Trying to land a good job and it's really hard

Ok, so I am 50 now. I've been around the block employment-wise. I've worked for a number of different types of organizations at this stage, and I know what I like, what I prefer, what I don't like and what does not work for me.

So far, I've been afforded the opportunity to be picky and choosy about my next job. I've turned down many interviews, and I've walked away from jobs in the middle of the process because I knew they weren't for me.

Now, I am in a position whereby I cannot afford to be so picky and choosy. I do have several months before it becomes a pressure cooker for me.

I have had really BAD experiences in the past with startups - so bad, that I walked out the door on two startup jobs. Startups are generally chaotic, they lack policies and procedures in place, and they require you to wear many hats, often times, springing new job responsibilities on you at random.

I am a very organized and orderly person. I cannot stand chaos. And I need structure in place - meaning policies and processes to follow. I don't want to wear many hats at once, and I don't want to be frequently asked to take on new responsibilities that have nothing to do with the original job for which I was hired.

However, a startup approached me for an interview. The salary is en par with what I seek and so is the position itself. However, they have no formal job description for me to read. The CEO, to whom I would report, plans on verbally describing the position to me in the interview - without one being formally presented beforehand.

Its' rubbing me the wrong way already - maybe my prior experiences have me SO soured, but I feel very wary of this company, yet I do need a job asap.

I feel very wary of this startup, and of even interviewing with them. But can I even afford to turn down an interview right now? Probably not.

I just wish the right job would come along, and it's been five months so far. I really don't want to have to be looking for work again in one year's time.

WHEN and IS there even a right job for me????

I am SO frustrated with this process.

Dear Have Hope,

That sounds like such an undesirable position to be in, being pulled in two directions by your need for a job and the availability of a job that seems like it will make you unhappy. I wish I had some great insight or wisdom to share but sadly I am a loss. In my own life I have often been driven into jobs that were not only not right for me given my personality and character but which were mental ordeals, so my heart goes out to you. It would be great if something that suited you turned up. I am so very sorry I am unable to be helpful to you!

Sincerely yours, Yao Wen

The validation and your kindness helps, @Yaowen! THANK YOU! I've always had crappy jobs, so this go around, I was really hoping to be able to land something truly awesome for myself but I am afraid that that may not be able to happen.

Oh! AND.... in my particular area of expertise and field? Employers often require test "exercises", quizzes and tests! And I have failed many of these tests in the past.

Yet another employer wants me to complete an exercise before moving onto the next round - and this one, I WILL complete because I have no choice at this point. The last time an employer asked me to complete a test AND THEN present my findings IN THE INTERVIEW? I SAID NO THANK YOU.

Interview processes are more and more elaborate nowadays. My nephew got a job across the country last year, he had four rounds of interviews, two virtual and two he had to fly there, one interview lasted all day because it consisted of tests and exercises. It’s quite insane. One has to have so much stamina to endure job searches and interviews

Yes - it's insane the hoops you have to jump through to get a job! It does take a lot of stamina.

Yet another rejection - I cannot take it anymore. I have a great resume and amazing recommendations, available on my LinkedIn public profile. I do not get it.

ARGH!!!!!

I was approached by a recruiter about a job with Intuit! The job paid $65 per hour and is a six-month+ contract/consulting role. So I got so enthused and excited by it, only to be told the company is on the west coast and doesn't want any east coast consultants. I could work PST hours, but that really does NOT work for me at all. I lose consciousness around 7-8 PM, so working until 9 PM every night would kill me. Literally.

I am SO disappointed. I am also super annoyed that the recruiter even bothered to get me enthused and THEN tells me the hours won't work out.

Interviewing while going through a most painful and difficult divorce process is proving to be running my mental health into the ground. I wanted to go to the hospital yesterday. I am not well.

However, a recruiter told me today that I am close to a job offer. I have one more round of interviews, but apparently I'm the #1 candidate.

Excellent!!!!

Thanks!!! I hope I am not jinxing it!

Unconscious??

Could you work late but sleep later too? You’d not have to get up early. For 65 an hour it might be a sweet deal for just 6 months?

Nope - just flat it will not work and is not worth it.

Got you. Hope something else will come up soon.

Well, since I'm very close to an offer, I have high hopes for this one job right now.

I saw that! I am crossing my fingers and toes!

Aw, thanks for the solidarity!!!! Greatly appreciated!!!

The interviews yesterday with this company went pretty well. There were two separate interviews. In the first, I got kind of lost in the details of what she was talking about. In the second, I was really on my game and did great. There may need to be one more interview since one person could not attend yesterday. I am anxiously waiting to hear from the internal recruiter on whether there is one more interview or whether I have a job offer.

Wishing you luck, Have Hope!! You're almost there!!

@Breaking Dawn, thank you SO much.

I love that dancing chili!!!! LOL

I got the job offer today!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One problem solved!!!!!

Great!!! Congrats. Tell us more! When do you start??

THANKS!!!!!! I am THRILLED!

The company is LARGE - over 20,000 employees, a professional services firm locally based, but with 53 offices in total. 30 years old, so they're established and stable. Great team, great company and I think what will be a great boss!!!

I start in two weeks - so I have nothing to do for two full weeks now except prepare for my job and maybe get out of town.

It’s good to have those weeks to organize everything for starting a new job. Get your clothes situated. Or if you are going to work from home for now, make your second bedroom into a nice office? Could you get your husband to hurry up get his stuff out so you can make that room nice? Two weeks will be a good time for getting ready for a new start.