Looking for Work in COVID Land

The faceless search for work in the new reality

As my impending mandatory retirement started looming before me in January of 2020, I had no concerns about finding a new job.

The economy was rocketing, and employers were having a hard time finding people to fill positions. I still had eleven months to go until I was shown to the door. So there was no concern in finding work.

I started doing my research, created profiles on the most popular job search website, and talked to other people who recently retired from the same job I had.

The problems

I was in Federal Law Enforcement for 24 years, mostly working gangs and drugs. The people I spoke with had varying degrees of success, from working for a fortune 500 company make half million a year, to being a delivery driving, making 500 a month.

The one thing they all said was — create a profile in the job sites and post a picture of yourself. Well, that created two problems for me.

First, for safety reasons, some people want to kill me, posting a picture that is associated with my name was just a little dangerous, and second, I am old and ugly as hell.

My thought goes to those online dating sites, the ones where you swipe left all the ugly ones until you find the Charlton Heston of the world. I was the left click king of the dating sites. I wondered if the job websites were the same.

I have heard that it would be hard to find work as an older worker. But does an ugly older-worker stand a chance?

What I did

At first, I created the profile with a picture and all, but then grew nervous and deleted it. I figured I would let my resume speak for itself. After all, if an employer needed an efficient worker, they would not care about the look.

But as I was preparing to start looking for work, COVID Land started to widen its territory. Eventually, we all stayed home, safely in our little bubble. Since we were all staying home, naturally, the economy shut down, and employers stopped hiring.

As things started to open back up again, I started searching seriously. I still had months to find work, no reason to stress. And after all, I had been a U.S. Special Agent.

First, I was specific on the jobs I applied for, looking for something that not only I was qualified for, but one that seemed like it would be fun to do.

After working so long in a high-stress public sector job, it was time to find something that is both relaxing and rewarding. The jobs I initially applied for were the jobs that paid very well, where life would match the crown on my head — a dream job.

I always envied the private sector jobs; the free lattes, massage chairs, the stock options, and the pie in the sky bonuses. Oh yes, even the life in this COVID Land was going to be great.

The reality hit hard

As reality slowly set in, due to the ‘thanks for applying but…’ letters, I lowered my standards. I started applying for jobs that would still be fun but paying much less. I could have a comfortable standard of living, just one or two fewer lattes a week is all.

The rejection letters and emails continued to pour in. I started to wonder why I am getting these letters as the company recruiters could have easily contacted me for another position that might fit my qualifications better.

I started imagining — a group of recruiters excitedly pouring over my resume. Probably a little bit of denying reality on my part. Maybe they were laughing over lattes while looking at my resume.

My assumptions

I thought to myself that I need to work on my cover letter. Build it as strong as I could to stand out in the faceless crowd of resumes in COVID Land.

All I need to do is get to the interview, and I would be able to wow them with my intelligence and charm. So, I worked on my cover letter, polished it nice and shiny, one so good that it would win a Pulitzer Prize. Yes, that is how I would stand out.

Once again, the reality started setting in. It was not like — not so long ago where you could talk to someone in person, to show them how much they needed you and your skills to bring their company to heights only imagined.

Maybe the position you applied for was not the right fit, but being able to dazzle them in person, you got your little toe in the door to other opportunities.

Reality has always been a dose of bitter medicine to swallow. In the new faceless COVID Land, it is more like the hangman noose letting you know that you are not worthy of the crown jewels.

If you are like me, trying to find work in the faceless new reality of COVID Land, you must stay strong.

The only way to succeed is to keep a positive mindset becoming optimistic and confident. One day, one of those recruiters will swipe right and open the door for you.