I have landed, and I am indeed grateful. After (almost) three years of classes, unemployment benefits, unpaid internships, cottage industries|freelance|part-time gigs, networking seminars, countless job applications and resume revisions — I am thrilled to say that I have a full-time job.
When I began the journey, after staying too long at “the fair” (read: my previous career), I did envision the invigorating challenge of finding a new path ahead, but I did not envision how difficult it would become. Let’s just say my timing was less than optimal, for as I was emerging resolute in my decision-making, the bottom was dropping out of our economy.
NOTE: While in the process of job-searching, I would say that I accepted most of the recommendations I was given and followed many of them, though sometimes begrudgingly. I was not always convinced. Now that I have found a job, I can see how true many of them were and|or how they culminated in my final objective… kind of like the stuff your mom tells you is good for you, but you don’t want to hear. So here goes, I’m here to tell you. Take Heed.
1. Use your time and your resources well. First and foremost, contact your local unemployment office. Don’t think of it as “unemployment”. They exist to help you achieve “re-employment”. (My home state of Minnesota has an incredible resource in their job search programs. Hopefully your state also does.) Take a class. Find a mentor. Do some soul-searching: a great free way to do this is with Marcus Buckingham’s directed online course. This was an invaluable tool for me as I searched to find a different path|new career. (Available at http://www.oprah.com/money/Marcus-Buckinghams-Career-Intervention)
2. Reach out in every direction. Perhaps most importantly, re-connect with past business acquaintances|work friends. If you are like me, you will be amazed to find how many are in the same boat. You’ll have an instant support group of like-minded talented individuals who can aid each other in the job search progress. In this situation, sharing|brainstorming|commiserating can be both therapeutic and constructive.
3. Keep your sense of humor, no matter how sarcastic.
4. Appreciate your spouse|family’s stress also. They are feeling your pain and quite possibly, added responsibilities and sacrifices themselves.
5. Get therapy. When I was stuck and couldn’t seem to move forward, therapy helped me greatly — my therapist was able to spur me to action by identifying small, logical steps for me to take. He got used to the tears of frustration. I think…
6. Take a day off. Let it go. Cry. Go for a walk. Get so mad you clean your house really well — or whatever works for you to burn off some steam. For one day, don’t peruse the job boards or obsessively check your email to see if anyone has written back.
7. Start a blog, paint, draw or journal. Start your own website. Not only are these great ways to focus your attention elsewhere, they can prove to be good portfolio items in the future.
8. Find a way to get face time. Easier said than done, but when I was finally able to do so, I got the job.
9. Surround yourself with positive and supportive influences. Read The Secret. Seriously. Though I had read it before and thought, “Yeah, I get it”, when I actually believed it, things changed. I am not saying that the book itself or the affirmation changed the universe in a miraculous way. I know for sure that it inspired me, calmed me and fortified me, so I was able to present my best self in my various interviewing situations.
10. Be grateful. Yes, grateful. Genuinely. Every day. Every morning. Every night. For your family, friends, pets, food, heat in the winter, electricity... all of it. It may sound trite (grateful for what? you may think, but then you’ll remember). It may sound simplistic. But it helps, it works, it focuses one’s energy and it gets you through another day… til that next one, when you finally do find that job.
