The closest I ever got to breaking up with my now-wife was our last semester in college.
We were high-school sweethearts who had maintained a healthy relationship despite being long-distance. She went to The Ohio State University, while I attended Miami University, two hours away.
Before graduation, she had already lined up an engineering job, but it required frequent moves around the country.
I was happy for her, but I was tired of long-distance and wanted to settle down. I also knew that following her to her various job locations would make it hard for me to have my own career.
However, I loved her, and that was more important.
We decided to get married before her first job-related move, and we had a beautiful wedding with most of our friends and family.
Though we’ve both enjoyed sharing each other’s company and making lasting memories in new places, I’ve struggled to find work as we continue to change locations.
Moving every few months limits my job options
My wife’s different job locations, known as her rotations, last eight months each. We started in Ohio, then moved to Texas, and will soon be heading to Georgia.
Eight months isn’t much time to establish a career, which made finding a new job difficult.
I started searching for employment in Texas before we moved, but I couldn’t even apply to some positions because they required applicants to already be in the state.
For applications without this requirement, I still wanted to be transparent. I explained my situation in multiple cover letters, but I never heard back from those jobs.
In Ohio, my applications led to an interview for a position at a newspaper. The paper’s editors were desperately seeking a candidate and liked me enough to meet for coffee.
During the interview, they told me about how they wanted a reporter who could build relationships with local businesses. When I asked how long they imagined it would take to fit into that kind of role, they said it would be at least half a year.
They immediately sensed my concern, and I told them I would have to move as soon as I built those connections.
It’s hard to find what you want when you’re limited
As I struggled to find in-person jobs, I also looked for remote options that I could keep between rotations. Getting a good, fully remote job in this competitive market is not easy, and I struggled to find roles I actually wanted.
As a writer who’s concerned about the future of artificial intelligence, I refused to take any jobs involving AI training. However, the lack of options made it difficult to be picky.
Many of the positions I found on job boards were for companies focused on the advancement of AI. I even received messages from recruiters on LinkedIn stating that I’d be a good fit for these types of jobs.
These opportunities started to wear me down, and I came dangerously close to caving. Thankfully, my mom and my wife talked me out of it, and I stuck to my morals.
The gig economy saved me
My lack of success applying for jobs led me to the gig economy, allowing me to pick up work on an as-needed basis.
I had heard nightmare stories from food delivery drivers, photographers, and more about how difficult it can be to navigate the financial instability and uncertainty of this world.
Thankfully, tagging along with my wife for her job meant she’d be able to support me with her steady income as I entered new territory.
I started by filling in as a substitute teacher while I learned how to become a freelance writer. I had always imagined I’d work full-time for a local newspaper when I graduated, so it was a big change for me.
I’m glad that I’ve found ways to make money and continue building my career during this phase of my life. Though I’ve enjoyed the freedom my freelancing has given me, it makes me a little sad that I don’t get to be part of an actual staff.
However, that sadness quickly goes away when I remember that freelancing has allowed me to follow my wife on her journey.
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