I have been looking for a full-time job since May 2023, when I moved to New York City. Since then I have kept trying to apply to more and more jobs. I only had interviews with one company. Just to be specific, I am in the music education field. This might make more sense to some of you. Music just will just not gonna get me any full-time jobs, I hear you. I had a full-time job before I moved to NYC. So, that is not the case.

As of February 2024, I am still under a state of stress, not as bad as before, but still thinking about it every night. There were some weeks before I went to bed, it was when I started to search for jobs. It was a VERY bad habit. It gave me that extra stress and I could not sleep.

Last month, I found this video on YouTube by CNBC "Why Getting A Job Feels Impossible Right Now", posted on February 2nd, 2024. I don't know if I should be released that other people are struggling, just like I do now. Let's think about the tech layoff that happened 2023–2024. It was all over the news, nation wilds. And I started to think, "Yeah, those people are now looking for a job too". I have more competitors! And there is no way, I could compete with those people from Google, Amazon, or Spotify.

In a CNBC YouTube video, they mentioned that 55 percent of adults unemployed and 66 percent younger were burnt out from searching for a new job. This is so related to me right now. My routine is waking up, go on Google, Indeed, and LinkedIn, and looking for jobs that I would be qualified for. Then, I have to write a new Cover Letter for those jobs. Basically, I edited my ready-to-go cover letter, just to match the positions that I applied for. At the beginning of my job search, I was very motivated but right now, not very much. I am so exhausted and burnt out.

From all over 50 applications, I applied. There was only one position, I had the most positive outcome. I had two interviews with them. I got an email back from HR if I was still interested in the position. It has after 3 months since I submitted the application. That included me walking to drop my resume in person because I did not hear back from them. I tried to do the old-fashioned thing, seemed like it worked a little bit.

I had the first round of interviews with the HR manager. It was about 30 minutes long. Then HR manager contacted me back a week later to set up an interview with the director. I felt like I was so close. The interview with the director went pretty okay except for one key question that I did pretty badly (in my opinion). It was about time management and tracking work. Anyway, I asked him what's the next step, and he said it would be an interview with the team for the final step. I was like … OMG I was like damm. Well, after 3 weeks long (the longest 3 weeks I have ever had in my entire life), they sent me a template email of rejection.

That was the furthest in my job-searching story, I have gotten in 9 months. I will at least try my best to submit one job per week. Not that I do not have any jobs but I would prefer to have a full-time job after 7 years in college, I think I deserve that. At my previous job, one of my managers even said "He was a dream employee". I know my potential and I am a very hard worker. I just could not be doing anything at work. I mean none of those employee seekers would not know until they hire us.

One thing I think might be the key to interviewing is a talking skill and how you present yourself to the interviewer. I find it not very accurate but it is the only way to make the employer feel click with you. Maybe I was not so good at that and also not so qualified.

In New York City, many articles mention"the Land of Opportunity" or "Endless Opportunities". I find it is true but there are so many people in the city, seeking the opportunity. It is very competitive here. Even restaurant jobs, I have never thought I would have to make a resume to get server jobs at a restaurant. Employers have more choices to select from the market, which makes it more difficult for both.

After being rejected from the second interview, I was a stalker, went online, and tried to find out who got that job. I found who it was, someone who had a certificate and master's degree from New York University. I was like.. Fine, they deserved it. Maybe they need to pay back student loans and after all hard work at NYU.

I was actually planning to go back to school for a second master's degree, but changing a little bit to the Music Business program at NYU. So I took weeks from that rejection to break and kick myself back to work on my master's degree application and I submitted it! Another 2 months waiting to hear back from them. I did not have too many expectations this time, but I did work hard on it.

In the meantime, I am working on my Google Project Management Professional Certificate. It is an online course run by Coursera. I have been doing ok with it. I hope this certification will help me in my job search.

Thank you for reading all the way here. Best of luck to every one of you that are searching for a job. Please don't give up hope. I am sure there is a perfect job for you out there. Keep working on improving your skills and your hard work will be seen.