I applied to over 600 jobs before pulling off my career switch. Here's how I did it.
Royal Siu, who lives near Los Angeles, quit his job as a pharmacist in 2023 with hopes of moving to a different part of the healthcare industry. The 29-year-old eventually landed a new role, which he started in April. Siu's search took nearly 18 months and involved applying to hundreds of jobs. The following has been edited for brevity and clarity.
In my old job as a pharmacist, I was robbed at gunpoint. After that, I committed to moving into the biotech or pharmaceutical industry, which is where I'd always wanted to go anyway.
I graduated with my PharmD during COVID, so there really weren't too many possibilities. When the robbery occurred, I had some years of working in the pharmacy under my belt, so I thought, let me go ahead and make the switch.
At the end of September 2023, I quit my job. For the first few weeks, I relaxed and saw some friends. After that, I started my deep dive into the application process. I wanted to keep a job application tracker so that at the end, I could see how the overall journey was.
My goal was to also use the tracker to see where I was slipping up, where my faults were, and how I could improve. I asked mentors and friends to look at my résumé and review my LinkedIn because I was doing a professional reset.
I tried to network. I even reached out to my girlfriend's dad's cousin's husband, who worked at a company I was interested in. I did an informational interview with him, and he offered to reach out to people at his company.
Around the time I'd done about 100 applications, I was like, "Oh, this is actually a lot more difficult than I thought it would be."
It took 536 days and 688 applications, but I'm glad to say I finally made it and got a job.
Completely blindsided
It wasn't always easy. I had 236 rejections and didn't get a response or got ghosted on 449 of the applications. I had 15 screening calls with HR and 18 referrals for various jobs. I think one or two of those referrals got me to a screening.
For application 594, I got an offer. It was for a company here in Southern California to be a quality-assurance technician. At the end of the first interview, they said they wanted to hire me. I had to do some paperwork and a drug test. I got a call back saying the drug test was good, and I had to give them my Social Security card. I suggested starting a week and a half later. A representative from the company said they would talk to the hiring manager and that I should hear back in a few days.
I waited, but I didn't hear anything. I called and then called again a few days later, and I was told they had given the position to another person. I was completely blindsided.
I'd already told my family I got the job, and I wanted to get clarity about what had happened. The thing the company told me was that they wanted someone to start earlier. I thought, "Why didn't they just tell me, 'Can you start on X day instead?'"
After that happened, I took a little bit of a breather because I'd been in this cycle for such a long period. So, I took about two weeks off from applying. After that, I knew I still needed to find a job. Lingering in the back of my mind was the idea, "OK, this has to happen. I know that this is a setback, but I can't take more breaks."
The thing that helped me keep going through all of this was a mixture of friends, family, and my girlfriend — the support group that I had. Also, I knew I had student loans to pay, things I want to do, and ideally, I want to retire by the time I'm in my early 40s. My girlfriend, Chelsea, and I have had this conversation, and she's on her way to retiring shortly before she's 40. So, essentially, we'll be DINKs. I'll be turning 30 in July.
A few breakdowns
I did have moments of doubt. I talked to Chelsea about it repeatedly. I said, "Hey, it's already been X amount of time, Y amount of applications." At that point, I was 400, 500, 600 in, and there was still no end in sight. At what point do I go back to being a pharmacist?
I have had a few breakdowns to get through this entire thing. When I started my search, I didn't know if it was going to take two months or something longer. That uncertainty and those setbacks really took a mental toll.
When I got the offer for the job I ultimately took, I got a call on a Friday from the hiring manager and I immediately said yes.
I felt a mixture of relief and satisfaction knowing that I got to this point and that it was in the industry that I wanted to go into. To get out of pharmacy, it was worth it to go through this. But if I wanted to pivot into something else, I don't know if I have that in me.
