Job Searching in 2024

Yeah, things have been pretty crazy ever since I got back from India. My job had a rocky transition into new management that forced me out, my living situation was in flux, I was dealing with some pretty intense after effects from the car crash (check out my previous post for more details), and I got diagnosed with a rare hearing disorder. A lot of things to unpack, but let's talk about my job situation first!

I'm happy to say that I left my previous job pretty quickly and transferred the hours to my freelance clients. There was enough work to keep me afloat for a couple months, and during that time I dusted off my resume and started applying. Here are the numbers.

I started my search on 1/30/24. I ended it on 4/20/24.

I applied for 71 jobs.

I heard back from 28 jobs. This was with me emailing, calling, and messaging.

Of these 28 jobs, I was rejected from 18. I really appreciated the courtesy of letting me know I was no longer being considered.

Of the 10 remaining positions, three told me to apply on their website after I had applied on an external website like Indeed or LinkedIn. Another told me to wait. I'm still waiting.

The 6 remaining positions offered me interviews. I took every interview.

One offered me another interview. I declined; after the first interview I could tell it wouldn't be a good fit for my interests and needs.

One offered me the job, but I had to pay money at the interview for a certification, and it was solely commission-based. I declined; it didn't seem like a good fit.

One told me I seemed like a perfect fit, told me they'd reach out in a week, and then never reached out again. I emailed and called, and eventually called to let them know I was no longer interested.

One just reached out for an interview that I am about to take.

One offered me the job, then changed the description, then the hours, and finally brought me in for a 2 hr meeting to inform me they no longer had the funding for the position. If I volunteered, maybe I could secure the position at a later date. I declined.

One offered me the job, and it seemed like a good fit. I took it.

Of the 71 jobs, I heard nothing from 43. Three months of sitting around, waiting, calling, emailing, asking for updates.

Some takeaways:

• For in-person jobs, Indeed was my best friend. LinkedIn rarely tells you if a job has been taken down; you have to hunt through each application to see status and if they are still accepting applications. You'll also find companies taking down listings just to repost them a day later. It's infuriating and exhausting. Indeed shows job statuses clearly, and gives you an option to reach out via the app.

• Above all else, however, applying through the site is important. When applying, make sure you look at the company's website to see if they have an internal application process. Even if they're posting on job platforms, they will always look internally first.

• Keep calling. Keep emailing. Yes, it's exhausting, but at least you have a better shot of finding out where you stand. The final job I got was a result of my two calls, a voicemail, my response call, a phone interview, and an in-person interview. The associate taking my calls knew my name and had it written down for the recruiter.

• Remote jobs are horrifying, and way too many people will apply. If you're looking for "lazy girl jobs" online, be careful of those that will hire anyone. They have awful pay and you'll have to work hours to make the amount of money you're looking for, especially if you're in an English field like AI training, data entry, transcription, or typing. Make sure the company has a digital footprint -- they may be scammers looking for personal info on your resume to use against you (and sell!).

In searching for a job, I learned my largest lesson -- stay loyal only to yourself. If you can help it, only quit when you have another landing point. I was lucky with my freelance. No matter how friendly employers may seem, no matter how personable the environment, no matter how much "in it together" rhetoric they push, they are not looking out for you. You need to take care of yourself and measure everything against a healthy dose of skepticism. Talk over any offer with some trusted peers. Any offer I received went straight to my close friends, partner, and family so I could hear their thoughts. Any company that pushed for an immediate answer raised red flags.

All in all, this was pretty harrowing. Hopefully these types will help you when you're in a similar boat like me -- a young adult searching for entry-level jobs that will support rent, mental health, and possible career steps. Have more questions or comments? Let me know in the comment section below! Thanks for reading :)