From Sisyphus to a Phoenix: a Millennial's Epic Job Hunt Saga

(NOTE: I usually try to write light-hearted things on my blog but this post is different - I have put it off for a long time because it was overwhelming and exhausting to think back on what this last year+ of job hunting has been. I did it though for a catharsis if nothing else so I warn you that this post is long, but, so was my job hunt. I did at least find lots of pictures! But, it is a year+ in one blogpost so just a heads up that this isn't a quick read)



My sweet friend, Chelsea, sent me this card LAST FALL as encouragement for my job hunt that was proving difficult.

The card was blank but she had written inside that "sometimes job hunting can feel like this."

She was right.

My job hunt felt the same: exerting so much energy but seeing no result. The boulder wasn't moving and I wasn't getting a job offer.

This card and the way I felt made me think of myself as a modern-day Sisyphus, the king from Greek mythology who was punished with having to roll a huge boulder up a hill only to have it roll back down again... and then repeat that for eternity.

My job hunt has gave me a lot of empathy for Sisyphus:

I graduated May 8th of 2015 and literally took off my masters hood and then loaded up the u-haul. I left for NC early the next morning and moved into my new apartment that evening of May 9th. 

I didn't have much time in grad school so my job hunt really started once we moved to NC. 

------ TEMP JOB # 1: The Poop Plant ------

Last summer, I wrote a post about "My 'shitty' first job" after grad school - a temp position working for the Durham county's wastewater treatment plant, what I still affectionately refer to as "the poop plant." While I took that job just to pay the bills and joked that it was "shitty," it was actually a wonderful month and I still keep in touch with several people I worked with there. 

------ TEMP JOB # 2: United Way ------

I ended up leaving "the poop plant" for a Community Engagement Fellowship with our local United Way (UW). While I got so much out of the experience and gained a wonderful group of friends, the position was just 5 months, for their busy season, the fundraising campaign. However.... 

------ ROCK ROLL # 1: Also United Way ------

Their Community Engagement Manager position came open and it sounded up my alley. It would be doing a lot with events and volunteers.  I heard the application count hit 300 so I didn't hold my breath. However, I was called in for a 1st round interview. I didn't get my hopes up because I thought, perhaps they were just doing that to be nice since I already worked there.

But then I made it to:

• the 2nd round interview
• a 3rd round interview with a panel of 5 people
• an interview with my would-be supervisor's boss
• 3 back-to-back 30 minute interviews with the higher ups
• and I had to submit a portfolio of my event experience

2 months in, I had made it from 300+ applicants down to being 1 of the final 2. 

Anddddd, I didn't get the position. 

Like Sisyphus, the rock that I pushed so far up the hill, rolled all the way back down to the bottom. 

------ ROCK ROLL # 2: Girl Scouts ------

They had an opening for a Membership Initiative Coordinator who would help with programs and community outreach to get girls and volunteers involved.

I applied and made it through:

• a phone interview with my would-be boss 
• an in person interview for 1.5 hours 
• an interview with my would-be boss and her boss too (once again in the final round of 2)

Unfortunately, the other candidate had worked with GS previously so she knew the programs and the culture already so they chose her.

And the rock rolled back down...

------ ROCK ROLL # 3: Local Foundation ------

I applied for an awesome local foundation called the Jamie Kirk Hahn Foundation that does amazing work to build leaders and communities and tackle important issues like poverty, education and food insecurity.

I made it through:

• a phone interview
• an in person interview with the Executive Director 
• an interview with the man who was married to the late Jamie Kirk Hahn and helped found this organization

Once again, I kid you not, I made it to the final 2.

And, once again, I was the runner up.

And the rock rolled back down...

------ TEMP JOB # 3: The Poop Plant Again ------

My friend from the poop plant told me they had another temp opening that would be a new role, with a raise. I happily went back to my "shitty" starting place because it actually - again - wasn't shitty at all. They were so good to me, flexible with my interview schedule, the work wasn't stressful and it paid the bills. Just goes to show that you never know where a great opportunity might come from!

------ ROCK ROLL # 4: Orange County ------ 

The next interview gauntlet came when I applied to my local government's Community Center Coordinator position. I would be managing events, programs, outreach and would have the perk of a 5 minute commute to my office. 

Again, I made it past a phone interview. Then I had a 2 hour intense process of: 

• a panel interview with my would-be peer workers
• an assessment
• a powerpoint presentation of the plan I was asked to create for our centers
• and then a final panel interview with all of the big wigs in that department of the county

This finalist round, I don't know if I was number 2, 3, or 4, but I was NOT number 1. 

And the rock rolled back down...

------ ROCK ROLL # 5: UNC ------

This next position was really cool, working at UNC's social justice center as the Social Innovation Initiative Coordinator.

