I didn't write this Reddit post, but I feel like I could have.
I started this week with two big rejections from roles I was not only qualified for, but could have excelled in! I laid awake last night thinking about what exactly is different about this job hunt, and something a little terrifying dawned on me:
Based on 2024 hiring practices, I would not have been hired for a single role I've held in my entire 21 year career.
Before I was in TV production, I had zero professional experience. I learned how to produce complex projects and collaborate with diverse teams, and to problem solve under pressure.
Before I worked in marketing agencies, all I had was TV production experience. I learned how to negotiate costs with print vendors, traffic our creative needs to meet competing deadlines, and learned how to interpret and react to KPIs.
Before I worked at MetroPCS, all I had was agency experience. I didn't know anything about telecommunications. I learned how to build and launch a market from the ground up, how to support direct and indirect sales channels, how to make strategic media buys, and how to build powerful sponsorships and partnerships.
Before I worked at Zappos, I didn't know anything about e-commerce other than I liked to personally shop online. All I had was telecommunications experience and supporting brick and mortar retail operations. I learned so much about the brands we sold on site and how to drive sales that I was invited to become a footwear buyer. I didn't go to school for fashion merchandising, but it came easily.
Before I oversaw merchandising and e-commerce operations for The Bouqs Co., I had no floral experience. I'd been a footwear buyer. But I was able to take the same hard skill set and revitalize the assortment plan and pricing strategies, leading to 59% NET revenue growth in my first year on the job, along with healthier margins, improved Net Promoter scores, lower COGs, and more productive SKUs — and I did it all with perishable inventory and high customer expectations.
Before I oversaw partnerships for a financial services company, I hadn't led a partnerships team since I worked at Zappos, and those partners were brands like Rimowa and UGG. I had no experience speaking with state industry associations or marketing to their members. But I built a business development and partnerships team that drove 85% of all inbound sales leads and grew our partnerships community by 40% in under one year.
Every job posting today requires a specificity of skills that are laughable. I know the new hybrid and remote work environment allows us all to search a little easier for candidates with a few more wish list skills but what happened to understanding that candidates with a solid enough skill set can learn about any niche or industry or unique business need?
Today is Day 161 of the longest job hunt of my life. I hope this changes for all of us soon.
#greenbannergang #opentowork #jobhunt #jobsearch