Do you have a story to share about your job hunt? Contact this reporter at tparadis@businessinsider.com.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Want to retire with $100k? Here's how to plan your income
One of the most popular questions to ask during retirement planning is 'How much money do I need to retire?' The question is an understandable one, but it may be easier to think about the income you'll need to generate during retirement in order to meet your spending goals. Answering this question can help you determine the total amount you'll need. Retirement can look different from one person to the next, but many people aim to generate $100,000 in annual income. Here's how to think about the amount of money you'll need to generate $100,000, or other amounts, during retirement. Retiring with a $100,000 income starts with financial planning that includes considering your retirement budget and your other sources of income. These questions can get you started. How much will you spend? One of the first steps in determining how much money you need to retire is to figure out your monthly or annual expenses. Keep in mind that once you're retired, you won't need to save for retirement anymore, which is often a big 'expense' that goes away. Many people also spend less in general once they're retired than they did when they were working. How much will you get from Social Security? You'll also want to factor in the income you'll receive from Social Security. Figuring out how much you'll receive may lower the income you'll need to generate from other sources. The average monthly Social Security benefit for retired workers was about $2,000 in May 2025, which translates to about $24,000 a year. How much do you need to save? Once you've determined the amount of income you'll need in retirement, you can figure out how much you'll need in savings to generate that income. Here are a couple of approaches. One common way to determine a safe withdrawal rate during retirement is called the 4 percent rule. According to the rule, you can withdraw 4 percent of your retirement savings in your first year of retirement and adjust that amount each year for inflation. The approach generally translates to your savings lasting about 30 years. If you want to generate $100,000 in annual income from your savings, the 4 percent rule means you'd need $2.5 million in savings, which could be in accounts such as an IRA or 401(k). However, if you factor in the average Social Security income for retired workers, the amount you need to generate from your own savings falls to $76,000. In this case, you'd need $1.9 million using the 4 percent rule. The 4 percent rule isn't perfect, and some financial advisors think it's too aggressive. Meeting with a financial advisor can be a great way to understand your unique situation and determine the best retirement plan for you. Get started: Match with an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals Another way to generate a stream of income from your retirement savings is by purchasing an annuity. Annuities are insurance products that pay out income and are sometimes used as part of a retirement strategy. You can purchase annuities by contributing money over time or through a lump sum payment. To be sure, annuities can be complex and may come with high fees, so you want to be careful before making a purchase. Make sure you understand the contract really well and pay attention to the fees you're paying. Using Schwab's Income Annuity Estimator, a 65-year-old man looking to generate monthly income of $8,333 (~$100,000 per year) would need about $1.2 million to $1.4 million as of June 2025, depending on the type of annuity purchased. Deciding how much money you'll need to retire is one of the biggest questions you face when making a retirement plan. Think through what your monthly expenses will be and consider all sources of income you'll have, including Social Security. Once you know how much money you'll need to generate from your own savings, you can consider different strategies, such as the 4 percent rule or purchasing an annuity. A financial advisor can be a great resource to help you find the best options for you. Learn more: These strategies can help you generate income in retirement Editorial Disclaimer: All investors are advised to conduct their own independent research into investment strategies before making an investment decision. In addition, investors are advised that past investment product performance is no guarantee of future price appreciation. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
3 Brutal Truths About Social Security Boomers Must Understand
