once from the recruiter with a half-hearted response, contacted the hiring manager from position one, never heard back from anyone again.
Had a phone interview for a “digital copywriting” position at a large retailer. When the recruiter called, she said, “oh that position is in its final stages of interviews” (it was on LinkedIn for a week, and was still up at time of this phone call) so this call was about another writing position that included in-store signage and catalog copy. So, spoke to her about this job position I didn’t apply for, nor had seen a description for, sent her samples she asked for from my online portfolio, was told they were passing on me because they were looking for someone with “retail romance writing” experience. She had said, “if you have any romance writing samples, send them along” during our conversation and I thought maybe I misheard her. (Did I mention I used to write descriptions for adult toys and products for Good Vibrations from 2004-2007.)
This job-hunting journey was a bit soul crushing for me, I’m not going to lie. I was vulnerable, hopeful, and excited to start working. I spent hours reading job descriptions (some companies are seeking “rockstars” and those that “live and breathe” for their work), considering if I had what it took to do the job. A thoughtful cover letter enabled me to imagine the ways I could contribute, and let me start envisioning being in the role. I made lists and notes of my relevant experience and how I felt I was a fit. If companies aren’t open to candidates with varied experience, which may appear in a slightly modified way than listed on the job description, they are passing on people that can, and will, do a great job. If they only want a “rockstar” that has done the same job elsewhere, they may not be bringing in the best candidate, but the easiest candidate. Job seekers, like me, with a diverse and winding career path, not only possess various skills but a capacity to learn and grow. Someone with a wide range of experience can bring in a new energy and new ideas to a job role. If a company is focused on only bringing in those with exact (“relevant”) experience, those that may be trying to break into a new company, or even a new field, won’t even be considered. Their resume is shoved to a bottom of a pile, and that is a shame.
Speaking of shame, the conduct of some companies in regards to contacting (or not contacting) job seekers is shameful. I don’t think anyone expects that someone will contact them regarding every application. However, if you are a recruiter or hiring manager that has actually spoken to a person via the phone or a video chat, and you don’t follow up with them AT ALL, that is a sad comment on your company and how you may treat your employees. When job seekers are left hanging, without closure, it adds insult to injury. A job seeker has shown interest in your company, and you have spoken to that person, do you really think it is appropriate to not close the loop? You hold the power. I know some of you are thinking, “but lawsuits!” and think I mean giving specific feedback about lack of skills or experience or non-desirable personality traits. No, I mean you make contact with a “thanks for applying but we’re moving forward with another candidate” note, or something, ANYTHING, that will allow them to close the book on the position and move on. Checking your email every hour to see if you’ve moved on to round two, have received that writing test, or have received a job offer, just plain sucks. As an older job seeker with varied experience, I was shut out of the process of finding a job in the Bay Area because I didn’t fit in certain boxes. I have been writing for years, but I haven’t worked at a digital marketing agency, nor have I written “romance” copy about chairs. If you are over 50, and are looking for a new job that is not exactly like a job you’ve had before, good luck friends. I’m rooting for you.
One last note. In order to receive just an initial phone call, it seems as though you have to have been referred by someone at the company. So, as the saying goes, it’s who you know, not what you know. It seems true x100 here in the Bay Area right now. I’m all for using your contacts, and I have definitely done it in the past, but when you see a job you really would like and have the skills for, but don’t see on LinkedIn that you know anyone at the company, it feels as though you are just throwing your resume to the wind. So, how does one overcome the disadvantage of not having a personal cheerleader already at the company?
In conclusion, I don’t really have advice, I just have questions and a sense of sadness and defeat. In the past five months, I went through a storm and my boat was tattered and torn. Job seekers, I wish you luck and strong sails.