job search: a rant of a young professional.
I finished another job interview on a sour note. The interviewer entered the conversation basically hostile to my work history and my background in political organizing. She insinuated that the philanthropic group wasn't the right fit because it's a more managerial, adminstrative role than my past work experiences (which is complete bullshit). I did everything right: I didn't ramble like I usually do. I brought up aspects of my work history that combatted her hostile questions and assumptions. I even had really good responses to the shittiest interview questions an interviewer can ask: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
And because I was so well prepared to say "Grad school either getting a Masters in Non Profit Management or Community Planning and Development", she retorted back: "Well what about ten years?" Ummm... using my degrees to find work in that field? Duh.
Another interviewer had insinuated that the work environment is "professional". She kept driving the point home how everyone in the office is sooo professional, with 9-5 hours... to what end? Pretty sure I wore my Brooks Brothers suit and was on my best behavior. Another organization I applied to didn't even interview me because they were looking for someone to do basic membership organizing and development work. Not field organizing... an area that I'm actually trying to get out of, surprise, surprise!
Graaahh. It's not impossible; I just feel like I'm being set up for failure. I make sure that I am fully qualified for every job that I apply to. And fully prepared, but this doesn't matter--every job I've applied I haven't gotten because I'm too young, too inexperienced in some aspect that they failed to highlight in their job description, or in some cases--overqualified. (Yes, overqualified.)
I write every cover letter and walk into every interview feeling like that I own that job. I leave reminded by how the world hates young people and ambitious ones at that.
So if anyone is left wondering why I'm still unemployed? This is why. Because I am overqualified, underqualified, not professional, and apparently too political.
And because I was so well prepared to say "Grad school either getting a Masters in Non Profit Management or Community Planning and Development", she retorted back: "Well what about ten years?" Ummm... using my degrees to find work in that field? Duh.
Another interviewer had insinuated that the work environment is "professional". She kept driving the point home how everyone in the office is sooo professional, with 9-5 hours... to what end? Pretty sure I wore my Brooks Brothers suit and was on my best behavior. Another organization I applied to didn't even interview me because they were looking for someone to do basic membership organizing and development work. Not field organizing... an area that I'm actually trying to get out of, surprise, surprise!
Graaahh. It's not impossible; I just feel like I'm being set up for failure. I make sure that I am fully qualified for every job that I apply to. And fully prepared, but this doesn't matter--every job I've applied I haven't gotten because I'm too young, too inexperienced in some aspect that they failed to highlight in their job description, or in some cases--overqualified. (Yes, overqualified.)
I write every cover letter and walk into every interview feeling like that I own that job. I leave reminded by how the world hates young people and ambitious ones at that.
So if anyone is left wondering why I'm still unemployed? This is why. Because I am overqualified, underqualified, not professional, and apparently too political.