Retirement planning is serious business — proper and responsible planning can be the difference between ensuring that your golden years are safe and comfortable, or fraught and financially disastrous. A crucial component to that retirement planning? Understanding Social Security. Be Aware: Consider This: That said, the generation currently entering into retirement age — baby boomers — may not have the grasp on the hard realities of Social Security that are needed for a responsible, well-planned retirement. In fact, there are a handful of mistakes and misnomers about Social Security that are easy for boomers to make, if they're not careful. These truths, while potentially frightening, even brutal, have to be understood for a stable retirement. Quite simply, Social Security, while a safety net, cannot be considered a sole source of retirement income. It just isn't enough; Social Security funds were designed to bolster retirement income, not be the only source of it. Boomers must plan for a primary retirement income other than Social Security. Read More: Why should boomers not rely on Social Security only? Per The Motley Fool (via Nasdaq), at best Social Security funds will only cover approximately 40% of a retiring boomer's pre-retirement income. That's 60% of pre-retirement income that has to be found elsewhere, unless you're prepared to lose more than half of one's income, and live on the little that's left. As 24/7 WallStreet has reported, unless Congress takes significant action, it's very possible that the Social Security Administration will run out of funding by 2035 — a time when a vast majority of boomers will be retired and living upon at least some level of Social Security. Not only is Social Security not enough to serve as a sole retirement income, it may not even be solvent within a decade. A hard, brutal truth that all boomers must face is that, despite what they've put into Social Security, it cannot be relied upon to save, or even protect, their retirement. The remedy for this? Savings, investments, responsible spending and a varied portfolio – and a healthy honestly about the sometimes brutal reality surrounding America's Social Security system. More From GOBankingRates 3 Luxury SUVs That Will Have Massive Price Drops in Summer 2025 4 Affordable Car Brands You Won't Regret Buying in 2025 6 Popular SUVs That Aren't Worth the Cost -- and 6 Affordable Alternatives This article originally appeared on 3 Brutal Truths About Social Security Boomers Must Understand Sign in to access your portfolio
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Marine beaten then hit by car dies, CA officials say. Now 2 cousins charged
Peter Chounthala, who enlisted in the Marines in 2008, was planning on retiring at the end of 2024. And his plans for retirement were already set, his wife, Jurina Chounthala, said at a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department news conference in July. 'He was going to be a stay-at-home dad, and he was going to take care of the house,' Jurina Chounthala said. Peter Chounthala's family, though, never saw him retire. He died after he was beaten, left in the street and hit by a passing car in Bellflower on May 28, 2024, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said in a June 12 news release. 'I feel like this life we built together is so unfamiliar,' Jurina Chounthala said. 'Waking up every day and realizing that he's no longer here … It's a painful reality.' And now, nearly a year after Jurina Chounthala's pleas to the public for information about her husband's killing, two men have been charged, prosecutors said. Two cousins, Damari Kensey, 21, of Long Beach and Jaymel Williams, 28 of Inglewood, are each facing a murder charge in the death of Peter Chounthala, prosecutors said. During their arraignments, both men pleaded not guilty, prosecutors said. 'This brutal and senseless act took the life of a husband, father and Marine who served our country with honor, including tours in Afghanistan and multiple Marine expeditionary units,' District Attorney Natain Hochman said in the release. 'Senseless acts of violence' After Peter Chounthala left a Bellflower bar in the early morning hours of May 28, Kensey and Williams followed him, prosecutors said. The pair 'violently beat' Peter Chounthala and left him 'lying in the middle of Artesia Boulevard, in active lanes of traffic,' prosecutor said. A short time later, a passing car hit Peter Chounthala, prosecutors said. The driver did not stop and has yet to be identified, according to prosecutors. Peter Chounthala died on scene, prosecutors said. 'Investigators believe Mr. Chounthala was an innocent victim of these senseless acts of violence,' Lt. Patricia Thomas with sheriff's department said at the news conference announcing a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in Chounthala's killing. 'He was everything to me' Family told investigators Peter Chounthala was a man who was 'loved by all, generous and caring and always willing to help anyone in need,' Thomas said. 'He was everything to me, to my family,' Jurina Chounthala said. 'He's like the glue that held all of us together.' The couple, who met when they were both stationed in Okinawa, Japan, was married for 11 years and welcomed a son during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Jurina Chounthala, an active-duty Air Force member, said. 'Since becoming a father to our son, he has been just the best dad,' Jurina Chounthala said. While it's painful being a widow, Jurina Chounthala said the loss is even greater knowing her 'son is without a father.' 'I have so many pictures of just him standing in front of pictures of his dad, because I'm sure he's so used to seeing his dad and hearing his dad,' Jurina Chounthala said. Kensey and Williams, who are each being held on $2 million bail, are scheduled to appear in court June 18, prosecutors said. Bellflower is about a 20-mile drive southeast from Los Angeles.
