Kevin Cash, a 43-year-old father from outside Portland, Oregon, finds himself in an unexpected situation: driving for Uber and picking up freelance work through Taskrabbit, despite holding five degrees, including an MBA, and being a member of the high-IQ society, Mensa. His career has seen him work at renowned companies such as HP, Accenture, and KMC, but after being laid off in late 2022, Cash has struggled to secure full-time employment, despite applying for over 2,000 jobs.
A Fruitless Job Search
According to Business Insider, Cash has meticulously tracked his efforts since the start of his job hunt. His spreadsheet reveals that in January alone, he applied for 254 jobs, with another 129 applications submitted in May, and 41 more in August. Despite his qualifications and years of experience, rejection has been a constant. His passengers on Uber rides often express shock when they learn about his situation, with many struggling to understand how someone with his credentials remains unemployed. "I never thought I'd still be looking for full-time employment a year later," Cash admits. His clients are often baffled at the idea that someone so well-educated and experienced is stuck in such a predicament.
Financial Strain and Personal Sacrifice
Cash's financial situation has become increasingly precarious. Following a divorce, he had some savings from the sale of his house, but those funds have rapidly diminished. With $3,000 a month in rent and a child to care for, he has had to rely on part-time or freelance work. Driving for Uber, he can earn between $20 and $30 per hour, though the cost of petrol sets him back $75 each day. His workdays are long, stretching to 12 hours, with barely any breaks aside from a quick meal consisting of a can of tuna and mayonnaise. "I'm just trying to keep a roof over my head and take care of my daughter," Cash explains, acknowledging that his health has suffered as a result. His once-active lifestyle has taken a backseat, and the stress of not knowing what the future holds continues to weigh heavily on him.
Networking and Rejection
Despite the challenges, Cash hasn't given up on networking, even while driving for Uber. Through conversations with passengers, he's received referrals for potential roles at major companies like Adidas, Fila, and Amazon. However, even with internal referrals, Cash is met with automated rejection emails. After 2,181 job applications, Cash has calculated that his chances of securing an interview are less than 1%. His frustration is palpable, and he has set a personal limit: if he reaches 2,200 applications without success, he plans to stop actively searching for full-time work.
The Issue of Fake Job Postings
One of the biggest frustrations in Cash's job hunt has been the prevalence of fake job postings. In one instance, a woman on LinkedIn connected him with a major mobile carrier, only for Cash to later learn that the position didn't exist. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Research from ResumeBuilder indicates that 36% of job postings in 2024 were fake—roles either no longer available or never real to begin with. Companies often post these fake listings to create an illusion of growth, collect resumes for future reference, or even to placate current employees by making it seem like help is on the way. Cash estimates that he has wasted approximately 12.5 days applying to non-existent jobs, a frustrating reality for many job seekers today.
A Glimmer of Hope?
While the U.S. job market has shown signs of recovery, with the Department of Labour reporting 254,000 new jobs added in September 2024, professionals like Cash continue to face significant challenges in their job search. Employment rates have risen slightly, but the competition remains fierce, and opportunities for highly qualified candidates like Cash remain elusive. For now, Cash remains focused on providing for his daughter and staying afloat financially.
Despite the mounting challenges, Cash is determined not to let his story go unheard. He's in the process of launching a podcast titled We're Moving Forward, a cheeky nod to the rejection letters that routinely inform him companies are "moving forward" with another candidate. Through this podcast, Cash hopes to share his experiences, and those of others like him, in an effort to raise awareness about the difficulties of today's job market. He also hopes to inspire listeners to focus on self-improvement, whether in their careers, fitness, or entrepreneurial ventures. "It's not just about the job search," Cash says. "It's about finding ways to keep moving forward, no matter what."
