Why ‘Chasing Jobs’ May Backfire: A Personal Perspective

Work, Power & Systems

The Job Hunt Continues (And I’m Not Chasing the Dragon)

Standing on the Ledge — Chapter 2 (Continues)

I’m not ranting. I’m mapping the terrain.

I’ve got a few resumes out there now. I updated mine. I hit “submit.” I did the part that’s mine.

And here’s the strange friction: someone I used to employ really wants me hired at a place she’s applying. She’s getting responses. I’m not. And she’s pushing me to “follow up,” “check in,” “poke them,” “don’t let it die.”

But I’ve been on the other side of that table.

When I had an applicant who kept asking, kept asking, kept asking… it didn’t feel like ambition. It started to feel like pressure. And I got less curious, not more. So now, in my own job search, I’m trying to respect the same boundary I used to wish people would respect with me.

What I think is happening (without making it personal)

I applied for heavy-duty cleaning — the exact kind of work I’ve done for years. I know I can do it.

But I also know the “overqualified” problem is real. Overqualification doesn’t always read as “strong candidate.” Sometimes it reads as a risk flag:

  • He won’t stay. (Turnover risk.)
  • He’ll be bored. (Engagement risk.)
  • He’ll want to run things. (Control risk.)

There’s research on this: perceived overqualification often correlates with lower satisfaction and stronger job-search/exit behaviors — which means employers can treat it like a prediction problem, even if you’re applying in good faith (Erdogan & Bauer, 2009; Harari et al., 2017).

And there’s another layer: modern hiring pipelines ghost people. A lot. Silence is common — not always cruel, but often systemic: volume, automation, internal pivots, indecision (Indeed, 2023; Indeed, 2023/2024).

So I’m trying not to turn silence into a story about my worth.

The sociology (how “fit” becomes a story people tell)

Signaling: Hiring is often guesswork under uncertainty. Employers read signals and try to predict who will stay, who will comply, who will be “easy,” who will cost less to manage (Spence, 1973).

Impression management: Job hunting isn’t just skills — it’s presentation. People try to look stable, dependable, non-threatening. (And yes: “business owner” can read as “volatile” even when you’re trying to downshift) (Goffman, 1959).

Networks: And then there’s the awkward truth: response rates can depend less on merit and more on who’s connected to who. Weak ties and social proximity still move doors (Granovetter, 1973).

So when my former staff member is getting replies and I’m not… it might not be a character judgment. It might be network math.

The psychology (what this does to the nervous system)

Job searching is uncertainty on a loop: you act, you wait, you interpret silence, you try not to spiral. That’s textbook stress-and-coping territory — your brain appraises threat, then tries to choose a response (Folkman et al., 1986).

And when you feel overqualified, there can be an extra pinch: you’re not just worried about rejection — you’re worried about being misread. Research links perceived overqualification to strain and lower well-being in many contexts (Harari et al., 2017).

So I’m trying to do something that actually works: keep my dignity intact while I wait. One clean follow-up, if any. Not a campaign.

What I’m choosing (and why)

I’m not chasing the dragon.

If they want me, they’ll reach out.

And if I do anything proactive, it’ll be a single, calm, professional touchpoint — not repeated nudges. The point isn’t to pressure them. The point is to remove one plausible misunderstanding: that I’m “too senior to stay.”

That’s where a short cover letter can help — not to beg, but to frame:

  • I’m intentionally downshifting.
  • I’m not looking to run anything.
  • I’m looking for stable work, clear tasks, and clean boundaries.

Close

One line I’m keeping:
I don’t chase jobs — I present myself clearly and let the system answer.

One boundary I am setting:
I will not turn silence into self-punishment or pressure tactics.

One step for tomorrow:
Draft one tight cover letter that directly addresses the “overqualified” fear — then send it once (or save it for the next application).

Godspeed.

References (APA)

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Published by Lugh Sulian

Lugh Sulian Standing on the Ledge · Rebuilding from the Rubble Lugh Sulian is a working name for a working moment. This profile exists to hold Standing on the Ledge: Rebuilding from the Rubble—an ongoing, real-time record of what happens after collapse, when old rules stop functioning and new ones haven’t yet earned trust. This is not myth reenactment. Not spiritual bypass. Not curated healing. It’s a field journal from the threshold. The name Lugh points toward skill, clarity, and responsibility carried with awareness. Sulian gestures toward sight—what can be seen when illusion drops away and pretending becomes too expensive. Together, they frame the posture of this work: to look clearly, act deliberately, and refuse to rebuild what already failed. Through short-form video, spoken reflection, and long-form writing, this project explores: Collapse without spectacle Responsibility without authority Burnout as a systems problem, not a personal flaw Pagan cycles as lived practice, not aesthetic Small fires instead of grand rebuilds This space is intentionally unfinished. It documents: Standing still without freezing Moving forward without rushing Learning from rubble instead of hiding it Unplugged-Pagan.com serves as the grounding—seasonal awareness, ritual stripped of performance, and meaning built from experience rather than doctrine. Standing on the Ledge is one expression of that grounding, focused on the human cost of broken systems and the slow work of rebuilding integrity. This is not a teaching platform. It’s a shared watchpost. If you’re here, you’re likely between versions of yourself—tired, alert, uncertain, and still standing. You don’t need answers yet. You need honesty, boundaries, and permission to move at the speed of truth. No conclusions offered. No certainty promised. Still on the ledge. Still watching. Still working the rubble. Godspeed. Optional Short Versions (for profile headers or bios) Short bio (Facebook / site header): Threshold work. Pagan-rooted, process-driven. Documenting collapse, clarity, and the refusal to rebuild what failed.

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