When I first got laid off, someone told me the average job search takes 259 days in this economy. That number absolutely terrified me. 259 days is nearly 8 months, or two-thirds of a year. That’s a long time to go without a job, without a steady paycheck, without any sense of responsibility.
Thankfully, I’m already done. My job search took me just 71 days and I’m pretty happy about that.
In those 71 days, I had:
As of today, I have accepted one of those offers.
On Monday, April 25th, I will have a new job, with the responsibilities I deserve, at an organization I believe in.
I attribute my success to a lot of things, mostly embracing my emotions. One of the hardest things about job searches is that you’re on a constant emotional roller coaster. Most people tell you to push through it and keep working, but I don’t think that’s the right way to go. If there was a day where I didn’t want to write a cover letter, I didn’t. I didn’t want to put that negative energy into a job application and potentially ruin my chances at an amazing opportunity.
Furthermore, I only applied to jobs I really wanted. No consultant positions, no social-media only positions, no positions at companies I didn’t believe in. I knew, going into this process, that I wanted a job where I could have my hands on a lot of different projects and would be surrounded by others who were truly passionate about their work. And I’ve found it.
Now that this chapter is over and I’ll soon be gainfully employed, I don’t for one second believe I’m done struggling with my career.
Just as it was difficult to sit around and watch my friends go to work while I laid in bed all day watching Buffy, it’ll be difficult to acclimate back to a work environment. It’ll be difficult again to acquaint myself with a new office, a new staff, a new set of duties, a new issue on which to focus my work.
However, I’m excited. The job I took comes with a director title, and a steep learning curve. There’s a lot of responsibility and a lot of opportunity to really grow a campaign that means something to a lot of people.
Wish me luck and, if you’re one of the several people who bought me a drink or a meal or a concert ticket over the past 71 days, thank you. It was incredibly appreciated. And, you will soon be paid back.
Recent Comments