The rejection clusterfudge.

That actually sounds way more delicious than what I meant.  It is not a gooey chocolatey batch of goodness that just 'wasn't quite right' (which, in my world doesn't even exist)... Nope!  Lucky you... talkin bout when you totally put yourself out there... are completely honest about who you are, your situation and actually even feel great about telling it... and then... pfffft.  Nothing.  Nada.  Or just a flat out NO, you suck and you seem to be some sort of curse.  YAY REJECTION!


"We're going in a different direction."


"We have reviewed your resume and have decided to pursue other candidates for this position." - love, Ikea (from my actual rejection letter, ok, except the love part)


"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but this card doesn't seem to be working"


"It's not you, it's me"


Fortunately, I didn't hear any of these this past Saturday night (HEY-O :) but I digress.  But those top three quotes I have experienced in the past five days.  I'm not gonna lie - the Ikea one threw me for a crappy loop.  REALLY?!?!  IKEA doesn't want me?!?!  Yea, that hurt.  My brain went on it's own little tailspin.  This is when the rejection fairy starts telling you how much you suck and you'll never get anything... and then, if you are lucky enough, you have friends come around and help you kick that stupid fairy's ass and focus. 


I do think rejection happens for a reason.  At least, that's what keeps me from going COMPLETELY mental.  My feelings are that rejection happens because, simply, it's just not the right fit.  I know, I know... cliches again, but what else you got?  Even freakin Halle Berry gets rejected.  Her husband cheated on her, for crying out loud.  It just happens.  And you can't control it or even know why it happens.  But where you have control over it is how you react to it.


As hard as it is (and it's REALLY effing hard), every day I try and stay positive.  Every day I wake up and think today could be the day I get the "we DO want you, you really are an asset and we were totally kidding about that curse thing" call.  It doesn't always work, and there are going to be plenty of days that you feel like you are in the ocean right at the breakers and you just keep getting pounded by one wave after another after another.  The only thing you can do is get right back up, stand up tall and hope for a little smooth sailing.  Everything is temporary - even rejection.

Next frog, please.

It's funny.  Job hunting is so much like dating it really makes me want to puke sometimes.  Take the interview - just like the first date... you want to put your best foot forward... look your best and be your charming, witty self... 'will we want the same things for the future?  will we have that connection?  will he have the bankroll to fulfill my flashy lifestyle?'  See?  Annoying, isn't it.  Oh, it gets better.  And YES that last one was a joke.

Sometimes it's easy to tell right away.  'Um, (insert name of date/potential new boss/company) you're boring as hell and I can already tell you suck at life. It's not going to work.'  Sometimes it's not so easy - smoke will be blown and those people are everywhere.  You could be having a great time...  learning a lot about the new interest, big promises about your future, meeting the family/new co-workers....  the hope that you won't have to be 'looking' anymore... just an all around exciting time.  

Then you start to notice the little things.  Nothing major at first, but little flags start popping up.  Like... 'oh, you can't pay me at all?/oh, you live in your mom's basement?'... Ok, so I jumped right to the big things, but you're picking up what I'm throwing down, right?

They aren't all going to be the one.  We have to kiss some frogs/work at some not so great places to find out where they are.  There is rejection.  A FREAKING lot of it.  But there are also times when you have to be the one to decide when to walk away, and that can be hard, too.  You really just have to trust your gut.  Listen to that little guy saying if it's right or not.  Have faith that the right one(s) are out there and don't stop looking till you find it.  And I'm told that you'll 'know when you know'.  I'm pretty over the whole process myself, but I'm still not giving up... ever...