Friday, June 30, 2006

Apologies.

First of all I want to say sorry. This is not my usual sort of post, I like to think I've made this blog a fun place to come and visit. I don't want you to be put off by me getting serious on you all of a sudden. I'll be back to my old self tomorrow I promise you, right now I just need to vent.



Today has not been a good day. I got turned down for yet another job application. I can't even begin to express how despondent I feel. I have a degree in journalism and qualifications in Television Production and Operations yet can find no work whatsoever in the media.

Well actually that's not true, I can find a few, but they all want people with far more experience than I have or I'm told I'm over qualified. How am I supposed to get experience without work? Today's letter of rejection, from a company who were advertising my dream job simply said I didn't fit their criteria. Which would be fine, except I still have the list of criteria that came with the application form and I matched it all, even exceeding it in several places.

Still, at least they are better than the many places I have applied to who haven't even had the decency to get back to me.

The frustration is becoming unbearable and I feel utterly useless. I know I have something to offer but no one will give me a chance.

I just want to prove myself.

Now back to talking about the ninja pigeons, they make me smile.

12 comments:

Billy said...

There is nothing wrong with using blogs for venting.

I don't have any specific advice, as I went for the can't get a proper job so I'll slum it for a while approach (I'm still slumming it 5 years later).

All I can say is keep applying, and don't lose heart. And if you get an interview and you don't get the job, ring them up and ask them why!

Fraudulent Little Tart said...

You both will! Don't loose faith. Some people are in the right place at the right time and some people have to work a little harder to get to that right place at the right time. Something will come up and it will be bigger and better than this stoopid job! So, chin up and keep smiling. Don't let the bastard get you down. xx

Melissa said...

I know all about it, don't worry! I couldn't get a job for ages, it made me get so hung up over it, you've just got to keep trying; infact try anything - lying, bribery, seduction, holding them at gun-point...!

Someone I know managed to get the president of the london school of art (or whatever the name of that place is!), through some connection or other, to view her paintings, and now she's getting her work exhibited alongside his, and he is personally teaching her how to paint. This is so annoying to me as she knew nothing about art or even how to paint, she just got really really lucky (can you tell I'm slightly bitter?). I think it shows though it's not what you know but who.

And those bloody rejection letters; "I'm sorry but you have not been successful on this occasion". I hate them. But you're right, most people never bothered replying to me either!

Anonymous said...

The no experience without a job, no job without experience, happened to me too. It is very disheartening. And then I got lucky and just hit it off at the interview with the person I'd be working for (Laurie), despite the fact that I didn't have some of the things they were looking for (like the ability to drive). So I got the job on condition I learnt (thank you Laurie). It will happen, you will get your break, you just have to keep trying (remind me to tell you about the 2 hour interview with the man who was totally obsessed with car paint).

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear about your disappointment. Persistance is a very underrated quality but I think you need it to succeed in the media. I really believe the right job will come along when the time is right. keep plugging away and keep blogging.

Anonymous said...

Hi sweetie, just a wee bit of advice but why don't you write a nice letter to the company saying thanks for their time but perhaps they could give you some more information as to why you weren't successful so that you can take this forward onto your next set of apps. You never know they might have some useful info and if you were 2nd in line for the job you might just stick in their minds for next time! *hugs*

Terri Nixon said...

Yes, definitely ask for some constructive feedback - you're owed that much at least. Like many of us I know first hand how hard it can be to keep going when you've been turned down, whether it's for a job or having years of work sent back with a one-line rejection by a literary agent. You just have to take a deep breath, square your shoulders and tell yourself you're too good to give up.

Heather said...

Thanks everyone, I shall definitely be getting in touch with them to find out why I was turned down. I would have done that yesterday but was still too upset.

It's just wearing to be turned down for the last 20 jobs I've applied for in a row.

Thankyou all though, you've really cheered me up.

I've just started reading a new graphic novel called Street Angel. It's excellent, and it has Ninjas!!
What more could I want? Apart from a job obviously.

patroclus said...

Ahh, bad luck Heather. I had the same thing too - it took me three years to get a proper job after graduating. In that time I just had crappy jobs in shops and estate agents. It will happen, though, you just have to keep at it. You're obviously very bright and very well qualified, so there should be nothing stopping you. Best of luck!

Heather said...

Thanks Patroclus,
I've been searching for over a year now so hopefully something will come along eventually.

I won't be stopping my search though. I know my family would be happy if I became a hairdresser, or took a position managing a shop, but I want to do something I enjoy, and that challenges me.

Annie said...

Ah, poor thing, we've all been there. Don't take it personally, it's just because there's lots of people all applying for a small amount of interesting jobs, and like the Badger says, contacts help.

Have you thought about offering companies your services doing work experience? When I left college (in the dim and distant past) I found that they were happy enough to give you a position if you were prepared to work for free - it can be a way to make contacts/get your foot in the door...

baggiebird said...

I had the same trouble H. Not enought experience and over qualified. I have a pretty good job now, it's not in the field of my degree but I do really love it. Getting up int he mornign to come to work is not a chore and I think that's a good thing as i've had plenty of crappy jobs that depressed me beyond belief