Out of Time & Out of Money: The Reality of the Job Search

I woke up today to a text that 9,000 more workers are losing their jobs at Amazon. Having been one of the 18,000 that was let go January 18th, the news hit me in the pit of my stomach.

Since facing that dreaded day, I have sat amid an immense amount of uncertainty.

At the time I was let go, tech layoffs were rampant. More and more colleagues were losing their jobs.

But there was hope. It was early enough in the year that the feeling was, 'in a few months, it will turn around. We will get hired back.'

Fast forward and there are still mass layoffs happening, there are still a ton of people out of work but now that hope has given way to reality, the reality that as far as the job market goes, we do not know what is happening or when it is turning around.

Some pundits would say that there are a ton of jobs out there. They comment that if you look in different industries that it is a job seeker market.

Right or wrong, I am not seeing it.

Personal Bias Personal Struggles

One of the reasons that I may be biased is because in spite of the massive amount of support, I haven't had any interviews since the first week I got let go back in January.

I did everything I teach others to:

• Created target company List
• Identified those in my network to reach out to
• Updated resume
• Took furthering education courses
• Updated my LinkedIn
• Booked speaking engagements to increase my presence
• Had informational interviews with experts in the field
• Sent in applications primarily through referrals

Every single application I sent in was met with rejection, without an interest in speaking to me.

As days became weeks, more of my friends aired their concerns about me finding a job as a Sr. DEI Program Manager. They felt like with so many DEI jobs getting cut and 74% of DEI Executives being White, that it would be extremely difficult for me to make a living.

The thing is, when you spend so much of your life bouncing around doing things you were not meant to do, turning away when you finally find what you ARE meant to do is an impossibility.

The Challenges

On top of the comments from my friends, there are other challenges I am facing.

The main issue I have been having is getting people to look past the dreaded resume.

I know this is a common issue amongst job seekers and I am reminded every time I get a rejection that I am not immune.

What seems to be the central problem with my resume is that my job history does not tell the story of my work in Diversity Equity & Inclusion.

If you go by my resume, my job at Amazon was that of a recruiter. Technically speaking, that is accurate. But the bulk majority of my work was as an untitled DEI PM.

In 18 months at Amazon this is what I accomplished:

• Created and led sourcing initiative with single req focus that led to over 150 Black Men and Women going through the Amazon interview process inside a month.
• Appointed Subject Matter Expert for all DEI recruiting in my division
• Appointed to Grocery Experience Taskforce in which I helped create mentorship/reverse mentorship programs
• Created DEI Speaker series focused on furthering education and increasing clear communication
• Built relationships with Employee Resource Groups in order to collectively tackle Inequality on a global scale
• Created Inclusive hiring and representation resource that would increase candidate experience and retention.
• Oversaw over 7 diversity initiative including alumni relationships
• Asked to speak about my role as an abolitionship AFTER I was let go for the Amazon Prime Summit led by LaTonya Davis, JD

That isn't even everything.

What is not seen on my resume is this:

• Began working in DEI at age 16 focus on Women's Empowerment
• Co-founded Gender Studies Club at Monmouth University
• Minored in Gender Studies
• Volunteer work experience includes: Rape prevention, LIS Housing initiatives, Fair Pay/Teachers rights, Habitat for Humanity etc
• Produced over 50 DEI focused and broadcasted events
• Worked with job seekers in over 35 countries increasing my knowledge of DEI on a global scale
• 2 keynotes in Nigeria
• Fundraised over $6k to help create a career accelerator classroom in Nigeria
• Consulted with multiple companies and individuals on DEI initiatives (non paid)
• Worked with transitioning military vets and spouses

In conclusion, like so many others, the resume does not tell the full story.

Where I Am Now

I try really hard to reframe hardships in spite of obstacles. It is part of what I feel is needed to sustain positive mental health.

Over the last few months this has been near impossible.

I sit here writing this in a very large amount of debt. My depression is the worst it has ever been and this is the first time I am admitting it.

I am a month and a half away from having zero income.

I am scared out of my ever loving mind of failing my wife and children.

I never expected life to be easy, I learned long ago that I am going to face a large number of challenges.

I just think that when we as individuals work as hard as we can that maybe...just maybe...things will roll our way once in a while.

What I Need

Despite the immense amount of people that have my back, that believe in me and know I am at the top of my field, I have not been able to get in front of the people making the hiring decisions.

If you know someone that is hiring for a role I am suited for and they would be willing to speak with me, THAT is what I need.

If you know someone needing a speaker for an event, put me in contact. I am open to it.

Anything Else?

I am lucky to have the people supporting me that do. I know that there are so many that would hand me a job if they could.

I am grateful.

I see others struggling and I feel for them with every ounce of my being.

Sometimes we have to be selfish and in this moment, I can not help others if I can't help myself.

I hate feeling like this, I hate being in this position, but I am here.

This is me asking for help so that I can get back to doing what I love, which is helping all of you.

Sincerely,

Dan