Tip #5: Be a Joiner by Susan Vagnoni Murphy

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