I’ve been looking for a new job since the beginning of the year, but so far I’ve not had much luck.
A few weeks ago, I thought that I was really close to landing what seemed to be a perfect job. I jumped through all of the company’s hoops (including a phone screen, a phone interview, and two video interviews with a recruiter, two personality tests, an accounting test, an in-person interview, and a panel interview) and made it to the “final” interview. I was told that a decision would be made the next day, but then… nothing. I sent a “thank you” email, hoping for some sort of response. Still nothing.
After waiting a full week, I finally emailed the recruiter, who told me that he believed “they are planning to move someone else into the… position” but that “there may be another position that is coming open that you may be a great fit for… details on that any time now.”
It’s been over a week since I received this email, and I’m starting to think that it was just a line, like “no need to reapply, we’ll keep your resume on file for future consideration.”
I’m starting to think that searching for a job is a lot like dating. You spend lots of time looking at online profiles until you finally get a bite. You exchange a few emails, phone calls, and then agree to meet in person. You get dressed up, do your hair, makeup and nails. You try to present your best self, sharing your hopes and goals. You have a great discussion. You leave feeling confident that it’s a match, that this may just be the one, only to have them totally ghost on you.
What can you do other than try again?
I had a great phone interview earlier this week, followed by an awesome interview yesterday for a job that would be even more perfect for me than the “perfect” job I missed out on.
So what is the moral of this story? And why did I title this post “The Forest for the Trees ??”? Because I’ve come to accept that the path of our lives is like a winding path through the forest. And even though we may be disappointed by an unexpected turn, or see something that we desire that we cannot reach from our path; even though we cannot see our destination, we must trust that there is an overarching plan, and a force that’s looking out for us, guiding us towards the destination that is ultimately best for us. Whether you call it God, the Universe, Allah, the Great Spirit or any other name, you can take take comfort in the fact that your disappointments and failures are actually clearing the way for your greatest successes.