I feel every word of this. It’s why I write books, have a Substack, write on Medium and do some freelance SEO on the side: Nobody will hire me! I was the editor of a daily newspaper, I did copywriting and digital advertising, can write and direct video scripts, etc. My skills are good. Yet I was passed over for every job.
I gave up after doing all the things I was told I needed to do. Applying for jobs is time-consuming and my efforts are better spent writing on my own. I am lucky to have health insurance through my husband and to be ok with living a very simple life with few frills. My house is nearly paid off, thank goodness.
Nothing I do provides a living on its own. Each thing together adds a bit.
I'm sorry to read what you have been experiencing (you're WAY talented......you deserve so much better!).....but for what it's worth, know that you aren't alone. I've been experiencing the same, but in what I do for work. I don't think many of the jobs out there are "real." And I don't think many recruiters know how to screen candidates properly. I wonder if a lot of the problem comes down to an increase in fraud and extreme understaffing with at times, the wrong people in the wrong roles.
Fraud. If you do a search on fraud and the DOJ - so many cases come up. I have talked to my banker about fraud and it's rampant. I write this because it points to your line about the wrong people getting rewarded. I don't think it's a coincidence that the rise of Trump also caused a rise in fraud and nonsense. Some are rising in leadership positions who may not belong there. And they don't want people who know what they are doing working with them (or people who are ethical on their team) because then their gig is up. So many factors here....even including some of the issues around AI and ethics (pricing to creative access, etc.).
Extreme understaffing and the wrong people in the wrong roles. This is already starting to nibble at our bottoms in half-baked digital experiences that aren't fully tested. Employees are tired and spread too thin. Some are in the wrong job and in over their heads. Mistakes are made. Sometimes, a leader knows what's needed but sometimes the leader doesn't even know where to start. Or who to ask. It's a mess. Our chipper "you can do anything" thinking is literally hurting us - putting people in jobs where they don't belong....and don't know how to hire to make their lives better. And the ones who do know....they don't have budget.
I am with you. I'm upset, because I work really hard to make things work. I get told the same bullshit that you do. It's a shame because you and I are good writers. I feel like things will never change and I just have to get used to it and then after I get out of the slump I fight again. I had some people unsubscribe after writing about trafficking, I guess they don't like the cruel reality of some of us. I'm sorry it's so hard.
I'm so sorry to hear this ongoing struggle for you as I agree with Mary, you deserve so much better. Not to take away from your very current situation, I will share I had a similar experience with so many walls, disappointments and out right misogyny I'm 70 so it was a lot. I don't have a magic answer on what I did to get past it. I did a lot, and I will be honest, I am still hitting a wall or two. I appreciate you and read every day. I appreciate and honor your rawness, and I offer a cyber hug...
Ossiana, I’m right there with you. I’ve done all the right things and done everything within my power to better myself, all for naught. I’m stuck in part time work that doesn’t provide benefits or a way to get out from under my student loan burden. No one will hire me for full time work. I never make it past the initial round of interviews. It truly is not just you, and you are not alone in this. The job market is just plain horrid, and many intelligent, competent people like you and me are suffering terribly for it. Solidarity!
I know it just sounds like a platitude, but things will get better. Where I live, there are help wanted signs everywhere. It might not be a job you want, but it's income. Maybe you just need a break from what you are doing for a month or two.
I'm so sorry. I went through something similar a while back. I wound up working for 3 months on a head boat, teaching people how to fish. It was WAY outside my wheelhouse, but the most fun I've ever had on a job. I thought outside the box. It helped.
I feel every word of this. It’s why I write books, have a Substack, write on Medium and do some freelance SEO on the side: Nobody will hire me! I was the editor of a daily newspaper, I did copywriting and digital advertising, can write and direct video scripts, etc. My skills are good. Yet I was passed over for every job.
I gave up after doing all the things I was told I needed to do. Applying for jobs is time-consuming and my efforts are better spent writing on my own. I am lucky to have health insurance through my husband and to be ok with living a very simple life with few frills. My house is nearly paid off, thank goodness.
Nothing I do provides a living on its own. Each thing together adds a bit.
I wish I had an answer.
I'm sorry to read what you have been experiencing (you're WAY talented......you deserve so much better!).....but for what it's worth, know that you aren't alone. I've been experiencing the same, but in what I do for work. I don't think many of the jobs out there are "real." And I don't think many recruiters know how to screen candidates properly. I wonder if a lot of the problem comes down to an increase in fraud and extreme understaffing with at times, the wrong people in the wrong roles.
Fraud. If you do a search on fraud and the DOJ - so many cases come up. I have talked to my banker about fraud and it's rampant. I write this because it points to your line about the wrong people getting rewarded. I don't think it's a coincidence that the rise of Trump also caused a rise in fraud and nonsense. Some are rising in leadership positions who may not belong there. And they don't want people who know what they are doing working with them (or people who are ethical on their team) because then their gig is up. So many factors here....even including some of the issues around AI and ethics (pricing to creative access, etc.).
Extreme understaffing and the wrong people in the wrong roles. This is already starting to nibble at our bottoms in half-baked digital experiences that aren't fully tested. Employees are tired and spread too thin. Some are in the wrong job and in over their heads. Mistakes are made. Sometimes, a leader knows what's needed but sometimes the leader doesn't even know where to start. Or who to ask. It's a mess. Our chipper "you can do anything" thinking is literally hurting us - putting people in jobs where they don't belong....and don't know how to hire to make their lives better. And the ones who do know....they don't have budget.
Enshittification eats away at every good thing. Look around. How to monetize for those at the too and shed the people who are needed to keep it good.
It will happen to substack too.
I am with you. I'm upset, because I work really hard to make things work. I get told the same bullshit that you do. It's a shame because you and I are good writers. I feel like things will never change and I just have to get used to it and then after I get out of the slump I fight again. I had some people unsubscribe after writing about trafficking, I guess they don't like the cruel reality of some of us. I'm sorry it's so hard.
I'm so sorry to hear this ongoing struggle for you as I agree with Mary, you deserve so much better. Not to take away from your very current situation, I will share I had a similar experience with so many walls, disappointments and out right misogyny I'm 70 so it was a lot. I don't have a magic answer on what I did to get past it. I did a lot, and I will be honest, I am still hitting a wall or two. I appreciate you and read every day. I appreciate and honor your rawness, and I offer a cyber hug...
Ossiana, I’m right there with you. I’ve done all the right things and done everything within my power to better myself, all for naught. I’m stuck in part time work that doesn’t provide benefits or a way to get out from under my student loan burden. No one will hire me for full time work. I never make it past the initial round of interviews. It truly is not just you, and you are not alone in this. The job market is just plain horrid, and many intelligent, competent people like you and me are suffering terribly for it. Solidarity!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11347563
I think this is a theory to account for the failure of capitalism and self improvement culture and their interrelation
I know it just sounds like a platitude, but things will get better. Where I live, there are help wanted signs everywhere. It might not be a job you want, but it's income. Maybe you just need a break from what you are doing for a month or two.
I've been applying to minimum wage jobs. Not one hired me. Not even the hardware store
I'm so sorry. I went through something similar a while back. I wound up working for 3 months on a head boat, teaching people how to fish. It was WAY outside my wheelhouse, but the most fun I've ever had on a job. I thought outside the box. It helped.