This letter was originally written to myself when we first moved to Ireland. Upon re-reading it, I think that it applies to perhaps just any time that you’re doubting yourself, not just applying for jobs, but it is a particularly trying time I find.
Dear Lauren,
I know you’re struggling with a whole lot of self-doubt at the moment, and the ego is a little bruised after the jobs that you really wanted haven’t even called, let alone interviewed you. But there are just a few things you need to know:
You are awesome.
Evidence:
- That time your mum said she was in awe of you. That is literally the meaning of awesome
- Look at your CV – how many other people have a 9 page CV?
- Since being in the country 6 weeks, you’ve found not 1, but 2 different places to live. Not one but 2 bank accounts are now open, and you’ve kitted out your place with really nice stuff.
You have a lot of value.
Evidence:
- Your life experience is huge
- Your ability to care for others seems to be immeasurable
- You get shit done, that is a useful asset
- You are fun and a joy to be around
You are loved.
Evidence:
- Jared
- All those other cats that sent you crazy IMs and snaps at all times of the day or night
There is a whole cheer squad rooting for your success back home.
Evidence:
- People don’t bother commenting or calling or messaging if they don’t care
- Look at all those FB likes
See, the thing with trying to find a job, is it is very difficult to try and make inanimate animated human emotion, charisma, charm, zeal, fervour onto a page, therefore it is very hard to condense you ‘youness’ into a CV. Sure, there’s lot of other delightful, similarly qualified people who perhaps have a different (better?) CVs.
Sure, there’s perhaps other people who have more relevant experience than you. But experience isn’t everything. And if everyone only ever got employed based on experience, then no one would ever give anyone a chance and our world would be a very boring place. You just have to find someone who’s willing (read: desperate?, no – visionary!) enough to give you a go, who sees that having the right person is more important than having the right CV.
It is a shame that employers use experience like a currency, rather than potential. It is a real shame. Because they miss out on a lot. Undoubtedly, most employers have tried to be the exception to that rule, tried someone out, and it’s turned out to be a complete failure, and hasn’t worked, I get that. It’s expensive and time-consuming to train someone new, I get that.
However, that doesn’t mean you, Lauren, should stop trying. You are inherently optimistic, and the excellent skills you have in terms of communication, collaboration, and creativity, are just waiting for an opportunity to be utilised. I know it is a tedious, harrowing process, but get yourself together, keep trying, keep looking.
Do not settle. Sure, you have a job for right now, and it is lovely and convenient and whatever, great. However, this is not forever. Just because the bosses currently look through you, and you’ve signed on for 10 euro an hour, doesn’t mean this is who you are. There are shop girls, and then there are girls who work in a shop. You are the latter. Your job doesn’t define your worth. You can do and be so much more than merely someone who’s waiting tables.
Besides, in your down time, once you can do more than just collapse after being on your feet for 10 hours, there are books to write, and volunteering to do, and clubs to join! You are not a waitress, you are an author, an activist, who waits to pay bills.
And, self, these are not just mere platitudes. There is evidence to back this up. You managed to tame the class of crazy that was 2016, there was learning and progress there, because of you. There are people, students and adults, who want to learn things from you, about IT, about life, there are people who ask you for advice. You have, with dogged determination, finished your house, and everything that went along with that. You have packed up your life and moved across the other side of the world. You are, in fact, one of those people who pretty much CAN do anything you set your mind to.
So just because your dream job doesn’t land in your lap after one week of looking, doesn’t mean you should give up – on the contrary – you need to redouble your efforts, perhaps be more selective now that you know what you want, and choose a few choice companies to submit your CV to, and do a really good job (not a half arsed job because you’ve already convinced yourself this is a waste of time) but like actually try as if they might genuinely want you, and they’d be lucky to have you.
Because they would be lucky to have you. You have the biggest, kindest, most caring heart, and you will stop at nothing to achieve whatever challenge you’ve set yourself. You are funny, and friendly, and people like you, once they get to know you. You are a champion for truth and goodness, and the world needs that kind of passion in a key role, somewhere, somehow. You are clever, and quick to learn, as well as dynamic and flexible. Really, who wouldn’t want those skills in their workplace?
Keep going. This is just the beginning. What do you want your new life to look like next?
It’s worth noting that there are a great many people in the world who do work that is ‘beneath’ them, not their calling, to be able to pay the bills. It is a very privileged few who get to define themselves by their work, so who are you beyond what you do?
The adventure has begun, and it won’t always be rainbows and butterflies… it might be compromise that moves things along, and that compromise might be shit job (but in a castle!?!?!?) for awhile, but then awesome job later when that amazing determined lass finally gets a break.
Certainly it will not be when the girl with the big dreams is sitting on her butt on the couch wishing about what could’ve been and thinking how those employers don’t even know what they’re missing. You’re right, they don’t know. So you need to go show them.
Go get ’em, girl.
So since this post, I have worked in early childcare (unmitigated disaster), for an English Language school, as a Nanny for a year, gone back to teaching, gone back to New Zealand, and also am just about finished my first year of teaching in a dyslexic school. I mean not as life-changing as past self thought this was going to be, but certainly, I’m on the up and up. And never did I regret taking that hotel job, nor did I regret leaving after 2 months!