Unhireable

In the last year, I have made forty-six job applications ranging from maid to bridal consultant, dog walker to bus driver, cashier to editorial assistant at Random House and everything in between. 46! Eighteen just since January. I've updated my resume, I've made cover letters and I've taken all of the ridiculous mandatory assessment tests that measure my??? Intelligence? Ability? Skill level? What? Is that Myers-Briggs test really necessary to determine my qualifications to run a cash register, or to see if I play well with others? I'm fifty, not fifteen. I've been interviewed, fingerprinted, background checked and agreed to be drug tested. In thirty seven years, I've never had a job that wasn't customer service related, so why am I unhireable?

I went on another interview yesterday. The woman spent five minutes with me, five. An hour later I got this email...

Full disclosure, the job was for book seller at a major retail chain. I redacted the store's brand and location, because you see, I was told I would get a call back, not a form letter. It's an absolute slap in the face that people (me) are treated this way. I meet the requirements for this job in every possible way!! A writer working in a book store should be their golden egg laying goose for God's sake. I just don't understand. Uprooting my life and moving to a different state was supposed to be the hard part. I never thought twice about finding a job, and here I am five months without a paycheck. The cost of everything has gone up in the last year, too. Everything. I understand with flawless clarity how people become homeless, because it's at my doorstep, and nobody really cares save those who are directly affected. Sure, I try to maintain a positive attitude, walk in faithfulness and gratitude, but my Facebook friend's coffee table pic received more likes than this will get reads. I write for myself.

Sincerely frustrated beyond comprehension,

TR