MitsuAkiyama's journey

I attended a job fair for a company where I've spent a significant part of my career. When my number was called, I sat down with a recruiter, handed over my resume, and he seemed impressed by the number of projects I've worked on. We discussed what’s important to me at work, and I emphasized the safety of my coworkers. The recruiter then asked if he could take my resume to a superintendent at the fair, which I agreed to. This is where I felt I stumbled; when the superintendent asked about my involvement in a crane project from six years ago, I mistakenly referred to it as 'crane 2' instead of its actual name, Markum 2. When he inquired about my supervisor, I blanked and could only describe him vaguely, which made for an awkward silence. I tried to recover by mentioning my work on torque tubes and two other nearby projects, Emerald Grove and Greasewood. Fortunately, the superintendent recognized Emerald Grove and seemed to connect with me on that. I went on to detail my mechanical skills and experience, even joking about how long I've been in the industry. The superintendent remained neutral, which made it hard to gauge his reaction. Afterward, the recruiter asked about my certifications and leadership experience, and we discussed salary expectations. He hinted that I could ask for more than the average due to my experience, which felt promising. He mentioned that the superintendent was pleased with my background and they were considering fast-tracking me for a position. Despite the positives, I can’t shake the feeling that I flopped on the project name and supervisor details. The superintendent's neutral demeanor left me unsure of his thoughts, while the recruiter seemed excited about my potential. I left feeling conflicted; I think I did well overall, but those slip-ups nag at me. The recruiter did say he would keep my resume and marked it with a star, which he assured me was a good sign. I’m left waiting for a call, which he said might take a few weeks.

I've been unemployed for 1.5 years now, and it's been a rough journey. I’ve applied to countless jobs, and while I understand the economy and job market are tough right now, I can't shake the feeling that I'm failing as a person. My resume is solid, packed with certifications and extensive experience in the solar industry. I often get calls from employers who say they love my resume, but then the promised follow-up calls never materialize. It’s a frustrating cycle of hope and disappointment. Recently, I even reached out to a union for a job opportunity where the foreman assured me that HR would call me soon because they needed someone like me. I waited for that call, but each week passed with no news. I tried to follow up, expressing my willingness to wait, but it felt like I was just being strung along. Eventually, I decided to give up after my last text went unanswered. In addition to applying for jobs in my field, I've also looked into smaller positions, even at places like Whataburger, but nothing seems to stick. I feel like I'm going crazy and I can't help but feel like a failure, even though I know it's not entirely my fault. The ghosting from employers is particularly disheartening; I wish they would just be honest and say if the opportunity is no longer available instead of leaving me hanging. I'm at a point where I'm flat broke and exhausted from waiting. I’ve always been a hard worker and passionate about my career, but life feels like it's throwing me around without any clear direction. I just want to escape my hometown and find a new opportunity. I’ve bounced back from tough times before, but this feels different. I keep questioning what I did to deserve this situation. I just want to find a way out of this rut.