In a world that's so business and power driven, it's really disappointing to see (and learn from my own awful experiences) just how bad communication is between employers when it comes to following up after interviews. Whether you're looking for a job or trying to transition out of one (like me) it is said that it's better to find a new job while already having one but I find this to be conflicting at times because some employers have automatic judgments of you before even giving you a chance. You apply for a position that goes into the abyss never knowing if it will be seen let alone if you will get any response. Even automated responses become so irritating because naturally it seems as if an employer didn't even review your resume, and yet you're getting some basic, pointless response telling you in a kind way that you're unwanted. It's not really about accepting "no" when you've been constantly turned down (I can take being told no just fine) it's about the time and effort you put into applying, everything is all done online, you submit your resume, have to edit everything that auto-populates into preset fields, and sometimes go through pointless personality surveys which I still don't understand why these are used anyway, especially if you're an outgoing or strong person who's optimistic and still are denied in the end. You're constantly changing and updating your resume to point out the importance of your skills, and specifically highlight your longevity to show that you are trying to job-hop, but again you're judged for this too. For those that read that fine print "we do not discriminate against age, sex, race, religious background, etc.." is a lie because behind closed doors we are all discriminated, and for those who get an interview show up, play the part, say the right answers are now judged by your appearance or your efforts in how you carry yourself. And god forbid a strong, independent woman try to get ahead in life and you hear responses like "how old are you?", "you're not married, you don't have kids?, how have you been able to get this far in life on your own?" to "you're overqualified", "you're very intelligent but we find you and your current employer to be intimidating so we aren't going to offer you a position because of this...", a never-ending cycle of assumptions that do nothing but become more frustrating over time the more you encounter it.

No response after applying for positions is just as upsetting as receiving a generated rejection email notification, maybe even worse, I say. Meanwhile your professional email is bombarded with constant job boards that all require an account and password, but produce no results with communication. Employers seek someone with good communication but when you attempt this, you're forgotten about or told lies just to avoid the truth about a position. Another frustration is getting recruiters from staffing agencies who either try to toss you in unqualified positions just to fill a role, or often don't want to bother with you because you hold yourself to higher standards and your experience should match a solid pay scale, yet they want to pay barely $15 per hour while overloading you with mountains of work because they know you "need a job" and are desperate for anything at that point. Let's not forget about recruiters that somehow come across your resume and aren't even located in the same city or state as you, and their language barriers make it so hard to trust them, their agency or their efforts of helping you.

The cost of living, medical/housing expenses, gas, etc. increases year after year except your pay. In California it's difficult to live alone and support yourself when the gov't takes every form of tax they can create to make life miserable for you but ensure they get their six figure salary. Just earlier today I got an email from a recruiter regarding a position located in a different city, and one that I'm not qualified for. I sent an email response back expressing my concerns that I don't reside in the city of the listed position and that while I have experience with the position in general, it's not experience that matches their requirements. I got no reply response from this recruiter after I sent my email. I've also noticed these recruiters have really unprofessional email formats, everything is sloppy, misspelled, and I've even had one recruiter request my resume, and then told me he "has to make some changes to it" which I didn't understand why at the time, but learned it was all to incorrectly place me in a position to fill a role (that's a whole different story). I am a very observant person and notice a lot of things when it comes to the world of job-seeking, and the frustrating process that's encountered along the way.