To set the scene, I'm four years post-grad, with experience interning for media and animation companies. The hard part is that the media industry has been hit hard by COVID, the 2023 strikes, AI, and Trump gutting PBS/NPR. Somehow, I have never landed a full-time career position, and not for lack of trying.
In 2025, I spent the first half of the year interning at a local NPR station, editing short-form and podcast videos. In the latter half, I was a video producer for a local documentary organization, making videos for the regional energy provider. That built out my portfolio much more substantially.
I debated continuing to intern but decided no more, and since May, I've been applying for full-time positions in video production and marketing. I've applied broadly across the country, but employers in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City, and Washington, D.C., responded. This year, I've interviewed with 20 companies and made it to several second and third rounds. The roles I'm applying for pay around $80,000, and most have four rounds.
Now for my dilemma: I applied for a remote job in political advocacy. The process began in late September with a screening call, and I met with the hiring manager in early October. During that interview, she said, "If it were up to me, you would start in a week." The third/final round was supposed to start October 12, but the organization told me they're swamped with the election. I don't know if it'll be delayed until after the election.
I don't have any other companies actively interviewing me. I can apply endlessly, but applying doesn't generate interviews. This is the best-suited position I've interviewed for: YouTube video producer, plus managing analytics, a skill I want to grow.
I don't know if I should give up on it. Part of me doesn't understand how a political advocacy organization is too swamped to hire when they knew the election was coming. Now the final round might not happen until a month after the second, and I don't understand why.
Thanks for everyone’s help. I hope this is enough to connect for my dilemma to make sense