A Little Advice to My Future Self...

...and maybe you'll get some benefit from it, too.

Hi Ethan. So you're job-hunting again? It really is no fun. I get it. The thing is, you've been here before. It may feel like this time is different, and I'm sure it is! But in some ways, it's also the same, so try to remember these nuggets of wisdom that you learned the last time around. They should help, at least a little:

• It's all about finding a match. This doesn't apply only to the interview process and when you're choosing between job offers. It matters from the very start: What jobs do you apply for? Would you be a good match in their opinion? Each rejection will be hard, and it can be even harder if they don't even interview you or simply forget to let you know that someone else was hired. But in the end, remember that if they didn't think you were a great fit, it's possibly you weren't, and that you dodged a bullet. If they'd offered you an ill-fitting job and you'd accepted because you had no other pending offers, would that really have been better?
• It gets easier. The first few applications will be very hard. You'll feel like you don't know what you're doing. You may feel impostor syndrome, or be tempted to compare yourself to others. Resist that temptation! Everyone (I have to assume) has to drive this same rocky road, and you'll get through it. And really, once you've found a groove, it can be a bit fun to adapt your letter and statement and CV to each position: creating and integrating an attractive narrative tailored just to that job, and imagining what life might be like in that job.
• Stretch yourself. There's a balance between casting a wide net and targeting jobs that you especially want to do. Anyone who says it's an easy call is lying. Don't forget that whatever anyone says, what jobs you apply for really is your call. That said, try to give each possible job an honest appraisal. Sometimes, a job might seem ill suited at first but turn out to be a great fit! Be mindful that whoever writes the job description might not be the best at communication. Part of your task is to decipher and unpack what they say to get at the heart of what the job is all about. And when in doubt, there's no harm in reach out for clarification!
• Communication is key. Keep track of when you submit, and be sure to follow up. If they give a timeline, allow more time, because that's usually how things work. If they say, "We expect to do interviews in two weeks" and you haven't heard anything by four weeks, it's fine to reach out. Also, check your spam folder daily! It's also a good idea to set up some never-send-to-spam filters for, say, .edu and .gov e-mail addresses.
• Have faith. Your spiritual walk got you through grad school, and it got you through each rough time since. Don't neglect it. It's powerful.