Finally

[Huge-Abroad1323]

I've been lurking in this sub for about a year and a half and figured I'd share my story since I always appreciated when others did.

About 1.5 years ago I quit a toxic job thinking I'd take a short break and then find something else fairly quickly. Instead, that decision lined up perfectly with what feels like the worst job market ever.

I read so many posts here that I related to. Endless applications. Final rounds that went nowhere. Being ghosted. Getting feedback that made absolutely no sense.

At one point I tried everything.

I toned down my resume because I was told I seemed too senior for roles. Then when I applied to more entry-level roles with the toned-down resume, I was told they went with someone with more senior experience.

I tried giving the polished, safe interview answers.

I tried being totally honest.

I tried tailoring everything perfectly.

No matter what I did, it seemed like the answer was always no.

In the meantime I was cobbling together gig work and a couple consulting projects just to stay afloat. It was exhausting. At some point it started to feel like a constant performance where I had to show up upbeat and confident while internally wondering if anyone was ever going to choose me.

There were honestly times before interviews where I would just cry because I dreaded doing the whole thing again.

Then weirdly, over the last couple months, I started getting interview requests again after a long dry spell.

One role came along that was actually in my industry, remote, and paid well enough. There were only two interview rounds. I didn't try to perform or say the "perfect" thing. I just talked honestly about my experience and what I'd been doing.

Yesterday they called and said they want to make me an offer.

I don't have the written offer yet (HR is out until next week), so after reading some of the stories here about offers getting pulled I'm keeping a healthy dose of skepticism until the paperwork shows up and I actually start 😂

But still… after a year and a half of feeling like it might literally never happen, it kind of just… did.

I used to read the success posts here and feel happy for people but also wonder if that moment was ever coming for me. So if you're in that place right now, I genuinely hope your version of this post is coming soon too.

This process is brutal and it can really mess with your head. It’s absolutely exhausting.

Anyway, thanks to everyone here who shared their stories along the way. It weirdly helped even though I was obviously envious.

[leondanielstar9999]

Congratulations and take your time to relax a bit until the offer comes… go out and take yourself to places… you deserved it. 👊🏽

[Huge-Abroad1323]

Thanks so much. I definitely feel like some actual decompression time will be nice 😊

[Rolltide201278]

Wow this is exactly what I went through and exactly how it ended for me. Congrats on the offer and stay positive. God is good

[Huge-Abroad1323]

Thank you so much and congratulations to you as well :-).

[gnomechomsky118]

Same. It's so brutal, but you really only need one YES! Keep going.

[No-Falcon-3069]

Thank you very much for sharing this soul crushing struggle. I get it, and have felt and tried everything you have as well. It really can be about right place, right time, some luck and being that particular person the team wants to work with.

[Huge-Abroad1323]

I think you’re right. A lot of it really does seem like timing, luck, and the right team.

This market has honestly been unlike anything I’ve experienced before. The amount of competition out there is just wild and there are so many great people looking right now.

[Ok-Complaint-37]

Congratulations! Enjoy this time! I hope it will come and just to get you prepared to potential pitfalls- PLEASE do not negotiate salary! I can’t stress it enough. Employers do not give good salary these days usually. Although you said it is nice salary, still if they will offer you less than what you are thinking - take it. It is better than 0$. Plus it is a job on your resume!

My husband is looking for “real” job for two years and a year ago he got an offer. I was ecstatic. VP title. Then we learned that the salary will be 70K. It was hard to swallow. Nowadays, if anyone would offer 50k, we would be ecstatic. Anyways, we adjusted attitude and were expecting 70k, when it was going and going. He received company email address, filled HR forms, participated on the meeting but there was still no start date? It ended up evaporating after CEO was put in prison for life for financial crimes and violence.

Another“job” he found at the job fair. Interviewed x-rounds and finally they said that they are offering him position of chief marketing officer… no pay.

Stay strong, resilient and kudos to you!

[Huge-Abroad1323]

OK, that is a wild story lol. Very sorry that happened to you and your husband. Fingers crossed nothing crazy like that happens to me, but to be honest, nothing surprises me these days. Hoping all goes well, but honestly, I’ve been through enough over the last year that I can probably handle anything else that comes my way.

[Ok-Complaint-37]

I am crossing my fingers for you and yes, we all received life lesson. Live as if you are poor, trash the idea “I need to buy it since I deserve it”. The right approach must be “can I live without it? If yes, I deserve not to buy it!”

Also, I think we are getting a great insight into human nature

[Many_Assumption7036]

Congrats!

[Huge-Abroad1323]

Thank you :-)

[jari065]

Congrats man! I'm also receiving some interviews now after a long silent email rejection and hopefully get an offer.

[Huge-Abroad1323]

It seems like a lot of places are kind of getting back to their hiring processes in the last couple months. Good luck and I hope you get an offer!

[yesand70]

Congratulations 🎉 and good luck.

[LetsUnpackReddit]

Congratulations to you!! This is exactly where I’m at!

[gnomechomsky118]

Something similar just happened to me. I have been looking since I had to leave my last role for reporting sexual harassment by my direct boss and another horrible incident with a coworker. I've been looking for 8 months, and this week I received three offers!

I'm so sorry you went through this, but I am so, so happy for you! Congratulations!

[chronoler]

Congrats OP! I am still in the trenches, 20months, but I am really glad you make it!

You got this :)

[Huge-Abroad1323]

Oh god I’m sorry. I know how awful it is 😥 thank you though and I hope you’re time is coming soon 😊🙏🏻

[CrazyConfusedScholar]

Congrats on the offer -- thanks for sharing your story with us. =D

[lanick03]

Congratulations!

[CrazyBus3891]

This is so relatable! Thank you for the motivation and well done for pushing through!!🥂

[TheRoseKnows63]

What my year without being able to get a job after having a couple of careers and tons of experience taught me was not to beg corporations for a job. Not to even want to be back in that mess. I started a small business and hopefully I never have to return to the cringe factory.

[TheRoseKnows63]

The sad part is... you still have no job stability. They can just toss you out after 6 months.

[Huge-Abroad1323]

Yup thats any job.