Are You Open to Work?

Imagine this: It’s a Monday morning, and you’re sitting at your kitchen table in your "work-from-home chic" pajamas also known as the same sweatpants you've worn for three days straight. You’re sipping your coffee, scrolling through job postings, and thinking to yourself, "This has to be the week, right? This is the week I find my dream job!" Your optimism is at an all-time high... until you see the dreaded words: "3-5 years of experience required for this entry-level position." Your coffee suddenly tastes like despair.

But you’re not one to give up so easily. You put on your game face, tighten the drawstring on those sweatpants, and dive back into the job hunt. After all, you've got a solid resume, a cover letter that could win an Oscar, and an unwavering belief that somewhere out there is a company that will see you for the gem you are.

Hours pass, and you find yourself staring at the screen with that glassy-eyed look partly from the bright LED light, partly from the fact that you’ve just read 50 different versions of “we’re looking for a dynamic, self-motivated individual.” You wonder if you should just add “dynamic and self-motivated” to your LinkedIn headline and call it a day. Then you think, “Should I learn coding? Everyone seems to be coding these days. Maybe I should just become a life coach! How hard can that be?” But no, you're not jumping ship yet. You’re staying the course, bravely navigating the stormy seas of online job portals.

And then, it happens. An email pops up in your inbox from a recruiter. Your heart races. This could be it! You click it open, and there it is: “We’ve reviewed your application and are impressed by your qualifications, but unfortunately, we’ve decided to move forward with another candidate.” Ouch. That one hurts. It's like getting dumped after a first date when you didn’t even know you were on a date! But you take a deep breath, brush it off, and tell yourself that they just missed out on hiring the best thing since sliced bread.

Look, we’ve all been there. Searching for a job can feel like trying to find a needle in a haystack while blindfolded, under water, during a thunderstorm. You send out application after application, only to get radio silence in return. It can be discouraging, disheartening, and exhausting. But here’s the thing: even when it feels like you’re stuck in a never-ending loop of rejection emails and awkward Zoom interviews, remember that you’re not alone.

Yes, it’s tough. Yes, it can be frustrating. But every “no” you get brings you one step closer to that “yes” you’re waiting for. And maybe that dream job isn’t out there waiting for you to find it; maybe it’s waiting for you to create it. Perhaps it’s time to pivot, to try something new, to start that passion project you’ve been putting off. Who knows? You might just stumble upon something even better than you imagined.

So, take a deep breath. Finish that coffee (or pour yourself a second cup, no judgment here). And remember, you’re more than a resume or a LinkedIn profile. You’re a force to be reckoned with, a unique combination of skills, talents, and experiences that no one else has. Keep fighting, keep applying, keep dreaming big. Because the right opportunity is out there, and it’s waiting for you to show up in all your dynamic, self-motivated glory.

And if anyone asks, “Are you open to work?” just smile and say, “Always and preferably somewhere with great coffee.”

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Thank you,

Tamal