Read this carefully: No matter where you live, big city or small, you cannot look for a job 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Similarly, no matter what important job skill you are proud to have, not a lot of employers may find it as attractive as you would want to believe.
There are just going to be days when (1) Nothing is going on. (2) You just can’t face any more rejection today. (3) The job(s) that is/are available, are not jobs you would qualify for anyway. If you’re not a plumber, you’re not going to get a plumber job. If you’re not a junior account executive, you are not going to get that job either. (4) The NCIS marathon is on today from nine in the morning until eleven o’clock at night. Just promise yourself, “I’ll give it hell tomorrow.”
So what to do? Again, going on fear, we’re afraid that when the husband/wife comes home he or she will magically just know you have wasted another day of job hunting. It’s uncanny, and rather spooky, but they know.
My Advice? Do one of two things. One of these includes lying about what a tough day you had looking for a job (which is wrong), but remember, you’re not doing so well, and you just can’t emotionally afford one more argument.
But first, you can try telling the truth. “I looked in the want ads in three different papers, got on the computer and hooked back up with Monster.com and Findmeafrigginjob.com and nothing. Checked with my Facebook page. Made some callbacks. Not a Goddamn thing. But look. I’ve got some nice pumpkin pie filling all warmed up for you. MMMMM.”
I can’t seem to find this key on my computer. Damn.
That will work for a while. Funny thing is, your life partner, your sweetie pie, your number 1 guy or gal knows the unemployment rate is high, and everybody is scrambling around trying to save themselves. But as the saying goes, “All politics are local.” In the end your significant other doesn’t really give a shit what is happening nationwide or even down the block. He or she only cares about what’s happening under his/her roof.
And all there is not so good.
Now I don’t recommend this next little thing, but what the hell, how can it get worse? On those days that you know there is nothing for you out there that day, make the bed. Go to your closet and get out your suit and tie and a clean white shirt. Put on the clean white shirt and tie and prance around the house for a while. After you have wrinkled everything up a bit, go back to the bedroom, take off your shirt and tie and place them sort of haphazardly on the bed. Throw your suit pants over the bedpost. When your spouse gets home, she will see the clothes and have what she believes is physical proof that you at least tried to find work today. “Bless his little heart.”
Sorry, but this is my idea of prancing.
Ladies, this works for you as well. (Besides, you prance better than we do.) Except do this with a dress or a pants suit.
Now look me in the eye and tell me honestly that many of you reading this haven’t already performed this little trick. You have, haven’t you? It’s pathetic, isn’t it?
It’s wrong, and you hate yourself, but you’ve already had 25 knock down drag out fights about how the hell you’re going to make it through all of this, and you really don’t have the energy for number 26. Acting out this little lie simply gets you a reprieve and through another day. And remember (I am truly speaking from my heart, here) there just isn’t always a potential job out there every day. There just isn’t.
One last thing before we leave this post. I wasn’t sure where to put this section, but since we’re talking about job hunting, this is about as good a place as any. It’s your personal hygiene.
I know, I know, the way you look, dress, and smell is ultimately pretty much up to you. But I’ve got to tell you, you’re looking like shit lately.
There are, I’m sure, lots of reasons for this: depression, anxiety, the feeling of worthlessness, emptiness.
Well, you get the idea.
Again, there’s a whole bunch of psychology pertaining to this, but in a nutshell, add up all those depressing thoughts and it all boils down to how much energy it’s going to take you to get yourself cleaned up every day, and how complicated it all is. Unless you have an interview for a job that day, what is the point of it all?
Regardless, keep up with your damn hygiene. Why? In a word, well, actually two: “self respect.” Don’t lose your self respect. You can be poor and jobless and out of money and feeling lonely and desperate and at some points during the day utterly uninvolved with the entire universe.
It’s all right. It’s OK. Remember, you’re human, and emotions filled with “bad humors” will often times get the better of you. I realize how hard it can be, but a shave and a hot shower every damn day actually is good therapy.
My Advice? Stay clean, people.
RealAdviceForTheUnemployed