This past Thursday I went to my annual GYNO appointment, and while I was sitting half-nude with my feet in stirrups, the lovely Physician Assistant asked me a polite question to break the tension before we became too familiar. Little did she know, she asked my least favorite question of all time: “So, what do you do?” The question that categorizes your worth, intelligence, and drive all in one. Even though technically there’s no wrong answer to what you do, it sure feels like there is when the person asking looks at you like you have five heads when you respond, oh I’m looking for a job right now actually…in film and media production. If I’m being totally honest, the only reason this question bothers me so much as of late is because I’m basically unemployed, constantly applying to jobs, trying to find my path, and I feel like a loser again (which there’s absolutely no need to and if you feel that way read this blog.). When I’m employed and on a good, consistent schedule, I am thriving. But when I am spending hours upon hours editing my resume, cv, and cover letters, I am some sort of lazy leper who needs to get it together. I’d argue that being unemployed makes me more productive because I am forcing myself to find income and stability, whereas when I have a job I use that as an excuse to slack off on other hobbies and tasks. The recent combination of fear and pressure from people in my personal life to find a job made me realize just how outdated the job search is, as is the notion that being employed makes you successful. Why isn't modern job search and employment keeping up with the times? Why does modern job hunting feel more archaic than ever? Grab a drink, get comfortable, because I’m about to be very opinionated on this matter.
I have been in the workforce on and off since the time I was seventeen, if you don’t count babysitting, and to be honest with you that’s not even that long. I know people who started working at 15, and some even younger than that. In the past six years so much has changed within our society, such as the abundance of artificial intelligence, increased focus on mental health, commercial space travel, the use of the 5G network, the rise in online education, the overturning of Roe V. Wade, and so much more. So why is it that joining the workforce hasn’t changed or improved that much at all? In fact, it has somehow gotten worse. For those of you who are secure in your career and maybe have not applied to a new role in a decade or so, let me break down for you the process of applying to jobs as of late. First, you are going to start by creating a resume and a CV. You need both because different companies will ask for one or the other, rarely both but it is best to be prepared. A resume provides a brief summary of your skills, experiences, and qualifications that are most relevant to the specific job you’re applying for, whereas a CV details your entire career, including educational background, research, publications, presentations, and academic accomplishments. Though they sound quite similar, a resume is traditionally one page, and a CV can be several. After you have made these documents you are going to create a LinkedIn account, assuming you do not have one already (for any potential employers reading this mine is linked). After you create your LinkedIn profile you are going to want to connect with as many people as possible, for potential career opportunities and profile exposure. Let’s quickly recap:
Create resume and CV
Create LinkedIn profile
Connect with as many individuals as possible (both in your field, and not)
Our next step is going to be applying to actual job postings online. Now for this step we are going to pretend that each job posting is real, up-to-date, and still available (it seems simple but a lot of the time these roles have been filled and just not removed from these websites). You have all your paperwork done, you are scrolling on LinkedIn or Indeed or whatever avenue you prefer for job hunting, you’re going to find a position that you qualify for. Let’s say you recently graduated college and have a Bachelor’s Degree, you have just spent four or so years studying in order to work in a desired field. Well, most entry level positions require a year or more of experience to even apply, and with that they also have a list of qualifications you must have prior to completing your application. So, now you have read through all the qualifications and let’s say you fit the needs of the job posting. Is it time to fill out the application? No. First you’re gonna make sure your profile has the same skills listed on the job posting so you’re seen as a strong match for the position, remember to be honest though. Let’s quickly recap again:
Create resume and CV
Create LinkedIn profile
Connect with as many individuals as possible (both in your field, and not)
Add skills to your profile to match job listing
Now that you’ve gotten all that housekeeping out of the way you’re going to start the application process. So, after reading the entire job listing and making sure you match the list of requirements and qualifications you’re going to hit apply, if you’re lucky it will take you directly to the company’s website or application page. However, if you are unlucky it will take you to a third-party site where you will have to create an account to apply. Either way you are going to fill out the application with the following: your name; address; phone number; email. Then you are going to attach your resume or CV, sometimes it may ask if you’d like to autofill the application with your resume, sometimes you may have to manually fill out the document (really this is all a case by case scenario). After you attach your resume or CV, in most cases you’re almost finished, but in other cases you’re going to have to type out all of your previous work and educational experiences into the application (Yes, even if your resume is already attached). Next, you may have to attach a cover letter, a cover letter is a personal document that goes with your resume when applying for a job. It introduces you to the employer, explains why you're applying, and highlights your key skills and experiences for the role as seen on your resume or CV. Please note you should also have a list of references in case they ask for it, they usually don’t but it’s good to keep on hand. Let’s quickly recap one more time:
Create resume and CV
Create LinkedIn profile
Connect with as many individuals as possible (both in your field, and not)
Add skills to your profile to match job listing
Start application process
Write cover letter for specific role and company (to attach to application)
Create list of reliable references (include their name, title, relation to you, and contact info)
Now we are almost done here! After you attach your documents and fill out all your personal information, in some cases you will be asked to link your LinkedIn profile (this is why it’s important to have lots of connections and a shiny, professional page). Finally, after all that, most applications will ask on the final page for your ethnicity, race, sexuality, gender identity, veteran status, and whether or not you have a disability and if so which one. Then, you just have to agree to their terms and conditions, sign your name and hit submit! Congratulations, you just applied for a job! Now you’re going to repeat these steps over and over again for each position. It’s really important to note that you’re going to have to rewrite, or edit a new cover letter for each position you apply to. You should also edit your resume to match the specific position you're applying to for a better chance at making it to an interview, also I’d recommend adding new skills to your LinkedIn profile per position as well, but again this is a case by case scenario.
