‘Why are you driving for Uber?’: 43 years old, 5 degrees and MBA fails to get job despite over 2,000 applications

Kevin Cash, a 43-year-old father from Portland, Oregon, finds himself in an unexpected situation: driving for Uber and getting freelance work through Taskrabbit, despite holding five degrees, including an MBA, and being a member of the High-Society of IQ, Mensa. His career has seen him work at renowned companies such as HP, Accenture and KMC, but after being laid off at the end of 2022, Cash has struggled to secure full-time employment despite applying for more than 2,000 jobs.

A fruitless job search

According to Business InsiderCash meticulously tracked his efforts from the beginning of his job search. His spreadsheet reveals that in January alone he applied for 254 vacancies, with another 129 applications presented in May and another 41 in August. Despite her qualifications and years of experience, rejection has been constant. His passengers on Uber rides are often shocked when they learn of his plight, and many have trouble understanding how someone with his credentials remains unemployed. “I never thought I would still be looking for a full-time job a year later,” admits Cash. His clients are often perplexed by the idea that someone so knowledgeable and experienced would be trapped in such a situation.

Financial strain and personal sacrifice

Cash’s financial situation became increasingly precarious. After the divorce, he saved some savings from selling his house, but these funds quickly dwindled. With $3,000 a month in rent and a child to care for, he had to rely on part-time or freelance work. Driving for Uber, he can earn between $20 and $30 per hour, although the cost of gas will set him back $75 per day. Their working hours are long, reaching 12 hours, with almost no breaks other than a quick meal consisting of a can of tuna and mayonnaise. “I’m just trying to keep a roof over my head and take care of my daughter,” Cash explains, acknowledging that her health has taken a hit. His once active lifestyle has taken a backseat, and the stress of not knowing what the future holds continues to weigh on him.

Networking and Rejection

Despite the challenges, Cash didn’t give up on networking, even while driving for Uber. Through conversations with passengers, he received recommendations for possible positions at large companies such as Adidas, Fila and Amazon. However, even with internal referrals, Cash receives automated rejection emails. After 2,181 job applications, Cash calculated that his chances of getting an interview are less than 1%. His frustration is palpable, and he’s set a personal limit: If he reaches 2,200 unsuccessful applications, he plans to stop actively looking for full-time work.

The issue of fake job offers

One of Cash’s biggest job search frustrations has been the prevalence of fake job advertisements. In one case, a woman on LinkedIn connected him with a major cell phone carrier, only for Cash to later discover that the position didn’t exist. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Research from ResumeBuilder indicates that 36% of job postings in 2024 were fake – roles that were no longer available or were never real to begin with. Companies often post these fake listings to create an illusion of growth, collect resumes for future reference, or even to placate current employees by making it seem like help is on the way. Cash estimates he wasted approximately 12.5 days applying for nonexistent jobs, a frustrating reality for many job seekers today.

A glimmer of hope?

Although the US job market has shown signs of recovery, with the Department of Labor reporting 254,000 new jobs created in September 2024, professionals like Cash continue to face significant challenges in their job search. Employment rates have increased slightly, but competition remains fierce and opportunities for highly qualified candidates like Cash remain elusive. For now, Cash remains focused on supporting his daughter and staying afloat financially.

Despite the mounting challenges, Cash is determined not to let his story go unnoticed. He is launching a podcast titled We are moving forwarda cheeky nod to the rejection letters that routinely inform you that companies are “moving forward” with another candidate. Through this podcast, Cash hopes to share his experiences, and those of others like him, in an effort to raise awareness of the difficulties of today’s job market. He also hopes to inspire listeners to focus on self-improvement, whether in their careers, fitness or entrepreneurial endeavors. “It’s not just about looking for a job,” says Cash. “It’s about finding ways to move forward no matter what.”