Good Luck

The disclaimer: See that bump in my cheek? It’s my tongue.

If you are searching for a job, you may have been hearing a lot of “good luck in your search.” Usually, this comes at the end of an email rejection. Some days, it feels like you receive 235 rejections by noon, each of them accompanied by “good luck.”

“Well, I’m not having any luck so far today,” you say sarcastically to your laptop, “despite all 235 of you wishing me so.”

You might be tired of hearing about this elusive luck. It begins to sound disingenuous.

Now, I’ve had a lot of people wish me good luck lately and I’m grateful for all of them. I sincerely appreciate their kindness and I wholly believe in their sincerity. Saying “good luck” to a person can be very encouraging and is perfectly acceptable. But like anything you hear repeatedly, it can lose its meaning.

How about we mix it up and make some substitutions from time to time? This week, you can substitute an Irish blessing for “good luck.” May the applicant tracking system rise up to meet you.

Depending on your preferred fandom, you may want to hear “May the Force be with you” or “Live long and prosper.” These are both good substitutes for “good luck.”

Or what about the pure encouragement of “Go get ‘em, tiger!”

If you’re superstitious and in the theater, there’s the traditional “Break a leg.” If you’re superstitious and not in the theater, how about, “Get scurvy!”

Or maybe it would be nice if “good luck” was replaced with a compliment. “I’m sorry, we’re not hiring you. But I like your hair!”

What other suggestions do you have?

This post is adapted from a blog I originally wrote and posted in 2011.