Ever since I first saw Sex and the City, my ultimate goal was to move to New York City and become a full-time writer. That was my career dream, and I was sticking to it.
After I graduated college, I took a quick detour down to Florida to work for Disney for 5 months before heading back to my parents’ house in Connecticut to prepare for my new life in the big city. My family lives a little over an hour away from the city by train, and I planned to get a job, continue to live at home while I saved up a little money, then move into the city as soon as possible.
I knew it might be hard to land a job right away, but still, I was hopeful. I started applying to jobs that January and kept telling myself, it’s only a matter of time.
In reality, it took four months and 270 job applications.
Yep, that’s right. I applied to 270 writing-related jobs before finally getting hired. That may sound like a lot, but unfortunately, I think many people heading into the workforce after college have similar experiences.
There are tons of qualified people trying to find jobs in the same fields every day, with similar-looking resumes and skillsets. We’re all some level of qualified, and we want it really bad. We’re all vying for the same handful of jobs, and therefore, we’re not all going to get hired. The process of finding a job can be long and stressful, especially in my chosen field. It seems that these days, everybody wants to be a writer.
So, how do you avoid losing hope and keep pressing forward? How do you finally make it to that 270th job application without wanting to give up?
Apply to a few jobs every single day
From the beginning of January through the end of April of 2015, my full-time job was applying to jobs. I babysat here and there to make money, and I freelanced for publications for no money at all, but other than that, all I did was scour different corners of the internet for jobs. I was insanely diligent about it, and ultimately, that’s what led to my success.
Finding a job can be tricky, so it’s important to buckle down and throw as much of your energy and attention into it as possible. You’re not planning on half-assing the job, and you shouldn’t half-ass the application process, either. With so many things in life, consistency is key, and applying for jobs is no exception. Even when you feel like you’re losing steam, keep at it. The work you’re putting into it will pay off eventually.
I applied to a few jobs every day for four months until I finally found the right one, and it was definitely worth it.
Track your applications
I know that I applied to 270 jobs because I kept track. It may seem like overkill to keep a spreadsheet of every single job I applied to over the course of four months, but if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been successful. Hear me out.
On my job application journey, I wasn’t just applying to staff writer jobs. I applied to any writing or publishing job that was even remotely related to what I wanted to do. I used a variety of different job sites to find these opportunities. Sometimes I was called in for an interview, or several, and other times I wasn’t.
All of this was valuable information to keep track of so that I could spot any patterns.
As you begin your job application journey, make a spreadsheet. List the job you applied for and what job site you found it on. Every time you get an interview, mark it down. Later, you can go back and skim down the line to see the kinds of jobs you’re making some headway on and the kinds of jobs you aren’t. If there’s a pattern, then you can adjust your focus accordingly. If some job sites seem to yield better results than others, you can spend more time focusing on those.
Sometimes, being successful means being strategic. Applying to jobs may seem like a passive activity, and I suppose you can treat it that way — but if you treat it like a job, I genuinely think you’re going to have way more success.
Never stop working towards your dream
My goal was always to be a writer. Specifically, I wanted to be a staff writer at a publication. That was my dream. I applied to jobs every day to make that dream happen — but just because I didn’t have the job yet doesn’t mean that I stopped writing.
Every day, before and after I applied for jobs, I wrote. I wrote about things that were important to me and published them in any publication that would accept them. I found a few places that had unpaid freelancer programs and became a frequent contributor. I wasn’t making any money, but I was gaining something that was arguably even more valuable — experience.
Even when you’re unemployed, find ways to gain as much experience as you can. Continue to build your resume, and more importantly, your portfolio. That way, when you apply for jobs, and they ask for writing samples or examples of your work in general, even if you’re not working full time yet, you’ll have plenty to show them. When I was in the process of applying for writing jobs, I was actively being published in real, reputable publications, and that was huge. When interviewers asked what I was currently doing, I could tell them I was freelance writing while searching for something permanent, rather than saying that I was waiting around for the right thing to stick.
Throughout my entire time applying for jobs, I kept writing and kept proving to future employers that I always would be a writer, no matter what. When I went in for my interview with that 270th job, and they asked me what kind of experience I had that qualified me for that coveted staff writer job, I didn’t have to bullshit them at all. I’d just submitted a new article that morning.
Show future employers that, with or without the job you’re applying for, you’re already a professional.
Keep an open mind
270 jobs is a lot of jobs, and I know what you must be thinking. Out of all those jobs, they couldn’t all possibly be something that I could see myself loving.
And of course, you’re right.
Even though I wanted to land a job that I loved, I also knew I just needed to land a position somewhat related to the field I wanted to grow in. I had to start somewhere, anywhere. Once I had my foot in the door, I could do my best in my role and then try to branch out into something I loved as time went on. I tried to steer clear of applying to jobs I knew I would loathe, but if I came across a job that made me think, “Well, it’s not ideal, but it would do for now,” then I applied.
As you go about looking for jobs, don’t just apply for your “dream jobs.” Keep an open mind. The kind of job you want to end up with exists. Apply for it as often as you can, and even if you don’t end up getting it this time around, there’s still hope for the future. You can work your way there, and in the meantime, you can apply for jobs that will help you along that journey.
Have a great support system in place
Even if it seems simple enough, applying to jobs isn’t easy. With each job, you have to make sure your resume is in good shape and that you construct a well-written cover letter tailored to that specific opening. You have to make sure you have your references in order. You have to pick the best writing samples or other related work to showcase. And then, after the application is sent off, you have to wait, and that might be the hardest part.
Applying to job after job and still not getting one can be incredibly soul-crushing. It can be easy to lose hope, which is why it’s so important to have a good support system in place.
During those four months where I did nothing except apply for jobs, I had a lot of people rallied behind me. I updated my family daily about the different jobs I was applying to, and they asked questions and supported me on my journey with each one. I found a friend who was also applying to writing-related jobs in New York City at the same time as I was, and we spent all day talking and strategizing with each other. I had other friends who knew how hard I was working to find a job, and they sent encouraging messages all the time.
Even though it’s ultimately you who has to do all the work of applying for jobs, having a strong support system rallied behind you during the process will help you feel less alone. You can turn to them whenever things get too much, and you feel like giving up. They can help keep you going every step of the way.
Without my support system, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I’ll always be grateful to them for the role they played in helping me achieve my dreams.
If you’re stuck in a job hunt rut, take it from my experience — the only way to overcome it is never to give up. Whether it takes 10 applications or 270, you’ll get your foot on the job ladder, or better yet, you might even secure your dream job.