It's not so bad

The blog a day experiment is OVER! So why am I blogging so again so quickly? Because I love it. The last couple of years have been really trying and learning about who I want to be and basically learning how to enjoy life without money. But this year, even with a horrible economy and at least 20 people I know, including me, out of work, I find that the Holiday season is really enjoyable. I have not worked since July. And while that is frustrating, I have a great Severance package and Unemployment taking care of me and I really cannot complain about money. Plus all the side business I have been doing under the table that Uncle Sam will never know about. So Christmas this year I am not worried about how I am going to pay my bills, which really relieves a ton of stress. I don't have money to burn, but at least I know that I can buy gifts for a select few people, reach out by cards to those I can't, and still enjoy this Holiday season seeing friends and family. Plus I know that the SD Fair is FAST approaching again, and while I do not take my work there for granted, it's nice to know that if I don't find a job between now and January, I will still be able to work again and pay my bills. And I only have two more people to find gifts for on my Christmas list! That is awesome!

Out of Work? Network!

Day 17 of the Blog a Day brings me to job hunting. I have talked about job hunting on this blog before, and typically my outlook is grim. I have been "looking" for that next step in my career for the last 2 1/2 years and along the way I have been expanding my network of contacts in the San Diego market as well as elsewhere. While I have not found that next plateau in my career, I know for sure I am still taking each step of the stairs one and sometimes two at a time and moving forward.

Now in job searching these days, many job search newsletters and advice columns will have you believe that the key to a new job is to network. Now while I believe that to be 50% true, I will also say that it depends on your network. You see I work mostly in the entertainment and event planning fields. Well over the last year I could name off roughly 20-30 people who have not only been laid off, but who are also STILL looking for work like I am. So what do you do if your network is either out of work, or fearing that this Holiday season they will see more layoffs? I think you expand your network even further. Make phone calls to people that you don't normally, reach out to old friends, and reconnect with others. I don't think that networking is the only answer because I think there has to be jobs out there, but the more people that you reach out to, the more people who are helping YOU find a job. If not actively, then at least they may call you when they hear of something. Try it. It's like a great social experiment. And if you hear the phone ringing or have a new email, it might just be from me. ;)

Jobless on Labor Day

Like nearly 15 million other Americans I am without a job come Labor Day. This is first time in three years that I can make that claim. The last 2+ years have been tough and yet rewarding for me. I made a decision to get out of a bad situation that eventually I would have been laid off or worse fired from. In making that decision I empowered myself to take control of my career, my finances, and ultimately my life. And yet, I am unemployed once again. The Unemployment rate has reached nearly 10% and that is really a misnomer. In reality there are probably around 12-15% of Americans Unemployed. That means that anywhere between 1 - 1.5 in 10 people are out of work. Just thinking about it I can count off at least 5 people I know that are highly qualified and yet out of work just like I am.

What questions does this raise? When you have been out of work for 2+ months, and see less and less jobs popping up anywhere, and more and more people out of work you start to wonder where the next job will be and who will I be competing with for that job? Also when you don't get return phone calls or emails on resumes for weeks on end and it seems like interviews are few and far between you start to wonder what is wrong? The frustration is that while there are some things that you can do to refine your process, there is really nothing wrong with you. I have equated job searching with dating lately. The more desperate you are, the less appealing you become. The more needy you are, the less likely you are to land an interview. And yet people around you are still getting married and love is found all the time. And a few people you know have landed great jobs of late. That means that there is hope. That there is a silver lining, and that remaining positive and having some sort of faith will carry you through. I don't mean faith in a higher power like God. I don't personally follow organized religion and do not have a relationship with any God. But I do have Faith that something better is out there. It has to be. With my car being out of commission, being under penalty with Unemployment for a misunderstanding, and seeing calculated risks blowing up in my face I have to believe that somehow the work will pay off and things will work out. I have to.

So my fellow job seekers I give you this advice. You are good enough, you are smart enough, you are good looking enough, and dog gonnit you WILL find that job you are looking for. I believe in you, I ask you to believe in me. Let's have faith for each other.