By Euclides Montes (@Gatulino)
We regret to inform you that your application for the position of XXX has been unsuccessful this time… More empty and generic pleasantries to follow.
‘Ah, and I had such a good feeling about this one’ he thinks. Just like he felt with each one of the 20 rejections that had come before. He moves to the kitchen where the cafetiere betrays the fact that he’s already overdone it with the coffee today.
He thinks about the pile of unopened envelopes on his dining table, the various requests for money going ignored for one day longer.
Time for a break, he thinks. Another cup of coffee and the newspaper online! The newspaper doesn’t help. “70 other people going for the same job”, “The toughest time to be a 20-something”, “Millions of jobs to disappear”. Voluntarily leaving his job to chase the ‘dream career’ suddenly doesn’t look too clever anymore.
He sighs.
‘No need to worry’ he reasons with himself. ‘Surely every generation has one of these moments. Although this really feels different. Who would’ve thought that after spending 3 years and thousands of pounds at university to gain a good degree, I was going to end being at the front line of a social struggle… a struggle to get a job!’ He smiles.
He trawls through the job sites again. Finds another position he likes. Another 8 page application. Another ‘equal opportunities monitoring form’. Another certain wait. Another certain negative email.
He ponders again on whether this should really be so. After all, creating news jobs instead of curtailing existing ones is surely a failsafe strategy to drive the economy out of recession? Surely pulling funds out of the job market is merely a cynical political move and it doesn’t take into account the people who are struggling to make ends meet?
He wishes he could get organised and write a few pamphlets and get people talking about this but he knows he can’t. He might be certain he won’t hear back from this other job application but he can’t afford not to apply.
He sticks his favourite artist of the moment on the CD player. He gets the coffee on the go again. Puts on his lucky hat on. Looks down on the page.
“NAME: ______________”
He sighs.
But you write so well...If only writing paid! What is your dream career? Good Luck and don't give up. X
ReplyDeleteEesh, just reading about the multiple applications makes me feel soulless and worn-out.
ReplyDeleteIt will happen! Coffee is your F R I E N D. Also if you want help with applications i'm your (wo)man. I say this because I already know - without phoning a friend - the answer to the blank one you put up there.