Hit 100 rejections before my first real job offer came through

I kept a spreadsheet for 8 months while applying to graphic design jobs in Chicago. Hit exactly 100 rejections from cover letters, portfolio submissions, and interviews. Most were just form emails saying they went with someone else. The 101st application was for a small print shop that didn't even have a proper website. They called me the next day, I started two weeks later, and I'm still there 3 years now. That number surprised me because I almost quit at 50. Has anyone else tracked their rejections like this and seen it turn around?

2 comments

2 Comments

lilychen4d ago

Did you track what KIND of rejections you got? Like were most after the interview or after the portfolio review? I ask because I kept a similar spreadsheet for my job search in LA and noticed a pattern. Out of 75 rejections, maybe 60 were form emails after submitting my portfolio, but the other 15 were after second round interviews where they said they "went with someone who had more experience." That actually helped me figure out I needed to customize my portfolio more for each job, not just send the same link everywhere.

bethcarr3d ago

Lilychen I totally see that pattern too! It reminds me of how people at my local coffee shop don't realize they're getting the same mediocre service because they always order the same drink without ever asking what's fresh that day. It's like they're stuck in a routine that doesn't work for them. Customizing your portfolio based on the job is smart because it shows you actually looked at what they need, just like asking the barista what's good today might get you a better drink! Lilychen's point about tracking the rejection type is golden, it helped me realize I was sending the same generic application for jobs that wanted different things.