If your job hunt is dragging on I know it can feel like you
don’t belong anywhere. It doesn’t seem
right that so much of our identity is wrapped up in our jobs. We are so much
more than that, but we lose sight of it after the multiple times someone comes
up to ask us what we do and we have to say, “Well, recently I was…” Painful.
If you are like me, you have already tapped family and
friends and networked your brains out to see what possibilities are out there;
and also for the mere human contact. Now is the time to go beyond the comfort zone.
So when you are feeling you have no place in the universe you fit in, it is
time to find a new place to belong. My Tip #5 is: Be a Joiner. This can take many forms - the most useful of
which is a job support group.
I recently started with a great group that was recommended
to me. It is called Career Walk. We meet
weekly and get help with assessing skills, preparing for interviews, and
learning how to create a positive job hunting experience. We also support each
other. This group happens to be held
through a church, which leads to another tip I got along the way: many of the
church-based groups have amazing success rates in helping people secure a good
job.
Just being in a room with folks who are facing similar
challenges while hearing their stories can help you feel much less alone in your
own process. The state employment sites have many suggestions for groups,
workshops and classes, and the ones I have attended have all been very
worthwhile.
Here’s hoping you find someone to walk alongside you in your
job journey. - Susan
