Summary

The web content discusses the societal pressure on recent graduates to immediately find a career job and how embracing rejection and alternative paths can lead to personal growth and happiness.

Abstract

The article emphasizes that recent graduates do not need to secure a career-defining job in their 20s, advocating for the exploration of various opportunities and learning from rejection. It suggests that the 20s are a time for personal and professional experimentation, and that job-hopping can be beneficial for career advancement and self-discovery. The author shares their own experience of transitioning from a job search to successful freelance writing, highlighting the importance of pursuing what one loves and the value of non-traditional career paths during uncertain times, especially in a pandemic.

Opinions

The author believes that societal norms, such as those described by the social clock theory, put undue pressure on young adults to achieve certain milestones by specific ages.
The article posits that rejection and failure are not only common but also valuable experiences that can lead to greater fulfillment in the long term.
It is suggested that the 20s are an ideal time to make mistakes, learn, and try new things without the constraints of long-term commitments.
The author argues that sharing stories of rejection and alternative career paths is crucial for fostering a sense of community and reducing feelings of isolation among recent graduates.
The piece challenges the stigma around job-hopping, particularly among millennials and Gen Z, framing it as a positive practice that can lead to career growth and personal satisfaction.
The author expresses that pursuing happiness and personal fulfillment should be prioritized over societal expectations and traditional career routes.
There is an acknowledgment of privilege in being able to pursue entrepreneurial or freelance opportunities, especially during a pandemic.

Career Jobs as a Recent Graduate | Illumination | Personal Essay

You Don’t Need to Find Your Career Job in Your 20s, so Embrace Rejection

You’re young, so take this time to try new things and know everything happens for a reason.

As a soon-to-be college graduate, I spent a lot of time in May crying.

Crying because I couldn’t find a job. Crying because I didn’t know how to answer a job application question. Crying because I felt like others were getting job offers and I never would. Crying because “entry level” apparently means three to five years of experience. Crying out of insecurity and feelings of worthlessness, especially as a type 3 who values conventional standards of success.

I knew that we’re in a pandemic and that job hiring is frozen. I knew that I had worked hard in college, and surely it would pay off. I knew that I wasn’t alone in struggling to find a job.

But then I read this article a friend shared on Facebook and realized: You don’t need to start your career job in your 20s.

Realizing this was a game-changer for my mood and mindset.

In your 20s, you’re young. You have decades to work a standard 9 to 5 job. You have decades to figure out what you want to do and what makes you happy. You have decades to build your résumé and learn new skills.

It doesn’t all have to happen right now. In fact, it probably won’t.

Your 20s are a time for exploring the world, even if that means the small city you live in. Your 20s are a time to make mistakes and learn from them, and to try things that you won’t be able to as easily when you’re older and potentially have kids.

The visibility of not succeeding in typical ways and taking alternate routes is crucial. While I wouldn’t wish disappointment on anyone, reading some of my friends’ Facebook posts about their rejection letters and nannying pursuits helped me feel less alone in what I was experiencing and what I wanted.

Sharing our successes is so much easier, especially on social media, where doing so is essentially the norm. When we see posts about people getting jobs at big corporations, it’s so much easier to assume that everyone else is doing well, that they’re succeeding, that they’re somehow better than we are. It’s easy to feel pressure to fit into the norm, to take the road more traveled, to do what others expect us to do.

According to the social clock theory, we are told implicitly and explicitly by society that we must pass certain life stages by certain ages. For example, women who haven’t gotten married or found a successful career path by age 30 are more likely to feel incompetent, doubtful and lonely. Many adults follow their social clock because they desire to “fit in” and feel “normal,” so no wonder college graduates feel pressure to start their careers upon graduation.

But we all fail and are rejected and have to find new paths, and reminding ourselves and others of that is imperative and meaningful.

And I think that message — “you’re not alone” — is what everyone needs right now in one way or another.

There’s nothing wrong with part-time jobs or customer service jobs. There’s nothing wrong with learning how to balance work and play. There’s nothing wrong with babysitting — you can often make just about as much money with it as you would with an entry-level job in your field.

I talked to one of my friends who quit her corporate 9 to 5 job she hated to pursue her yoga business and work customer service part-time to help pay the bills.

And she said she’s so much happier.

We talked about how we’re in such a unique time right now, a time when we’re not only young but there’s also less pressure to get a job because it’s nearly impossible anyways. We talked about how now is the time to try to work for yourself and work hard and see what happens. It’s the time to figure out what you really enjoy and what working style works best for you.

Plus, job-hopping has become commonplace now, especially for millennials and people in generation Z, in which I’m kind of both.

Job-hopping is “the practice of switching jobs frequently, particularly as a means of quick financial gain, career advancement or just wanderlust.” According to a survey, 75 percent of people between ages 18 and 34 view job-hopping as positive, and several academic experts agree that job-hopping is not something to be looked down upon.

After realizing I don’t need to pursue the traditional career route and that I can make money other ways, I began freelance writing. I’ve always loved to write. When I was younger, I wrote mystery stories in my SpongeBob notebook about a detective named Cacktell Jones who had friends with names like “Tortina Mannerby” and “Winterfall Minnifred.”

And I’ve found some success freelance writing. I work hard at it and I love it. Being able to be a freelance writer who can support herself is one of my potential dream jobs, and I’m able to work towards that goal now, which I believe is really cool.

I realize that not everyone has the privilege that I do. Not everyone can pursue more entrepreneurial-style goals right now, especially in a pandemic. I couldn’t be more grateful for the ability to have this opportunity, and I’m definitely not wasting it.

If you’re in your 20s or unable to find a job in this difficult time, I encourage you to not be afraid to take other routes. I encourage you to make money in ways that make you happy and to not feel alone or unworthy if you experience rejection. I encourage you to trust that everything happens for a reason and that — like me — your rejections now will lead to more happiness later.