Hunting

I was out of work for an extended period of time recently and one thing they don't tell you about the interview process is that the further along you get in an interview process more stressful it becomes.

An automated rejection email? Yeah, ok. It's the majority of the responses I get. Just didn't get past the automated screening. Not gonna take it personally.

Got through the first round, but didn't get to move forward? Frustrating, disappointing, tiring. It's harder to get over and not take it personally.

But with each subsequent round you get through, the stakes get higher and higher. Each round builds a little bit more hope and expectation. And each time you get rejected, it knocks you down more and more.

I had gotten to a few final interview rounds and when they call to say they're choosing someone else, it kinda kills you inside. You had people around you encouraging you. You made plans in expectation, you got your hopes up.

And it all comes crashing down. And sometimes takes your self-confidence with it. So you do it again. And again. And each round of interviews become more and more scary. And each round of interviews become more and more stressful. And each round of interviews become more and more anxious.

But… You. Keep. Going.

Each time you got to the next round, it means someone saw something in you that was worth it. Someone saw your value. Hang on to that. You have value. You are worth it. You will find it.

It might not be what you expect. It might not look like what you thought. But it will be there.

And remember, you are more than just your job.

The old saying goes, "no one will look back at the end of their life and wish they spent more time in the office".

But we gotta make a living, so find your motivation. Not in the job, not in the paycheck, but in something outside. Something that, when you've been knocked on your ass by another rejection, says I'm still here.

And for that motivation, you keep going.