Why can’t I find a job? Why can’t I find a career?
I bike seven and a half miles to and from the VA to wash dishes for ten dollars an hour, because apparently my two Bachelors of Art and ten years of Marine Corps experience with high decorations for my work as a curriculum developer and instructor makes me qualified to do nothing in Biloxi, Mississippi. I am thankful for the compensated work therapy, which is why I bike seven and a half miles to and from the VA to wash dishes, but I am beyond frustrated and flooded with hopelessness.
At the moment I’m stoked for my interviews with Buffalo Wild Wings and The Blake. It’s only taken nine months to get the interviews, and I can’t wait to talk about O.A.R. at the BW3s on High Street way back in the day. Forgive me for sounding optimistically pessimistic about the opportunity and the privilege to be unemployed with my two bachelors of art from The Ohio State University and ten years marine corps experience and high decorations for my work as a curriculum developer and instructor makes me dying to wait tables at Buffalo Wild Wings.
It’s insane, I haven’t found a career since leaving the Marine Corps ten years ago. I haven’t found a career since graduating from OSU with my second bachelors seven years ago. I have worked at a gym, bar backed, and drove Uber. Uber wasn’t bad until I got into a car accident after traveling the country, thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, and digging myself into the bottomless it of debt after another car accident traveling the country investigating corrupt politicians and criminal organizations.
I’m exhausted. I haven’t had a day off since March 13th, and that is not an exaggeration. Here’s the real ass kicker: I haven’t been paid a dime for writing, and if you read my Subtacks, you know I write a lot. I have sent out thousands of resumes, and I mean thousands. I wouldn’t be surprised if I’ve sent out ten thousands. And I’ve a couple in person interviews, and that’s about it. Do you have any idea what it’s like to get rejected by Applebee’s? Do you have any idea what it’s like to get rejected to serve tables and old folks home for twelve dollars an hour?
No one tells me what I’m doing wrong. I haven’t had a career since leaving the Marine Corps, and I am completely clueless. I post my cover letters online, and hundreds of people read them, but no one gives me constructive criticism. My reject letters just tell me how awesome I am, but I wasn’t the right fit for the job. Why doesn’t any organization give constructive criticism? Why can’t I find a job let alone a career? Why did I serve my country for nine years? Why did I enroll at The Ohio State University for nine years? Why am I applying to the same jobs applied to in high school?