One unicorn/honey badger for sale, cheap (ish)and musings on privilege
I have not hunted for a job in a minnit. I forgot how hard it is. To those of you who read this and are in the same situation? I salute you. We will find a job. Just might take longer than anyone would like. Never give up, never surrender. Also, if it gets to be downright too much to handle? Please reach out to someone for help.
In order to find the “perfect” job… oh, who am I kidding? ANY job… I weaponized my LinkedIn profile, zhuzhed up my resume, and began to apply. Any job description that sounded interesting, that I thought I could do or learn, and that had some modicum of benefit to the greater good? I put in an application. So far I have been refused by a real “stretch” job, and two minimum wage jobs. really? If you could corral a unicorn for minimum wage… would you not jump at the chance? Nope. If I did not prepare my ego every morning for icy water of rejection thrown with force by strangers, I would be sad that no one wants to hire me… YET. I am not sad for more than a few painful seconds before finding the next opportunity.
I am extremely favored to have a full backpack (can’t find the article that explains the concept) This means that I have external support, both financial and emotional. I have resources. I have education. I am not living paycheck to paycheck. I am exceedingly fortunate to be in this position as I seek employment.
Let’s talk about a full backpack. Think of this imaginary backpack as your resources. If you lose your home, you can couch surf with your friends. That is a resource. If you can’t buy groceries, your parents will loan you $50 to tide you over. That is a resource. You have a good education. You might even have a good job, or know someone who knows someone who can get you an interview for a good job. For people with privilege, these resources are pretty easy to come by.
Now, let’s take away generational wealth. Your familial elders have even less than you do and cannot assist. Their living space is full. Your grades suffered because you had to work to help the family or to support yourself. The only resources to which you have access are those you created. There is no cushion, no buffer. One swipe from the universe and you lose all your resources. You are a person of color who cannot get a safe place to live with good schools. Or you can get a place to live with good schools, but can just barely afford it. This is a partially full backpack.
I am sure you can imagine how this might work for a person who has documentable special needs. (side note: IMO, EVERYONE has special needs in varying degrees) or someone who is undocumented. Not only do they not have resources, they have no backpack OR it’s full of holes.
So, if you are seeking employment, think about what that job might do to help someone else. Can you make a difference? That is the running narrative in my head as I seek a job. Am I taking this job away from someone who needs it so much more than I do? Is the job I am seeking going to make the world a better place?
Good luck, job seekers and people looking to stuff backpacks full of resources. BEST of luck.