If you’re wondering what's so challenging about that, it sounds easy enough to apply to jobs. I’m not saying it’s challenging, I’m simply amplifying the time it takes to apply to one position that you’re not even guaranteed to hear back from. Applying to jobs should be a two-way street. I am applying to fill an empty position for your company, you are hiring to fill an empty position at your company. We should be working hand-in-hand to both employ the unemployed and fill the empty roles within various businesses. So, why does it feel so one-sided? I apply, I sit and wait weeks (sometimes months) to hear back if at all, all the while I’m still actively searching for a job. I also kindly ask you to bear in mind that most of the time, not all, but most of the time the “person” reviewing your application is a computer through ATS. ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System and most large companies use ATS to sort and screen resumes. ATS can only read resumes in plain text format, so formatting choices like bold, italicized text, and bullet points are ignored, which was lovely to find out after having all three formats utilized on my resume. So if you spent hours perfecting your resume or CV to include all your accolades, it could be sorted automatically into the “no” pile for your choice of formatting. And though you look fantastic on paper with all your past qualifications and experiences, and a glowing cover letter, that doesn’t account for your work ethic or soft skills such as organization or time-management. Anyone can lie on a resume or in an interview, so how are you to stand out in a crowd? How do you prove your worth when you're competing with thousands and everyone’s paperwork looks relatively the same? Integrity.
You can not control who is going to see your resume, interview you, reject you, give you a chance, or even hire you. What you can control is how you show up to the opportunity. I know that our generation gets a bad rep for “not wanting to work,” but I truly believe this has been completely taken out of context. I am 22 years old and all I want is to have a job, one that pays decently and allows me to have free time, and explore other interests and hobbies. People don’t want to have to respond to emails outside of their contractual hours and now they’re lazy, when really all they want is to have their boundaries respected. Just because you choose to reply to work messages at 8pm, shouldn’t mean I am expected to. I was lucky enough to get to learn all about professionalism and the job market in high school, not only did it teach me etiquette for interviews and meetings, I learned that integrity is one of the most important skills you could possess, even if it doesn’t get you anywhere faster than those who don’t. I know I work hard; I know I love being on time because tardiness stresses me out beyond belief; I know I want to work for a company that I can grow with; I know I have a rapid-response time to emails and calls because I have had to use mobile devices since middle school; I know that if I am hired I am expected to do the job I applied for; I also know that there’s thousands of other people just like me. People who want to work, people who want to succeed within the tight constraints of society’s norms. But I also know that participating in this rat race isn’t for everyone, and thinking so is almost as archaic as the process it takes to do so.
In a world where technology evolves at lightning speed, it’s astonishing how the job-hunting process has remained so outdated. We live in an era where information flows seamlessly, innovation is at our fingertips, and yet, the way we work hasn’t kept pace. The 40-hour workweek, introduced in 1940, has barely evolved – aside from the occasional chance to clock those hours from home. You know what else started in 1940? Jeep. And Jeep releases a new or updated model every year without fail. It’s almost ridiculous that the structure of our work lives didn’t significantly change until a global pandemic forced our hand in 2020. Why is it that searching for a job feels like foraging for survival, as if we’re stuck in the Paleolithic era? Entering the workforce and striving to balance a fulfilling personal life shouldn’t be this challenging, and yet, it’s tougher than ever to make a living while maintaining your well-being. We deserve more from the systems that govern our daily lives. The future of work should be as dynamic and adaptive as the world around us, not bound by the constraints of a structure that’s decades behind the times. It’s time for a revolution in how we live and work.
The desire to work is a fundamental part of who we are, whether we want to sit at a desk crunching numbers or capture the world through a camera lens. And yet the systems in place often stifle our potential and undermine our aspirations, as do our peers. We shouldn’t put others down for their hopes and efforts, and yet we still base one another’s worth on the question “so what do you do?” We seek not just employment but meaningful opportunities that allow us to thrive, contribute, and grow. It is time for a transformative shift in the way we approach work and employment, one that embraces innovation, inclusivity, and respect for individual boundaries. The old paradigms must give way to a new reality where job seekers are valued, their skills recognized, and their passions ignited. The hunger for change is palpable, we are ready to work, and we deserve a system that works for us. We also shouldn’t be shamed or put down for not working, or choosing a less traditional path of living. One of my favorite quotes regarding employment comes from the late Heath Ledger, he says, “Everyone you meet always asks if you have a career, are married, or own a house as if life was some kind of grocery list. But no one ever asks you if you are happy.” Till next time, stay flirty, stay thirsty, and start asking more meaningful questions, or judging others for their answers. Find a job that fulfills you or find fulfillment elsewhere, you are the captain of your ship and the master of your fate. Don’t let others downplay your efforts and don’t be so hard on yourself! Your life doesn’t have to be checked off like a grocery list.
See you soon,
Paige B.
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