She Strengthens

The Unintended Insult of Job Postings

After graduating from college, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery, navigating the complex world of job searching. While I appreciated the good intentions of my friends who reached out to offer help, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of frustration every time I received a message saying, “Hey, I saw this job posting that might interest you!” accompanied by a link to a generic job board.

The Problem with Unsolicited Job Leads

These messages, often from acquaintances who hadn’t spoken to me in months, came across as condescending and unsupportive. It was as if they assumed I was struggling to find employment and needed their guidance. The truth was, I had already exhaustively searched for jobs and was intentionally choosing not to apply to certain positions. When friends sent me job postings that didn’t align with my interests or skills, it felt like they were implying that I was desperate and would take anything.

A Slap in the Face

Receiving these messages made me feel undervalued and unappreciated. It was as if my friends saw me as “unemployed” rather than recognizing the hard work I was putting into my freelance writing career. The assumption that I was constantly looking for work was not only inaccurate but also demeaning. It took away from the progress I had made and the success I was achieving in my own right.

The Power of Empathy

What I needed during that time was empathy and understanding, not unsolicited job leads. A simple phone call or coffee meeting to ask about my well-being would have gone a long way in making me feel supported. Instead of pushing job postings, my friends could have offered to review my resume or provided valuable insights into their own industries. By doing so, they would have shown that they genuinely cared about my success.

A Lesson Learned

In hindsight, I appreciate the kind intentions behind those job postings. However, I hope that my friends and others can learn from my experience. If you want to help a friend who is job searching, take the time to understand their goals and aspirations. Offer support and guidance that is tailored to their needs, rather than simply sending a generic job posting. By doing so, you can help them feel seen, heard, and valued.