"You have to see yourself and be viewed as a commodity," said a colleague whom, before this comment, I would describe as Pharrell-like in his perpetual sunniness. "It removes your humanity." It's the same with job-hunting, which is just simple economics when it comes down to it: You're looking for work. Firms are looking for workers. EXCHANGE OF SERVICES FOR MONEY. We're all just living in one big textbook, didn't you know?
Excuse me while I laugh like Mrs. Rochester, because IRL, this is not how it turns out at all. True, the memes make it sound like we think of work only as a Weekend Dalliances Fund, but deep down, don't we all want something real? I'm not so cynical yet that I'd say no, but Lord knows the roads to true love and professional happiness are both long and windy and laden with dick pics.
Your face (or not your face). Your résumé. Neither of them give the best picture of the well-rounded, three-dimensional person you are, but that's how it is.
Even when both parties have gotten to the point where they're like "Ayyyy. This is cool. Let's meet," it could still all go south when you actually start the job/date and you find out the weekly fruit deliveries and comfy nap chairs are a conspiracy to control every aspect of employee life. (Or that the guy looks nothing like his pic. There's that too.)
Like that cuttingly pragmatic Stanford economist dude said, you're looking for a great match, not perfection. But that doesn't mean you should stop trying.
Follow Marie Claire on Instagram for the latest celeb news, pretty pics, funny stuff, and an insider POV.
-
Yes, You Can Apply Retinol To Your Whole Body—Not Just Your FaceA dermatologist gives us the run-down.
-
Inside One of the Most Exclusive and Dazzling Health Spas in the U.S.
The Golden Door in Southern California costs tens of thousands of dollars for a weeklong stay—and donates 100 percent of its proceeds to nonprofits.
-
Kendall Jenner’s Hair at the Schiaparelli Fashion Show Was Easily Six Inches Tall
The model and 818 founder closed the runway.
-
Peloton’s Selena Samuela on Turning Tragedy Into Strength
Before becoming a powerhouse cycling instructor, Selena Samuela was an immigrant trying to adjust to new environments and new versions of herself.
-
This Mutual Fund Firm Is Helping to Create a More Sustainable Future
Amy Domini and her firm, Domini Impact Investments LLC, are inspiring a greater and greener world—one investor at a time.
-
Power Players Build on Success
"The New Normal" left some brands stronger than ever. We asked then what lies ahead.
-
Don't Stress! You Can Get in Good Shape Money-wise
Yes, maybe you eat paleo and have mastered crow pose, but do you practice financial wellness?
-
The Book Club Revolution
Lots of women are voracious readers. Other women are capitalizing on that.
-
The Future of Women and Work
The pandemic has completely upended how we do our jobs. This is Marie Claire's guide to navigating your career in a COVID-19 world.
-
Black-Owned Coworking Spaces Are Providing a Safe Haven for POC
For people of color, many of whom prefer to WFH, inclusive coworking spaces don't just offer a place to work—they cultivate community.
-
Where Did All My Work Friends Go?
The pandemic has forced our work friendships to evolve. Will they ever be the same?
