Taxis and Careers

If you have ever taken a taxi from Wanaheda to Klein Windhoek in the morning, you know you will receive some hard “nos” before you get a “yes”.

One fateful morning, while getting my usual “nos”, I received an email with a job rejection. While trying to process the pain, I could not help but reflect on the similarity between taxis and jobs. So here are a few observations.

The further you are going, the more rejections you will get.

A friend recently mentioned that he realised that for every eight rejections, he got one “yes”. Similarly, I have experienced devastating rejections from things I was sure I would get. Confident that my applications were stellar, just like I am always confident that going to a destination that costs double the taxi fee means everyone would want to take me there.

But sometimes, drivers are headed in a different direction. However, when I eventually do get one, it is usually headed straight to where I want to go and I get to work on time. The “yes”, after the countless “nos”, is usually worth it.

Sometimes, it is about who is standing with you.

A life hack for getting home faster is that when you hear someone shout the same location, you pair up so the driver is convinced to go in that direction. It is similar to when you engage people in the job world. People can be supportive when you ask for help.

This does not mean they will get you these jobs, but it means they may remember you and share when opportunities come up. You would be surprised at how many opportunities go under your radar just because you are not looking in certain places. Similarly, doing work that strengthens your credentials, such as volunteering, could create a community that would vouch for you. A good reputation opens many doors.

Push through the shame.

Getting where you want to go will not always be easy. Whenever I apply, I have to swallow the shame of thinking I may be rejected because I am not good enough. Ashamed that I even dared to apply. It’s almost as embarrassing as when the taxi driver hears your location and looks the other way like he just wasted his time listening to you.

Rejection, in all its forms, hurts.

But you have places to be, so take it with your chest and carry on. It is never personal.

Sometimes, you have to pay double.

When you want to go far, you have to be willing to pay an extra cost and shout “tot by die huis”.

When it comes to applications, you may have to go above and beyond what you are used to doing or the bare minimum. You may have to spend extra hours researching the company or following up on applications, you may even have to ask people to review your CV and essays, and you may even have to pay coaches to train you on speaking so you ace interviews.

Whatever the extra mile looks like, it’s an investment. Sometimes, you just have to pay for the Yango and get home, chomie.

Sometimes, you take a tour around the city before you get to your destination. The path to where you want to go will not always be straightforward.

I have met someone who wanted to be a police officer but did not make it. Today, after many years, they are in the police force as a social worker, and they love that they can “protect people physically and emotionally”.

Do not be disheartened thinking things are taking too long, because sometimes you find what you love on the way there. Similarly, a taxi could make many stops on the way and end up dropping someone off in your street close to your house, and you only pay N$13.

Sometimes, it is just not the right time.

Sometimes, that taxi you missed because it was full would have got you late and ruined your morning. Sometimes, you will only get that taxi after rush hour. Nonetheless, you will get one eventually, and it will be worth the wait.

Esther Nanatana

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