There’s No Crying in Job Hunting (Except There Is)

Looking for a job is not for the weak-hearted.

For the last five and a half months, I’ve been searching for my next role. And the phrase that kept playing in my head came from one of my favorite movies, A League of Their Own, when Tom Hanks famously says, “There’s no crying in baseball.”

That became my mantra: “There’s no crying in job hunting.”

Unfortunately… that mantra didn’t always stick. There has been a lot of crying.

I wanted to share my experience navigating the job market as a 47-year-old woman, the good, the bad, and the ugly, actually, more like the bad, the ugly, and the downright brutal.

So why am I looking for a job? After nine years at the same organization, I had to decide whether to stay or go. 

My husband and I talked it through. I prayed about it. I asked God if I should stay or go.

And God said… nothing.

Not because He was absent, but because He was letting me choose. And I trusted that whatever I decided, He would walk with me through it. So I chose to leave. With no backup plan. Just faith and a terrifying amount of adrenaline.

Here’s what I thought would happen: I have over 20 years of experience. A deep network. A solid reputation. I truly believed someone would scoop me up immediately.

Here’s what actually happened: Silence. Rejection. Ego obliteration.

The first two weeks after I left, I did absolutely nothing. It was summer. I rested. I breathed. I lived.

Then it was time to get a job. Easy peasy. Or so I thought.

One week turned into two. Two into a month. A month into five and a half months.

And still… nothing.

I sent out over 60 applications; restaurants, nonprofits, school districts, government roles, remote jobs, and even cruise ship positions. I tailored every resume, used AI to hit keywords (and before you judge… if you’re not doing this right now, you’re behind), and rewrote countless cover letters.

About 30% replied. Most were the classic:

“Thank you for your application. While your resume is very impressive, we’ve decided to move forward with another candidate. We will keep your resume on file…”

Spoiler alert: they never do.

I had over 20 interviews: phone interviews, Zoom calls, in-person meetings, and even AI interviews with a literal computer. I once had a duel interview with another candidate, Hunger Games-style. The odds were not in my favor. I clearly did not channel my inner Katniss Everdeen.

I used every connection I had. One job included a glowing recommendation sent directly to the hiring manager from a former coworker. I didn’t even get an interview, just a rejection email.

Monday through Friday for five months, my routine stayed the same:

5 a.m. - Bible.

5:30 am - Workout.

8 am - 12 pm - Job boards Apply.

Repeat.

At night, I would cry to my husband. Not just because I couldn’t find a job, but because I felt useless. I felt like my worth vanished with my paycheck. I went from having a career I loved to feeling as if no one wanted me.

And yes, I was angry with God.

My prayers sounded like this: “God, I have two kids in college and one in middle school. We don’t need luxury. We need groceries.”

And the biggest lesson through all of this?

Trust.

Even when my faith felt microscopic. Even when I was scared. Even when I felt ashamed. Trust in God, that somehow I would be okay.  That somehow my family would be okay. 

Crazy thing, our bills got paid, our kids were okay, and somehow, shockingly, my marriage grew stronger.

That’s when I realized the hard truth that changed everything: I had tied my worth to what I did, not who I belonged to.

I am a wife.

A mother.

And most importantly,  God’s daughter.

And that doesn’t disappear when a job does.

So, did I finally get hired?

Yes, I did.

After five and a half months, I landed the perfect role as a volunteer coordinator at a local hospice company. This position draws on every skill, every lesson, and every ounce of empathy this season and what my past experiences have carved into me. Shameless plug, I need volunteers. Do you want to volunteer for me? 

So here is my final takeaway. 

The job search broke my ego. It humbled my pride. It exposed where I had tied my worth. But it also rebuilt me with stronger hands and a quieter confidence.

If you’re searching right now, keep applying, keep crying, keep showing up.

Your timing may be delayed, but your story is not finished.