My First Job Rejection

My first two job rejections after college broke me down. However, they provided a reality check for me. Getting a job post-graduation was not going to be as easy as 1,2,3 or do-re-mi. I remember being so excited about getting my first interview. I walked in there with the utmost confidence. My first interview out of college was with Enterprise Car Rentals. The goal was to be working sales with them. In retrospect, this didn't make sense because being a car saleswoman was not befitting my personality.

Anyways, I went to the location. It was a HOT summer day. I had on my professional outfit and copies of my resume. I walked into the space feeling the cool breeze from inside the office hit my face. I got taken into another office to speak with the hiring manager; we were getting along great, laughing, smiling. We had excellent eye contact. They agreed to move me forward to the second round of interviews. At this point, I was thinking to myself, second rounds, I'm unstoppable. This job is mine. I got a tour of the space where I would essentially be working; they asked if I had my license and if I could move around the cars, to which I responded yes. I thought I had the job in the bag, only to receive an email saying I wasn't qualified enough for the job. Well, what a waste of time. This was my first rejection, so it stung. So I resorted to trying a different avenue. I applied to become a dog walker. Surely I couldn't mess this up. I needed money ASAP because most of us know the funds are low, and the stressors are high after college. This is why I tell undergrads to save as much as possible because it'll come in handy.?

To my surprise, there were several things to complete just to become a dog walker, quizzes, and background checks. I was coming up on the end of the extensive dog walking/sitter application. I looked down at my phone and received the news… I was denied, denied from being a dog sitter. I failed the test they had given me. This was when I was embarrassed. I was desperate for anyone to take me; I had been denied two opportunities I thought I had in the bag.?

This was a humbling experience. However, I can honestly say this rejection was redirection. After this, I was rejected at least two hundred times more, which is why I named my book Reroute. Reroute was what I wrote in my job tracker instead of rejected under the "stage" category so that I wouldn't internalize the pain. I'm so grateful it didn't end up working out because better ended up coming my way. A few months later, I got to work with an organization and a founder I deeply respect and appreciate. I worked doing something I enjoyed, which reassured me that I was meant to be a content creator. I learned many lessons during that time that have helped me succeed. At first, a rejection will feel painful, and it's because we're taking it personally. Don't take it personally. Have faith there is better on the way because there is. Don't be desperate because a desperate soul attracts desperate situations. Act as if you have already attracted what you desire, and it'll come to you sooner.?

Just because an opportunity didn't come knocking on your door for one month, three months, or three years, it doesn't mean your life can't change for the better within the next minute, hour, or day.?

I live my life knowing that things can turn around for me at any moment. At any given moment, a school official can find me and want to invest in thousands of copies of my book for their students. At any given moment, I could be offered to speak at a big press conference as a change agent for recent grads of this generation. This is how you should look at your life as well. You are capable of anything and everything you want to do in this life; only you set your limit. Opportunity exists everywhere.