A young job seeker from Gen-Z, holding two degrees, found themselves in tears after relentlessly knocking on doors in pursuit of securing a “minimum-wage” position.
Lohanny Santos, a 26-year-old resident of Brooklyn with a dual degree and proficiency in three languages, shared on TikTok her struggles in finding employment despite her qualifications.
With a pile of printed résumés in hand, Santos, known by the handle @lohannysant, emotionally confessed that she had abandoned her aspirations of becoming a full-time influencer and was now in dire need of a job offering a full-time salary.
“This is the most humbled I’ve ever felt in my life,” she expressed, recounting her efforts to personally meet potential employers face-to-face.
Despite graduating from Pace University with degrees in communications and acting, the young woman struggled to secure even a minimum wage job paying $16 per hour in New York City.
“It’s honestly a little bit embarrassing because I’m literally applying for, like, minimum-wage jobs,” she admitted. “And some of them are turning me down, saying, ‘We’re not hiring,’ and it’s like, ‘What?’ This is not what I expected.”
“This sucks,” Santos uttered as she wiped away the tears streaming down her face. “I just want to be a TikToker, if I’m being honest with you, but I can’t be delusional anymore… Like, I literally need to make money, so I’m just going to keep trying.”
The graduate’s video struck a chord with many fellow Gen-Zers, evident from the flood of similar experiences and words of support that filled the comment section.
One person offered praise, stating: “It’s so very brave to walk into places with your resume!! You’ll find a job.” Another commenter chimed in with empathy, saying: “This is the realest TikTok I’ve seen in so long, I FEEL YOU DO NOT FEEL EMBARRASSED!!!”
“So many people are going through this right now! You are not alone! Nobody seems to know what the future looks like right now, we’re all scared,” someone heartfully shared, echoing the uncertainty felt by many during these challenging times.
A fourth user offered some practical advice, suggesting: “If you speak multiple languages and have a communications degree, you should look into translating for government agencies! Good $$ and benefits while.”
Another contributor suggested: “If your resume appears overly impressive, employers may fear you’re seeking short-term roles and won’t invest in training you. It’s advisable to tailor your resume to match the skill level required.”
Santon graduated from Pace University with a degree in communications and one in acting, and was unable to find a minimum-wage job, Credit: Westend61 / Getty
The Gen-Z individual candidly shared her circumstances with Business Insider, disclosing that she had been employed as a nanny until her position ended in November 2023. Subsequently, she began applying for corporate positions while simultaneously producing content on her TikTok page with aspirations of transitioning into a full-time influencer.
Regrettably, her aspirations for social media success were dashed when she failed to generate sufficient income, and her job applications went unanswered. Consequently, last month, she had a “reality check with [herself]” and took action by printing out a stack of her resumes, determined to secure employment within a day.
“I went around to different coffee shops with my résumé in hand, just like I did when I was 16. That’s how I found my first job,” she recounted, noting that this approach was unsuccessful. “I was so upset and disappointed in myself because growing up, I was told that if I get an education, if I go to college, then I’ll be successful.”
The TikTok user revealed that following the publication of her heartfelt video, she was inundated with job offers and opportunities from unfamiliar individuals. She expressed, “Since sharing my emotions publicly, I’ve not only gained a new platform, but also received emails from people extending job offers, presenting opportunities, and even providing direct links to job applications.”
Despite her concerns that opening up about her challenges online might portray her as “lazy,” the outcome was quite the opposite. She received overwhelming support and experienced a significant surge in her following, skyrocketing from 50,000 to 130,000 followers within just 48 hours.
“I’ve been apprehensive about others perceiving me as lazy because I’m currently not employed,” she shared with the publication. “However, my lack of current employment doesn’t diminish my readiness and willingness to work.”
