June 29th, 2026
Being weeks out from graduation now, the first question people usually ask when they see me in the wild is: “How’s the job hunt going?”
My answer is always succinct and honest: it is a nightmare out here.
It is a daily humiliation, a habitual humbling, a constant experience of rejection and failure and soul-crushing uncertainty, but you know what? That’s okay and I’ll tell you why.
As far as the responses to the dozens of applications I’ve submitted go, it’s been an expectedly mixed bag. I’ve had my share of rejection letters, a few of them surprisingly sweet and thoughtfully written, but most just copy-and-paste slips from an age-old template. I’ve had phone interviews. I’ve had practice task requests; in design, instead of a traditional introductory meeting, they give you a prompt for a project and you send in your work and that helps them see what kind of designer (and person?) you are.
In a truly dystopian move, though, there is a new tactic on the job scene and, if you’ve been paying attention to the abysmal state of modern affairs, I’m sure you can guess what it is: the “A.I. assistant” interview. That’s right: there are companies that care so little about who works for them now that they’re not even bothering doing the interviews with people anymore.
I have received these requests. I have rejected them with my whole chest. And here’s the part where I tell you why I’m okay.
You’ll see a lot of people talk about authenticity. About being genuine and real. And then you’ll see them act directly opposed to this supposed ideology.
Go look at LinkedIn right now. You will find the same thirteen adjectives self-describing most people on any career website, because they’re all using the “professional playbook” (and yeah, that playbook includes A.I. now). Even at school, we were encouraged to sand our edges, to follow standards, to conform.
I have and will perpetually refuse to do this.
I have stubbornly remained human through all of this. My work and my writing and my social media presence and, hell, even my resume includes things that doesn’t tell people I’m genuine or authentic, but shows them. I can be sarcastic and silly and messy, but I’m also professional and empathetic and kind. There are thousands of people who have received my service and know I’m the real deal. And even though I don’t have that job yet, I strongly believe that when the right people come across me and learn about who I am, they’ll know I’m the right fit for who they are and what they do.
Basically, everything is okay because all of this is reminding me of who I am, and who I am is pretty cool and would be a good part of any good team.
Anyway, if you’re navigating this market right now too, I see you and I’m sending all my love your way. I’m grateful to be working in the other industries where I have skills so I don’t have to settle for anything less. And as the rising wave of backlash against A.I. (and inhumanity) continues, I hope that companies see sooner than later how humans are the irreplaceable and priceless assets; not just for their businesses, but for our lives.
The Den 