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Honestly, I went into last week thinking unemployment may be kind of fun. I could run errands in the middle of the day, catch up on my DVR, and sleep in a little bit late (but just a little bit so it won’t be too hard when I start working again). But truthfully, as I start week 2, I’m finding that it’s just not that enjoyable. Daytime TV sucks, job searching is soul-crushing, and the anxiety of wondering when unemployment is going to kick in is all-encompassing. So tell me honestly – who actually has fun when they are unemployed? Teach me your ways.
Monday
Let me just say this: I hate phone interviews. I don’t know anyone that particularly enjoys them, but I feel particularly strongly about them. I just feel I “present” much better in person, you know? Not that I’m winning any potential employers over with my average looks; it’s more that I feel that I do better when I’m across the table from someone, able to pick up on the interviewer’s physical cues and stare them down look them in the eye.
That being said, today was phone interview day – one in the morning, one in the afternoon. The afternoon one went so well that they want to consider me for a “variety of potential opportunities” and invited me to New York City to go into their headquarters next week to discuss the “options.” Ok, maybe I’m better on the phone than I thought.
Jobs applied for: 5
Tuesday
Recruiter day! As I mentioned last week, I think meeting with recruiters is an essential part of the job hunting process. Even if they don’t find me a role this time, you never know when they may wind up having the connection at your dream job or have something come across that may be perfect for you. If you develop the relationship, you’re going to be the one they think of when that happens.
So today I made the trek into the city for two recruiter interviews, with lunch with two former co-workers from the job before “the position that shall not be named.” Two important, self-reflective questions arose from today: 1.) Do I want to take a role that would require me to trek into the city? (answer: not sure), and 2.) Am I nostalgic for my old company because this last one sucked so bad or because I really miss that job? (answer: likely the former)
Jobs applied for: 2
Wednesday
Everyone assumes that being unemployed means that you have more time on your hands. True, but given that you also don’t have an income to pay people to do the things you didn’t have time for before, a lot of that free time is eaten up by tasks you used to delegate out. So therefore, Wednesday found me out in the yard, doing the “spring clean-up” I usually pay the landscapers a few hundred bucks for.
Now, normally, I don’t mind a little yardwork. A few hours on a Saturday here and there? But this was a full 8-hour project and to be honest, I did a decent job at best. Lesson learned: I need to start tipping the landscapers more…when I can afford to have them back.
Jobs applied for: 0
Thursday
I have a second interview tomorrow (the follow up to my Panera meeting), so as much as I hate to spend the money unnecessarily, I need some professional grooming. After doing two recorded video interviews (does anyone wear pants for those? Asking for myself) and a quick meeting with yet another recruiter (networking, networking, networking), it was off to get my brows done and then to the nail salon. You’ve got to spend money to make money, right? No one wants to hire the girl with the out-of-control brows and the chipped mani. Even so, it felt kind of wrong to spend money on something so frivolous with no income coming in.
Jobs applied for: 0
Friday
Let me start here: the interview went well. I won’t hear back two weeks because the hiring manager is on vacation, and I’m ok with it because I’ve got two in-person interviews next week for other roles I want to consider. That being said…I’m not sure I want the job. Which is absolutely ridiculous to say because I obviously need a job. Obviously, there’s no offer on the table yet so I haven’t said no to anything, but I have a weird feeling of…guilt for not being more excited about having a good interview. Is that normal? When you have a job and are looking for a new role, you can have the luxury of being picky because you’ve got a paycheck coming in, but can you/should you be just as selective when you’re unemployed? Just another thing to be stressed about. Funemployment, indeed.
Jobs applied for: 5.
Respond
Jenna Crowley
Jenna used to be known as 2NOTBrokeGirls, but then one of the girls actually went broke, so she's struck out on her own. Jenna spends her free time saving the world, one sorority girl at a time (usually while wearing yoga pants), questioning why she decided to get a doctorate, documenting her love of all things cheese related, and hosting the new PGP podcast Don't Take It From Us. You can ask her anything you want about football, using your boobs to get what you want, and pizza at @JennaLCrowley on Twitter or via email at JennaLCrowley@gmail.com.
@JennaLCrowley
@donttakeitfromus
You could always sell your underwear on Craigslist to get by…
Or on Man Outfitters. And then prospective buyers could get 20% off with the code “DIRTY”.
That’s what I’m doing. Not a lot of bites so far.
Unrelated: The going rate for a hooker in Albuquerque is $30/hr. (Source: friend in the DA office) Who the fuck would whore themselves out for $30 an hour?
I could have sex for $1.50 in Albuquerque?
Well, $.50 for the sex, $1 for the post-coital companionship.
I whore myself out for $30 an hour every week Mon-Fri from 9-5 in this cubicle.
That’s more than you’d make at most non-professional jobs
Yeah but you don’t have to go home with a few sore holes and a head full of bad memories at most non-professional jobs.
No, it’s only the professional jobs where you have those takeaways.
Pretty soon they won’t need HR departments for algorithms so take this opportunity to get heavily imbedded in the drug trade because when like half the population is replaced, they’ll be doing a lot of drinking and drugs. Alcohol is a recession proof investment. For more fantastic life advice, you know where to find me lol
I don’t think it’s wrong to still be picky even though you don’t have a job. If you don’t feel like you’ll like the job six months down the road but are just taking it to get a paycheck back you’re going to be miserable. But I completely understand where you’re coming from. Good luck! It sounds like you have some great leads!
I’d be careful with this, if you turn down what the state defines as “suitable employment” they can take your benefits away. Besides, even if the job’s not ideal, you’re free to start searching again whenever you want.
Keep your head up! You got this!
Recorded video interviews are awful. Staring at yourself on a screen, trying to answer a question while getting zero visual/audio feedback from the interviewer, all while only getting one shot at it.
These things happen for the best, it happened to me in April. Now, I got a job offer where I’m making almost 50% more than my previous job (I was drastically underpaid at my last job FYI).
Name no longer checks out. Congrats.
Can I change my username?