200+ Applications. One Job. Finally!

Yes! After over 200 job applications, I finally landed a job in an organization and role I truly wanted. I applied all over the U.S., but mostly in the West Coast area, specifically, my gloomy-lovely city, Seattle.

Let’s talk about the stats first! Out of those 200+ applications, I received 12 interviews (all in Seattle), and only had 3 final interviews—including the one I landed. Now you do the math on how tight the odds were for me to get this one job offer. It was a challenging yet memorable journey that I’ll treasure forever. It came with many sleepless nights—most of them not because I was applying (lol), but because of my unnecessary anxiety and tears. This six-month-long journey was beyond a roller coaster. 

When I graduated from college, job searching wasn’t this intense. I vividly remember applying to fewer than 15 places—mostly media or newsroom roles. Oddly enough, I applied to just one nonprofit, landed that role, and it ended up shaping my nonprofit career to this day. Later, whenever I changed jobs, I typically applied to just 1–2 organizations at a time, and I got one.

This isn’t about bragging, but looking back, I think I was just naïve. I didn’t really prepare my pitch, think through the questions I should ask, or anticipate common interview questions. Oddly enough, I still made it through. Again: Not to brag, peeps! 

This time, though, job searching hit differently. I believe it was because of several factors:

1. The tough current socio-economic and political climate. Poor us! 

2. A more competitive landscape. It's the U.S.! 

3. Greater exposure to career advancement. Thanks to my grad school! 

4. And honestly, because I’ve leveled up in life. Cheers to this!

Sending over 200 applications—along with all the mentoring sessions, coffee chats, and workshops—made me realize how wild this whole job search journey has been. I tracked everything in an Excel spreadsheet and even created an interview cheat sheet that ended up being 118 pages long. Yes, I really needed that! I’d love to expand more on how I prepared for interviews in my next blog post. It might not be revolutionary and extraordinary, but I hope it’s helpful. 

Landing this job doesn’t mean I’m free now, I'm the best, I can sleep better. 
The real challenges are just beginning. As one of my besties said: “Welcome to the new stress!”

I’m ready—so ready!

This journey of over 200 applications taught me valuable lessons that apply to daily life:

• Staying positive throughout the process: I know it sounds cliché, but treating this like a part of daily life helps. Unless you don’t want to work, grow, contribute, or gain financial stability—this mindset matters.
• Tracking your progress: I noted every organization I applied to, the roles, required documents, and how far I got in the process. It kept me grounded and provided clarity on next steps.
• Talking to a LOT of people in your target industry or role: Peers, alumni, professors, or even strangers on LinkedIn. I swear, it was exhausting, but it gave me insights beyond just the job hunt. Bonus: you gain connections and get your name out there. Let’s face it—we’re the only ones who will market ourselves. No one else will!
• Focusing your energy only on what you really want: Hundreds of people suggested I be open-minded and spread my wings beyond what I initially wanted. They said that sometimes, this leads to the opportunity you truly want. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for me. I realized I was wasting my energy and not putting my best effort into applications I wasn’t genuinely interested in. On the other hand, every application that led me to an interview was one where I put in my full effort.
• Enjoying the process without stressing about it constantly: Again, easier said than done, but it’s worth trying! My coping mechanism was doing things I enjoy. Volunteering at three different places helped remind me that I am worthy and capable of doing great things. I also worked on personal projects that are still ongoing, and I realized that not having a paid job isn’t the end of the world. I spent time doing outdoor activities with friends, my beloved partner, and my dog, always keeping in mind that, in this chaotic world, there’s a pinch of happiness I can treasure.

Yes, this may sound easier now that I’ve landed the job. A month ago, I was desperate. I want to document more of this process in hopes that someone out there might find it helpful. But more importantly I just wanted to document one of my emotional life experiences in my tiny chaotic space! 

I start the job on July 7—and I’m so, so, SO excited (with a sprinkle of anxiety)!!