Diary of a Grey Journey: This. Is. Big.
Shivani Karia recently embarked on her own grey journey and she’s sharing each step with the LITG community. This week Shivani shares some exciting news!
I started off 2013 well. I celebrated the New Year with my family and friends and welcomed 2013 with open arms, knowing full well that this year, this year, was going to be different. This year, I was going to push myself out of my comfort zone. I was going to get out of the rut that I’d unknowingly put myself in. I was going to step out of the box and into the unknown, whether I liked it or not. In fact, I even tweeted the following statement on January 4th:
“1st tweet of 2013! This year’s going to be different. Big changes will come my way. I’ll make it happen! #TakeRisks #DreamBig”
I posted this, I think, to hold myself to that promise of change. I’d made this type of comment many times before but I had never actually followed through on it. Posting this tweet was my way of making sure that when I looked back on my year, I lived up to that tweet. I lived up to the promise of change that I’d made to myself, no matter how big or small that change would be. Little did I know though, just how big and true this statement would become.
Did I expect that the big change would be me quitting my comfortable, secure job of 2 1/2 years without even having another job lined up? Nope, not at all. Did I expect that the big change that I’m preparing to announce would be THIS big? Nope, it’s not one I would ever have even imagined.
Throughout the past couple months, I’ve been applying to many jobs all around the United States. I’ve been applying for jobs that fit my skill set and experience thus far and I’ve been applying for jobs that may have been a bit of a reach for me. I’ve interviewed for a few and then, been rejected by many.
*Quick side note, rejection sucks and it’s the worst feeling in the world but it’s when you learn and realize that there’s something so much better out there for you.*
As I was saying, I’ve become quite a pro in applying for jobs. That online form you have to fill out? I can do that in record time. The automated emails I’d get back after submitting an application? Yep, I have a whole separate folder in my email just to store and organize those emails. (If you ever need help getting through that tiring and fairly taxing process, I’m your girl!)
The thing with applying to so many positions is that they all start to run together after awhile. Until a few email you back, wanting to get to know you a little better. I received a few of these emails and my first thought was always, “they want to talk to me!?!?” And then I’d roll my eyes and tell myself, “No, they’re just emailing for kicks and giggles.” After I’d catch my breath, I’d email them back (not too quickly, of course. I didn’t want to seem like I had been waiting for days for their email, even if this was case!)
This is a vicious cycle, let me tell you. It feels like it’s a never-ending process that you will be stuck in for the rest of your life. Until just one turns into something. All you need is one of these emails to turn into an interview. From there, you need that interview (which you rocked, by the way) to turn into a small yet very important assignment. If all goes well, that small yet very important assignment will turn into….a job offer.
Yep, you read that right. That never-ending process of applying and being rejected has finally ended for this little lady – she got a job! And the most exciting yet equally as frightening part? It’s in the heart of New York City. Halfway across the country.
Holy. Crap.
Shivani Karia, an Indian American raised in the heart of the Midwest, is determined step out of the box and experience all the grey that life has to offer.