Is It Hard Finding Work?

I'm sure when most millennials hear the question, "Is it hard finding work?" the answer is a resounding "Yes!”

I know it is for me, at least.

We all have friends who swear they have applied everywhere and never hear back. However, we also have the friends with the dream jobs; the jobs that make us green with envy.

Is it luck? "How come so and so has the perfect checkout chick job and not me?" We've all had a similar thought at one point or another. Fact is, sometimes it is pure luck…. and you're just not the lucky one.

A new Woolworths opened up in the town I attend school and jobs galore became available for so many past and present students. The problem for me? I don't actually live in that town, so working there just wasn't a possibility.

This is an old story. "It's the perfect job but too far away." Or, "It's perfect, but the hours clash with (insert activity)."

For the most part, my generation isn't being picky. I know of a boy who happily spent his Saturdays collecting eggs on a farm (5am to 12pm) because it's the only job he could find. Sometimes things just don't work in your favour. However, pride may be a problem.

When I turned 15, the thought of working at a fast-food chain was quite honestly a nightmare. I saw it as the stereotypical greasy teenage job so many of us try to avoid.

However, in the years since being a stubborn teenager, it has become one of my regrets. I have friends who've worked in fast-food for years and have developed so many more friends and connections as a result. They have crew outings and fundraising events with flexible hours. Now, I'm not advocating this sort of job as a one stop fit for everybody, or championing fast-food chains as the answer to all employment, but so often pride blinds us that we don't even consider it as an option.

So, finding work definitely doesn't seem like an easy endeavour. We're overwhelmed with school, study, any extracurricular activities and a slew of commitments. That’s not to mention the obstacles of transport, whether it be public transport, reliance on parents and guardians fitting your work hours to suit them, or affording your own petrol. Plus (admittedly for me at least) sometimes our idea of what a "good" and "acceptable" job is can cloud our judgement.

Still, as I mentioned, there are always those who find the dream job. Find one and ask them their secret. And if you are one of the lucky ones, don’t judge those of us who are genuinely looking but are dealing with the obstacles in our way.

Congratulations to Tyler for winning this writing challenge, answering: Is It Hard Finding Work? Tyler wins a $50 Westfield gift card for their submission. For your chance to win, check out our latest writing challenges in our Comps section. Also, be sure to follow this guide on how to win the writing challenge!