A pessimistic optimist's job search journey

It’s been one month since I started this blog. Guess what? Job still not found 😅.

Last week my family went on a vacation with my parents in law and brothers in law in Bethany beach. We had a great family time, except that my husband was sick for most of the trip. My kids and my PIL had the best time, a lot of pool splashing, sand pizzas (and real ones too), soft-served, caramel popcorn, mini golf, Curious George, etc. I have decided a long time ago that they having good memories is more important than eating healthily & following the kids routines for a week. So as long as Bubbie and Zeyda can watch An & Em – the girls do/follow where ever BZ want to take them.

As for me, I intended to take a break from the job search. At the same time, I can’t. So, with my phone and sometimes my iPad, I scrolled through job posts, emailed, applied. I got some replies, many rejections. I also talked to my PIL about the interviews that I had had – it is very rare for me to open up about this kind of things. I tried as I knew once I talked about it, I will find job searching is something rather normal, instead of something I should feel worried or ashamed of. My father-in-law has worked in big corporates and in startups. He is a high-level / strategic sales person; he works on sales deals that may take years to close. He is very articulate, he can come up with good stories and he gave me solid advices about telling mine in an interview. Yes, it is all about story telling. He also helped me noticing some of my strengths – those that I would have never thought of mentioning in job interviews. But I will now – if I have interviews.

Now I am back in Seattle, continuing what I’ve been doing in the last few months (realizing that I’ve been doing it for few months -_-!). I do feel better now than how I felt before the trip – when I was rejected after 3 rounds of 4 interviews with 6 people; for a position that I really wanted. As usual, I tried to look at the positive side of it:

• the fact that some people (and they are at high level) were interested in my stories, gave me an opportunity to interview – shows that my story is actually interesting.
• these people believe that I can do the job. They think I am capable.
• I had some good rounds of practice for interviews: I know what questions are typically asked and how I should better prepare them.
• At the end I was not selected; probably because one person, who I would have supported if I got the job, didn’t think I would be a good fit. I totally respect the decision. The relationship between an exec and the EA will be a very close one, so of course they have to make sure they will feel completely comfortable working with me.

Sometimes we just need to believe that God has a plan for us. God may just want to give me a chance to practice interviewing, the company may not be the right place for me. I don’t know which company I will end up working; but at every opportunity I do my best and when I look back like I am doing now – I don’t feel regret.

Keep looking for that one person who will give me a chance.