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Aug
18
I’ve posted before about changes in my work situation. Changes meaning, I’m unemployed as of right. about. now. Ouch.
I’ve been so blessed to work from home for the past several years, but it’s kind of insulated me from the job situation “out there”, in the real world. I work in jobs where I never actually see my coworkers or employer. I’m ok with that.
But I decided that it was time for me to branch out, put myself out there and apply for some different things. It’s been 11 years since I’ve really had to job hunt like this. What a rude awakening I’ve had! The biggest difference now is that it’s all done online. And I found out that several of the places I’ve been sending my resume to have some type of computer scanning system, it scans your resume looking for relevant experience or history, and if the computer doesn’t find what it’s scanning for, your resume is history! Let me just admit, I’ve been getting a lot of rejection emails.
Rejection is hard, especially when I haven’t even gotten to the point of a face to face interview with anyone. Even though I’ve worked steadily for the past 4 years, I’m finding out that working from home isn’t really taken seriously, unless I apply for other work from home jobs, similar to what I’ve been doing.
So, I’m back to doing that. Applying for more of the same thing that I’ve been doing for the past 4 years. And I have gotten several interviews, so that helps take the sting of all the other rejections away. Not completely though. This has been a tough process, first the blow of losing a project that I really liked, then the realization that I can’t just run out and get whatever job I want. Ouch, again.
I found a great post at Gypsy Girl’s Guide about the things that hold us back from finding and reaching our dream. This just really spoke to me, because I sometimes feel like I’m on a treadmill, going faster and faster, but still nowhere. I’ve written about not knowing what I want to be when I grow up , but along with the not knowing, when will I have the resources and the time to figure out what I want, much less to actually pursue my dreams?
This job search is not about finding my dream, not even close. To be painfully honest, it’s about finding a paycheck. How many of you have gotten off the treadmill, figured out what you want and went for it? Are you working and living your dream? Are you taking steps in that direction? I’d love to know, I could really use some inspiration right about now.
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9 Responses to “Job hunting blues”
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sharon on August 18th, 2008 8:40 am
Hi,
Don’t give up. I was working as an accounting asst for years before I decided to go after my dream job. I always wanted to be a librarian so I went back to college and obtained my master’s degree. I graduated at the age of 47. I love working at a public library and helping people share their love of books.
Something will come up soon.
Sheri on August 18th, 2008 9:17 am
Sharon, this is so strange. I haven’t told many people this, except my husband, but one of my dream jobs would be librarian too! I love to read, love all kinds of books and I have no idea why I didn’t consider that when I was actually going to college. I’ve checked out some degree programs but am just not able, at this point, to go back to school.
Good for you, I’m glad are living your dream. How funny that it’s the same as mine!
mary on August 18th, 2008 1:42 pm
I’m looking forward to reading some of these responses. I, too, work from home (primarily) and, frankly, it’s the only reason I like my job – the freedom and indpendence I have. Oh, yeah, and the paycheck. Other than that, I’m not doing anything remotely satisfying or creative.
It’s because I depend on this paycheck that I’m really “stuck”. Conversely, though, I know I have it good in terms of working from home and the flexibility I have; and even though I’m not doing what I want to do, I’m so thankful for what I’ve got. If I were to ever get laid off, I’d be pretty devestated. I can’t imagine going into an office environment again.
So what would I like to do, ideally? I’m not sure that I can narrow it down to one thing. I love to write (so freelance writing is an ideal path for me), I love decorating and interiors, I love paper and paper products. I’ve always wanted to be a shopowner and dream of opening up a stationary/paper goods store in my town. This, however, is a long shot: the amount of startup capital I’d need is huge – rent, stock, and living expenses (since Lord knows I probably wouldn’t be pulling in a salary, and we’ve got a mortgage to pay.) So, unless I win the lottery, that’s out of the question. Something like freelance writing is more reasonable and something I can (and already do) start out doing on the side.
I’m interested in seeing how things turn out in your job search, as well as how you hammer out exactly what you’d like to do.
Sheri on August 18th, 2008 3:49 pm
I can so relate to that, Mary. I don’t want to complain about working from home, especially with kids the flexibility is a great benefit. But you’re right, other than the paycheck, there is no personal satisfaction from it.
I am branching out, starting this blog has been kind of an “awakening” of a creative side that I honestly didn’t know I had. I always said I’d love to be a writer, but I never thought I could or would. So this has been a great thing for me personally.
Oh, what we couldn’t do with a nice big lottery win,lol. Dreams could really come true if the need for a paycheck wasn’t a factor. Once I get a new paycheck lined up for myself, I do want to start thinking about and hopefully moving toward making some of my hopes and dreams come true. Small steps, I’m sure, but it’s all good.
And I think you would be a hugely successful interior decorator, I can tell that just from your pictures on your blog. Lovely!
Robyn's Online World on August 19th, 2008 10:01 pm
Good luck with the search Sheri – I’m sure you will find something soon.
I also work from home and there is good and bad that goes along with it.
That lottery dream is always nice to have. How about that as a job? A professional lottery winner! I’ll take that one!
Laurin on August 20th, 2008 9:37 pm
I stopped practicing law to start a family. I was also completely burned out. Because of a friend I went into real estate right before I got pregnant with twins. I hadn’t intended to work, but things happen differently than you intend sometimes.
Turns out it was a good time to be in real estate but I didn’t enjoy it at all. It was that paycheck.
Through a series of events I got into blogging and realized it was fulfilling every creative urge I had ever had. My earliest memories of grade school were of writing short stories and asking to read them to the class. I was terrified to speak to people yet asked to read these personal writings to the other kids. It’s mind-blowing to me that writing meant that much to me at that age.
After reading the James Herriot books I was certainly going to be a country vet. But years passed and I found myself in an acrimonious profession I could no longer stomach.
I had hoped motherhood would be all-fulfilling, but in addition to the amazing love I felt for the twins, I had creative urges that were pouring out of me rapidly. I had an amazing idea every week and would call friends to mobilize and get it off the ground. In getting a green directory together for my area I started reading blogs daily and it finally hit me that I wanted to be a writer, always had.
The day the first post went up I was hooked and knew that it was for me. Then I went to blog school to learn how to build a place where I could write. Here I am. Blogger. Freelance writer. I know what I want to be.
Sheri on August 21st, 2008 8:17 am
Laurin, I know exactly what you mean about blogging fulfilling those creative urges. I always knew that if I got to choose, I’d be a writer. I just never thought I could do it. I was hesitant to try blogging, I would read tons of blogs and think “I wish I could do that”. Finally I just did it, and I love it too.
It’s that need for the almighty paycheck that gets in the way!
One of those days | Unexpected Bliss on October 6th, 2008 8:09 pm
[...] mentioned before that I was having a job change, not one that I chose. Losing a job made me stop and think about what I really wanted to be doing [...]
Donna T. on November 14th, 2008 1:02 pm
I have a bachelor’s degree, but after not working for ten years, I’m finding it hard to “hit the ground” running. For instance, I think I’d like to return to my first love, newspaper work…BUT in my cranky-pants-’40s…I’m admitting that I don’t care for that crazy pace deadline schedule or bizarro working hours.
I’m not even sure if I still have any of the necessary adrenaline left in my tired arteries!
Thanks to everyone, for sharing. I, too, like the librarian idea.