#13: CEO of Job Rejection Services

By Sarah Wexler

I’m standing there, about to walk across the graduation stage for my second degree in five years. Cap on. Gown zipped. Crowd cheering. Parents beaming.

And yet... the only thing that came to mind was:

“This would feel a whole lot better if I had a job lined up right now.”

It’s a strange time to be graduating, to say the least. The socio-political and economic state of the world is dismal, and pretty discouraging for people like me who have so much to give, but no one to give it to.

I’ve tried my best — the internships, the networking, the resume tweaks, the late nights, and, you know, the DEGREE. And still, like so many others, I’m staring into a job market that feels more discouraging than ever.

One minute you’re applying to a “Marketing Coordinator” role that turns out to be commission-based sales (and possibly a scam?). The next, you’re being ghosted after three rounds of interviews for a position that was “urgently hiring.” ????

They say finding a job is a full-time job. Okay… in that case: can I have a supervisor? A manager? A salary? Maybe some onboarding on how to even act in interview rooms, or how to apply without wondering if the job is even real?

Walking across the graduation stage into my full-on job search felt more like walking the plank.

If I’m being honest, after finishing my third-round interview with a company, I actually thought:
“That was easy! Why does everyone say this whole ‘getting a job’ thing is so hard?”

I was so excited to come on here and say that all of my self-work and diligence weren’t for nothing. I wanted to say that this world is, indeed, a meritocracy and to keep on hoping, because it can be like that for you too.

That just would’ve been too easy, right?

Here I am — four business days past my supposed “you’ll hear back from us” date — sitting with a familiar mix of embarrassment, shame, and discouragement.

And even I — the girl who preaches staying balanced, not catastrophizing, not letting one thing define you — found myself thinking:

“Well, if they’re not going to hire me… no one else will.”

NO. That is the worst thing I could’ve told myself.

Even as I sit here writing this, my brain is busy whispering:

  • “I wish I knew what I wanted to do four years ago.”

  • “I wish I was more talkative during that interview.”

  • “I wish [insert imaginary scenario where I was perfect and immediately hired].”

Sure, rejection after an in-person interview doesn’t exactly do wonders for your ego or your growth mindset. But it also doesn’t mean I’ve hit a dead end. It just means that one door closed — rudely, and without explanation — but it wasn’t the door.

And I have to believe that the right one is still ahead.

I would love to come on here and blame the president. Or the economy. Or the people who interviewed me.

You know — anyone but me. :)

But in reality, I don’t have to blame anyone. What I do have to do is stay hopeful. Stay diligent. And keep believing in myself, even when no one in the U.S. workforce is validating that belief for me.

Honestly, I hate when people say that one quote — "Rejection is just redirection."
That’s like telling someone rain on their wedding day is good luck. It’s a saccharine way of saying, “I have nothing else to offer you, so here’s this hollow, overused one-liner.” It’s one thing to say it — but a totally different thing to actually believe it.

All I can say is: I’m really glad I’ve put in the time for my own self-work. Because without the growth in my confidence over the last year, I know I’d be feeling even more lost, and a whole lot more ashamed in this moment.

So hey, that’s one win. Right?

The world isn’t a meritocracy. Most of the time, it’s an unfair, unjust... nepotism-ocracy. (probably should’ve left that one in the drafts).

So if you’re finding yourself where I am — full of ideas, ready to learn, feeling like you’re bursting with potential, but with nowhere to put it all — you’re not alone. We’re here together.

If you have any encouragement, interview tips, or job-securing secrets, by all means — comment them. Spread the wealth. But if you’re just as lost as me, know you have a safe space to relate to.

I don’t know how long this job search will last. But until then, I’m going to be the sparkliest, most positive version of myself.

Here is your sign that you should too.

xoxo, Sarah Love

Find Your Sparkle

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#14: From “Who Am I?” to “Who I Am”

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#12: Some Lessons From College I Learned the Hard Way