At the Paris Olympics last summer, I was the only athlete representing Belize. During the opening ceremony, I waved my country's flag with pride, energy, and joy. I didn't expect anything to come from it, but somehow, videos of the moment went viral and racked up over 10 million views.

But while that was one of the most visible moments of my life, what people didn't see was everything happening behind the scenes ? like the Zoom job interview I squeezed in at the Houston airport before flying to France, or the late-night interview I did from the Olympic Village, working around the time difference with the US. I've applied to around 300 jobs over the past year, and I'm still looking.

I graduated in May 2024 with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. I thought job hunting would be fairly easy, but it's been far from it. I've spent the past year applying to jobs across the US and beyond ? mostly engineering roles ? but despite getting several interviews, I haven't gotten a single offer.

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I've been competing internationally for years. I ran the 100-meter dash at both the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and in Paris last year. I moved from Belize to Texas after being recruited by the coach at Texas A&M-Kingsville, who told me I was running some really good times. I was in my late 20s when I started college.

While I was in school, I didn't do any internships. During the semester, I was competing for my school, and in the summer, I was traveling constantly with the Belize national team ? sometimes I wasn't in the same country for more than a week or two. It would've been very difficult for me to commit to a summer internship.

Focusing on training and competitions has, in some ways, been a financial sacrifice. I've never been paid to compete at the Olympics or World Championships ? just travel stipends from my national federation.

After graduating, I had to return to Belize because I was on an F-1 student visa, which only allows a short grace period to stay in the US after your studies end. I moved in with my grandparents and started applying for jobs from there.

I'm now trying to get my green card again, which I lost as a child. My father is a US citizen, and I spent part of my early life in Texas ? but my parents were going back and forth between the US and Belize, and we eventually settled in Belize. Because green card holders are expected to live primarily in the US, I ended up losing mine.

I've reflected a lot on why my job search has been so tough. It's possible I'm overqualified for some entry-level roles or asking for a salary that's too high. And with some applications, I'm not sure I've fully optimized my resume for applicant tracking systems.

But I also think my immigration situation has likely played a role. Since I don't have a green card, I have to answer "yes" when applications ask if I'd need visa sponsorship ? and I suspect that's turned off some employers.

At first, I focused strictly on industrial engineering roles. I was initially drawn to engineering in part because my university had a strong program, but more importantly, I see the field as a way to improve people's lives ? like leading projects that bring internet access to underserved communities or joining an organization like ?Engineers Without Borders.?

Over time, I started broadening my search to anything in the engineering field I thought I might be qualified for. I've applied mostly to jobs in the US ? especially in Texas, where I have family ? but I've also looked in Belize, Mexico, France, and other countries. While I was at the Olympics, I talked to someone who had been hired by a French engineering company and shared their info with me, so I applied there too, but nothing came of it.

My strong preference is to work in the US. It's where I see the most opportunity, the culture feels closer to home, and it's a relatively short flight from Belize. So far, I've had around seven interviews. I made it to the second round maybe two or three times, but never further.

To stay productive and boost my qualifications, I recently started an online master's program in electrical engineering through UCAM University in Spain. My only source of income right now is the $75 Belize dollars ? around $37 USD ? I get per session from helping to coach a youth track team, typically two to three times a week. I'm grateful to have my basic living expenses covered by my grandparents while I figure out my next steps.

I'm still training too. After the Olympics, I announced on Facebook that I was retiring from track and field, but a few months later, I changed my mind.

I have a few events lined up this year, including the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September. I don't plan to stop competing if I land a job, but I know it would affect my training schedule ? I'd need to be flexible and might have to scale things back.

I still believe I can build a professional future in the US. My dream is to find a job in engineering, gain experience, and eventually move into senior leadership. For now, I'm doing what I can ? sending out applications, keeping my skills sharp, and hoping that the right opportunity comes through.

? This as-told-to essay culled from Business Insider Africa (excluding headline) is based on a conversation with Shaun Gill, a 32-year-old Olympian in track and field and an engineering graduate from Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

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