I wonder what they say when they put my applications in the reject pile. Do they laugh a little when they look at my resume? Do they feel sorry for me when they read my cover letter? Does my cover letter leave them uninterested? Is it too repetitive? Is there something off-putting about the words I choose?

I fear I’m getting rejected because I’ve never had a real job, like a job at a company that lasted more than 6 months. I can’t get hired at some places because I don’t have enough experience and I can’t get hired at other places because I have a college degree. I applied at McDonald’s and even they didn’t call me back.

I worked at McDonald’s one summer as a cashier. I had a scholarship job at Truman for a semester. I dug in Israel for a couple weeks (which was actually pretty demanding work). And I had a seasonal (3 month) job at the University Bookstore, after I transferred to Mizzou. And that’s it! I have no honors to speak of, no organizations… though I was in a “service fraternity” at Truman for a semester. I didn’t like it, and so didn’t bother maintaining my membership at Mizzou. In looking at my resume, I am reminded that I really did not enjoy college. I hated college. But the people who are reading my resume, who knows what they see? Maybe they think I was too busy partying or that I’m simply not the working type. What do they want to see? That I maintained a 3.5 GPA and worked all through college? Even then would they consider me?

I guess I haven’t put in *that* many applications. Perhaps a little over 20. Last time I counted, it was 15, and I’ve put in several more since then. It feels like a lot. Perhaps because of the rejection. People always remember when they get it wrong, not so much when they get it right. A hundred people might praise you, but the one person who mocked you, they’re the one whose words will linger in the back of your mind.