The Unexpected Perks of Unemployment

We all know the disadvantages of being unemployed:  Reduced income for the household, searching for new employment, and looking for things to fill your time.  Also the Geico commercial with the camel doesn't have quite the same meaning - although it is still my favorite commercial and I crack up every time I see it.

There are, however, some unexpected perks of unemployment:

• You can go to the store at the times they are the least busy - and not only have the store to yourself, but a great parking spot.
• You can stay up as late as you want, and get up at whatever time you choose.
• You can do household chores at 2AM or 2PM, whenever the mood strikes.
• You don't have to worry about what you are going to wear to work the next day.
• You can be lax in the personal hygiene department (although I would not recommend it).
• Spend more time with family (especially nice if they live in Las Vegas and have a private pool).
• Most importantly, it gives you time to figure out and follow your dreams.

You are never too old, and it is never too late, to reinvent this great adventure called life.

Losing My Job

Words fail to express the loss and devastation one feels when they lose their job.  Not just financially.  If you’ve been through it, you know exactly what I’m talking about.  You feel useless and worthless.  Everything you thought you knew and had secure knowledge in is now scrambled and turned upside down.

Every rejection in the job hunting process just lowers your confidence and whittles away your resolve.  No matter what you do, you feel hopeless because nothing you try seems to work.

You scour Craigslist, Careerbuilder, Monster and any and all other avenues to find job openings that match your skillset.  There aren’t many, so you apply for anything and everything you might be remotely qualified for. 

You think it’s your resume that’s not getting you an interview, so you revise it.  Again and again.

You get called in for an initial interview, but you don’t get a call back.  So you change the way you answer the questions that you know are coming.  Perhaps you change the delivery or the way you word a particular answer.

You Google, Facebook, and Twitter for advice.

You ask those that have interviewed you what you can do to improve your interview skills in the future.

You tell yourself that it’s not you, but the economy.

You convince yourself that each interview is just practice for the next one.

You are not sure what is worse – not getting called for the interview or going through the interview(s) and not getting the job.

Yes, it’s true.  Searching for a job truly does SUCK.