A Career Without an Office or Connections: My Gen Z Story

When I first decided to become a copywriter, I didn’t have an office, a network, or even a portfolio. Just an empty LinkedIn profile, zero orders on Upwork, and a lot of determination.

I started sending out applications right after finishing copywriting courses. Dozens of them. Almost no replies came back. My portfolio was blank, my experience close to zero. It was discouraging. But it also taught me something: for our generation, careers are built differently.

Work Is Not an Office Anymore

For me, work became a system of platforms, not a physical company. LinkedIn became my “office.” At first, I posted with no likes, no engagement, nothing. Still, I kept going.

With a C1 level in English, I thought I’d easily find clients abroad. Instead, I ran into constant rejection: “You need a degree.” “Five years of experience required.”
But persistence changed things. Slowly, my LinkedIn profile turned into a storefront. Clients started reaching out. My first tasks were small — presentations. Then came translations, email campaigns, and eventually full websites.

The Risks No One Talks About

Remote work sounds risk-free, but it isn’t.
At 18, I faced more than I expected:

• My accounts were hacked twice.

• I wasn’t paid for completed projects.

• My work was published without credit.

These experiences could have pushed me to quit. Instead, they became lessons about contracts, digital security, and self-advocacy.

The Reality for Many Young Professionals

I thought I was alone in this struggle. But lately, I’ve seen more and more people with similar stories:

• Graduates of online courses who still hear “no experience.”

• Talented people without the “right” degree.

• Job seekers ignored or dismissed in the application process.

HRs often underestimate beginners, dismiss their time, and then complain about a talent shortage.

And the problem is bigger than it looks. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), around 402 million people worldwide in 2024 wanted to work but couldn’t find a job. That’s the global “jobs gap.” In comparison, the official unemployment rate was only about 5% of the workforce (less than 200 million people).

Behind these numbers are millions of people with stories like mine — eager, capable, but overlooked.

Why I’m Sharing This

I’m still at the beginning of my career. I’m not leading huge projects (yet). But I’m writing this for anyone who feels stuck:

• You finished a course, but still hear “no experience.”

• You don’t have a degree, or have “the wrong one.”

• You’ve been hacked, underpaid, or ignored.

You are not alone.

👉 Don’t give up. Keep building your expertise, keep sharing it online.
That’s how doors begin to open — one post, one project, one connection at a time.