I do not deal well with rejection. Honestly, who does? I have yet to meet a person who actually likes rejection. Some sales people feed off of rejection and it pushes them to try harder, but I really doubt that they actually enjoy being rejected.
This week I started sending my resume out for a new job that I can do from home. This is the first time I have had to do the whole resume thing in my entire 12 year career. I created a resume when I graduated from college and landed a nice little job in the Human Resources / Staffing field. From then on out, the jobs I have had have been based on referrals from other people. New opportunities have just landed in my lap and I have been blessed because of them. Even once my first child was born and I decided to become a stay at home mom, opportunities came forth in the recruiting field that enabled me to be a stay at home mom while earning a bit of money on the side. As of this past January, I ended up resigning from my home based recruiting position because being on the phone so much was becoming too difficult with three very loud children in the background. It is hard to remain professional when you have a toddler tugging on your leg to hold her, or a three year old wanting to talk to whomever you are trying to hold a professional conversation with.
The problem is…we are really missing the money I was making. My husband referred to the fund that we put the money into as an “Oh Shit” fund while I referred to it as an “Ocean” fund. The contribution I made helped to pay the bills, but it also allowed us to play more… go on dates, vacations, buy higher quality ingredients for recipes I was trying out, etc.
I know I could return in a heartbeat to my recruiting job working from home again, but I need a change. My life has changed and the dynamics at home have changed. My number one reason for being at home is my children and, wishful thinking, I need a job that will not be a huge interference in my family life (I know…me and every other SAHM in the universe is wishing for just that!). That leads us to me branching out on my own…networking, sending out resumes, and facing the rejection that is sure to come.
One area I rarely get rejected in is with cooking. The kitchen is my domain and no matter what I make I typically have at least one grateful person on the receiving end of my trials. Sometimes, with those kitchen disasters, it has been our dog…but even then he would gobble up whatever I ruined with his tail wagging and a twinkle in his eye. I rarely feel rejected in the kitchen which is why I think I feel so comfortable there. I know that no matter what, the kitchen will always feel like my safe haven away from the world.
For a hit of your own and to feel accepted in the kitchen, give this recipe from the August 2007 issue of Gourmet magazine a try. Not a hint of rejection will be felt after you watch your recipients lick their plates clean.
Grilled Pork Chops with Garlic Lime Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1/4 teaspoon dried hot red-pepper flakes
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 6 1/2-inch-thick boneless pork chops
Instructions
- Whisk together lime juice, garlic, red-pepper flakes, and 1/4 teaspoon salt, then add oil in a slow stream, whisking well. Whisk in cilantro.
- Prepare a gas grill for direct-heat cooking over medium-high heat. Pat pork dry and season with salt and pepper. Oil grill rack, then grill pork chops, covered, turning over once, until just cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes total. Serve drizzled with some vinaigrette, and with remainder on the side.
Notes
Gourmet
July 2007
Good luck with your job hunt. I know the feeling of having three kids and trying to juggle work from home, so it’s important to love what you do. I’m sure you will find something wonderful.
Are you kidding? I am currently going through the same. I have a brilliant home job, but there are a few things I’d like to change. I have not resigned yet but have been send my resumes around. Kristen, it’s almost like we are living in parallel worlds!
I love the sound of this dish too. Although we do not eat pork all that often when we do it had to be with an oomph – just like this recipe!
I think about this all the time, Kristen – I don’t know what I’ll do when I have my kids. I want to be a SAHM but at the same time I know we’ll need the money I make.
I wish you all the luck in the world finding a new job!
Oooh, good luck on the job search! Don’t get discouraged by rejection – it’s just one step on the way to a great new job!
PS – Thanks for sharing the pork chop recipe. I get so excited when I can scan a list of ingredients and say "My husband *will* eat this!" 🙂
Best of luck in your job search! I just know you find something wonderful.
Pork, lime and garlic is such a good combination. I’m sure these were great.
Good luck with the job hunt! My degree is in human resources but I’ve never worked in the field. I got pulled into other things, which have been profitable but my degree seems like such a waste now – I don’t remember anything to begin with and I’m sure so much has changed anyway.
Good Luck, it’s only a matter of time….
Best of luck! Many positive thoughts headed your way…I’m sure something will fall in your lap shortly 🙂
Ah, and recipe looks just like what I’d do, only with lemon instead of lime and no cilantro (although sometimes oregano) 😉
LOL @ "Oh shit" fund.We went thru’ that when Arvind was a resident and was on limited paycheck!
Good luck with the job hunting.It’s pretty hard 3 young kids though.Hope you get one you like.
I am lucky that way,kids grown and hubby earning okay.
Garlic Lime sauce sounds great:)
Good luck on the job hunt – it is so hard! I’m in HR too (small world!) and I can work from home occasionally. I really enjoy it when I can so I’ve been on the hunt for a job where I can work from home FT. The pork chops look delish! I’m always looking for a good new pc recipe as sometimes they can get boring. I’ll be trying this one soon! Thanks!
I feel for you! That is why we haven’t started having kids yet – I want to make sure I will be able to stay home with my kids, but I don’t think we could make it on the one paycheck right now!
I am always on the lookout for a good pork chop recipe – I’ll have to give this one a try!!
I didn’t know you had a dog! I will hold my fingers crossed for the job you’ve applied for. I know you will get it! 🙂
good luck with your search! if your success in the kitchen is any indication, i’m sure you’ll find the perfect job soon. this pork chop recipe looks incredible! yum.
Don’t let rejections get you down. Easier said than done, for sure. Just keep at it until you find the perfect one for you. God is in control. A rejection seems like the worse thing, but something good might be just around the corner and you wouldn’t want to miss it by settling for something. Stay positive.
Speaking of positive…I’m positive these porkchops will be a hit! Thanks!
Hugs!
Kat
Good luck in your job search. Don’t get discouraged – good things come to good people! (Crossing my fingers for you!)
Hi Kristen, all the best with the job search. It certainly would be nice to have some extra cash.
Good luck with the job search. I just landed a new job, although it is not home based. I found it on Craigslist. Do check there…you might be surprised at the job listings. The URL is craigslist.com. You click on your city/area, then on the type of job. Sometimes there is no rejection, just multiple offers. A bidding war…. well, it can happen.
Thanks for a great recipe review and an honest, beautiful post.
You literally address all my fears of having children in one beautiful post.
The blessing of a world where I own a home and am self-sufficient in my 20’s is lovely, but where does that leave my future as I wife/mother? And if I leave my career to be a wife/mother, can I go back?
That said, I would hire you in an instant!! Best of luck, you are WONDERFUL!
Best of luck Kristen! Your dream job is just around the corner!
Looking for work is never fun, but lucky you, you know what’s important and I’m sure you’ll make the right thing happen.
Rejection is just God saying, "This isn’t where I want you to be." But there is a just right place for you!
It’s so hard to balance being a good mother and wife with working. Thank goodness for the kitchen where we can work it all out!
Good luck! I’m going through something similar myself but everything will work out sooner or later.
I feel your pain. I’ve been applying for many jobs lately and haven’t had much luck at all! I’m giving up til my daughter goes back to school and I hope I have more luck in Sept.
I have to think that any place that would "reject" you would be all for the better – it just couldn’t be a place you’d want to be or people you’d want to be with. If you’ve had things turn up in the past, it will happen again.