Again, similar pattern: 

• phone interview
• in person interview with a panel of 4
• and then another interview with a higher up staff person

And, I wish I was making this up, but again - after being a finalist of 3 or 4 - I remained a runner up and was not hired.  I was beginning to wonder if I could ever get someone to make me a job offer!?!

And the rock rolled back down....

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS:

Still at the poop plant,  I was playing the field and interviewing for 3 positions at the same time. 

1. GS (Again!) - My would-be-boss for the last position recommended me for a Membership Director position. I went through:
• a phone interview 
• a 2.5 hour in person interview
2. Google Fiber (!!?!!) - Someone I'd worked with at UW recommended me for their Community Impact Manager role. I was intrigued so I applied and made it through:  
• a phone interview
• a virtual interview - basically I had to record myself in a few videos answering some questions 
• an in-person interview with a recruiter
• a phone interview with my would-be-boss 
• then an in-person interview at Google Fiber with 3 other staff members
3. NC IDEA - This would be filling in for a woman going out on maternity leave as their Community Manager and had the chance to work temp-to-perm into another role. For them, I had:
• 3 one-on-one interviews with the staff in the office 

Then, because truth really is stranger than fiction: I was given an offer by all 3 within the same 24 hours. 

After so many "no"s, I could not believe it: Now I had to figure out who to tell "no."

1. No for GS - It required us to move to another county and we had just gotten settled in Hillsborough.
2. No for Google Fiber (!!??!!!) - I've never been very corporate and it wasn't the amazing benefits of google or a job guarantee because it was actually under that staffing agency. Plus, tons of overtime required for evening and weekend events. 
3. Yes to NC IDEA - This one had a lot I liked (nonprofit, community development, the strong chance to be permanent) so I committed to the 4 month-contract for her maternity leave. 

------ TEMP JOB # 4 & ROCK ROLL # 6: Both NC IDEA ------

I started at NC IDEA as they gained a new CEO and added a couple of huge grants. It was an exciting time and I learned a lot and met many great people. Unfortunately, with all of those changes, I found out the permanent position wasn't a guarantee.

This time, I had made it ever-so-close to the top of the job-hunt-mountain, but the rock rolled back down, taking me down with it.

I decided to take a week-ish off from job hunting to reassess and recalibrate a bit so I painted a coffee table and found a fresh new start. 

NEW APPROACH

Through the countless hours of job searching, applying, interview prepping, interviews, and overanalyzing, I had learned and grown so much. I decided to no longer be worrisome about my choppy work history and instead own it for all I had gained through the past year. 

I started the job hunt again with new determination to make it up that f-ing mountain. 

To recap, in the last year, I have: 

1.  Worked 4 temp positions

1.  Applied to about 30 positions

1.  Had over 35 interviews

1.  Came in #2 (or was a finalist of 3 or 4 candidates) 5 times. In a row. 

Limping through this Sisyphean job hunt saga and the other tough aspects of the last year, Scott (also on a grueling job hunt) and I learned to laugh at things (when we weren't crying, cussing, praying or interview-prepping)...

What if he was happy? Maybe he took pride in his work or appreciated the rhythm of his repetitive task? Or, maybe it just sucked and was hard?

------ THE MOUNTAIN-TOP ------ 

Either way, I am glad to report that I am not Sisyphus after all and I finally made it to the top of the job-hunt-mountain!

I had been playing the job hunt field again and was moving forward on 3 positions: 

1. Habitat for Humanity -  Societal Impact and Advocacy Manager. I made it to the essay application round and was set for a 1st round interview
2. A Tech Co - This was a random opportunity someone recommended me for and would be a recruiting role. I made it through a phone interview and was set to interview in person.
3.  Elon University - A program coordinator position with their Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning as well as their Center for Engaged Learning.  I made it through: 
• a phone interview
• 2.5 hour final round of:
• 2 panel interviews
• a 3-part-assessment
• an interview with the director of the centers

My Elon final interview was on a Tuesday and, on Thursday, my now boss offered me the job!?!

This was a quintessential case of "1 in the hand is worth 2 in the bush." 

I took the night to think about it but, while I was intrigued by the other 2 positions, this position would use my degrees, grow my skills and really interested me, so I accepted the position on Friday, exactly one week after my NC IDEA temp position ended. 

At first, I was in shock and feeling crazy like "Since I was just barely back in the job hunting saddle, should I accept this job or keep looking?" but, I realized had put in plenty of job hunting time.

Starting my Job

I started at Elon earlier this month and I love it. God truly does bless the broken road (or mountain!) and his plans are better than ours so I'm grateful all my "no"s led me to where I am.

One of my favorite things about this position is the school's mascot - a phoenix - which resonates with me almost as much as the boulder image from my friend, Chelsea's, sweet card.

I feel like I'm finally getting the chance to rise, stronger from all that mountain climbing and boulder-pushing, reborn from the ashes of this past year. #risingup #beautyfromashes #fromsisyphustoaphoenix