Think back to a time when life was simple; no bills, no responsibilities, no cares in the world. If you’re like me, you probably thought back to when you were in high school, a mere 16-year-old. The biggest thing you had to worry about was getting your homework done and when curfew was.
Then, one day it happened, a new student walked into your third period geometry class and you thought to yourself, “WOW!! This is the girl of my dreams.” She was beautiful, had a great smile, was funny, intelligent and had great dimples. How could anyone be more perfect? You were meant to be together. The world as you knew it had just been turned upside down. Nothing else mattered beside figuring out how you and your new found love interest could be together.
You, being the nice guy you were, went up and introduced yourself at the end of class and walked her to her next class while trying to get to know her (because she was so perfect). After a couple weeks, you finally got up the nerve to ask her out. She said, “Thanks, but you’re not really my type.” You were heartbroken and devastated. How were you going to make it through the week? Your life was over. The sun wasn’t going to rise the next morning. She seemed perfect and she shot you down.
A few weeks later you asked her out again and once again, no date. What were you doing wrong? What was wrong with you? Why didn’t she like you? How could something seem to be so perfect and yet not see what was right in front of her eyes?
How many of us at sixteen knew that high school was getting us ready for the ups and downs of the job search? You see an online posting for your perfect job. You meet all the criteria. You have the education. The money works. This is exactly what you’ve been working toward for the last 15 years.
You send your résumé to the HR manager and… nothing. You wait a week and make a follow-up call to the HR manager just to be sure your résumé was received. You get their voicemail, leave a message and wait… and wait… and wait for a return phone call. A few weeks later, you see that same job posting. “They must not have received my résumé. I’ll submit it again.”
Once again, you wait and hear nothing. You think to yourself, “What am I doing wrong? Is it me? I am perfect for this job and this job is perfect for me.” You’re depressed, angry, dejected. Your dream job is within your grasp and yet no one will notice you. What can you do differently?
After months of rejections and countless times being told no, your dream girl finally decides to have dinner with you. You are ecstatic! She finally said YES!! Life couldn’t get any better! The same holds true for when you finally land your dream job. All those times of being rejected and told no. All the frustration, sadness and anger; gone in the blink of an eye. Your career is a marathon, not a sprint. Have a goal in mind, stay true to yourself and perservere. See, who knew you learned so much in high school?
