Page 14 of The Gin Lover's Guide to Dating

Dear Ms Hamilton,

Thank you for taking the time to apply for the role of Senior Manager, Internal Communications. Unfortunately, after careful consideration, our client has decided not to take your application any further, as there are other candidates with more suitable skills and experience.

Best of luck with your ongoing job search.

Sorcha Nazim

Lead Recruitment Consultant

A rejection? What the hell? I expected at least an interview for that role. It might be a step up from what I’ve been doing at McArthur Cohen – more aligned to the level I was expecting to be promoted to. But still, it was clear from the advert it’s for a much smaller company, and I definitely met almost all of the criteria for the role. Flustered, I click onto the next email.

As I read through it, my jaw almost hits the floor. Another rejection? This is so not what I expected. I massage my forehead in a bid to get my head around these revelations. What’s going on? The last time I was job-hunting, I was snapped up so quickly. And the time before. Always for roles above my current post. Have things changed? Or is it because of the level I’m applying for?

I suddenly remember what Dylan said about his friend; about the job market and the sheer numbers of applicants companies are getting now. Could he actually have been right? I take a deep faltering breath and let out a cry of frustration: does this mean I’m going to have to apply for jobs at the level I’m currently at? I worked so hard; coming so close. Now I may have to take a sideways move that will set me back months, even a year or two, all because my face didn’t fit. It will be so embarrassing having people find out that I’ve floundered – probably just as some of them expected.

‘When you gonna accept that this just isn’t you?’

‘Shut. Up. Dylan,’ I hiss out loud, as my cursor hovers over the third email.

I almost can’t bear to open it, unsure that I’m in the frame of mind to deal with a hat-trick of rejections after my crappy night out. But I know I’m kidding myself. I click to open it and close my eyes for a second. When I open them, my eyes dance over the page, taking in just the key words.

Thank you, man upstairs! It’s an invite to an interview. That’s more like it. And this one’s a direct application: not through an agency, which is even better. It’s a company within a different industry to mine, but that could be a good thing: to add diversity to my CV.

I quickly log into the company’s recruitment portal via the link in the email and select my interview slot. There – first one scheduled. Maybe I won’t need to apply for jobs at my current level after all. It was probably just a slow start. Rejections will always come first – and there were always going to be some. From here on in, the only way is up.

Chapter 4

3 months later

‘Thank you, Liv. That’s all the questions we had for you. From your CV and what you’ve indicated today, you appear to have considerable experience. Obviously that level of expertise would be greatly welcomed here. However, do you think you would find it rewarding enough?’

Here we go again.

‘Absolutely.’ I plaster on a convincingly enthusiastic smile. ‘I love this kind of work. There’s nothing more rewarding than getting people on board and seeing an organisation really start to blossom.’

‘That’s great.’ Jan, the lead interviewer, gives an impressed nod. ‘Any questions before we finish up?’

‘When will you be making a decision?’

‘You’re our last interview,’ says Jan. ‘So, we hope to be back in touch by the end of the day. We need to move fast on this one.’

‘OK, thank you.’ I sit back so they know I’m finished.

A few hours later, while wandering aimlessly along Rose Street, unsure of what to do with myself, my phone starts to ring. I grab it from my handbag and dive into an alleyway to get some quiet.

‘Hello, Liv speaking.’

‘Liv, hello again. This is Jan from LPC Telecommunications. I’m calling, as you know, to follow up on your earlier interview.’

‘Of course.’ I ensure my tone is enthusiastic.

‘It’s been a tough process, Liv. There were some really strong candidates – yourself included…’

‘Thank you.’ I wait for Jan to continue.

‘After poring over this for the last couple of hours, John and I have come to a decision, and I’m afraid it’s not good news. It was down to you and one other candidate, and we just felt that the other person would be a better fit. We also wondered if the role would have been enough for you, given the experience you have.’

I rub my face, exhausted, disappointed, downhearted, but not surprised.

---