vulnerable request: best ways to keep from going insane while job hunting??? tips small or large??

Question

Lulu Lefferts · Answer

The Old Girls Club: Join The Old Girls Club and actively participate. Go to any in-person events that members are posting.

Kari · Answer

Bits of Joy & Proactive Outreach: None of this will be particularly mind blowing but it helped me:

I made a list of fun (and free/cheap) things to help me have a bit of joy each day. That included going to the library and actually browsing the stacks, instead of just homing in on my to-read list. I found a new favorite series, and the experience of reading it completely recolors how I look back on that time.

I also really found it helpful to reach out to my network and have all those long-overdue catchup chats. None were to say “give me a job” but just to strengthen those connections and let them know I was on the hunt. It felt proactive and productive, and even led to a referral. Informational interviews can do the same. And having those actual human connections feels more important now than ever.

Take care (in all the ways)!

Joselle · Answer

Career Counselor: My husband was unemployed after a layoff for nearly a year. It wasn’t until he linked up with a career counselor that things started moving and he was hired for a great position. It was free through his college alumni association—doesn’t matter if you graduated 20 years ago, you likely still have access to those benefits. Job searching is so much more complex nowadays and career counselors help with that alongside the emotional aspects. It was also helpful for me at the start of my career fresh out of college.