Posts tagged unemployment

Well, folks, it happened.  After 107 days (but who’s counting?) of unemployment, I gotsssss me a job!  I was offered a position about two weeks ago at a company here in Manhattan that specializes in digital media and research.  I start Monday…as in, four days from now.

:::having a slight panic attack just thinking about it since change scares me:::

I was sitting on the beach a couple of Friday’s ago (nice life, right?) when I got the call.  I was really nervous and anxious when I saw the number because I knew it was this particular company, and I was expecting to hear from them regarding their decision.  I accepted the offer, and then that night decided to look back on the process of applying.  If you are currently unemployed or find yourself in a similar situation in the future (although I should hope not), it might help you to know that finding a job can be a LONG drawn-out process, but you always have to stay positive. 

Here’s why:

• I applied online to this company on March 12.
• I had a phone interview on April 3.
• I followed up regarding the phone interview on April 10, and on April 16 was told that they would not be moving forward with bringing me in for the in-person interview due to my lack of digital experience.  Ouch.  
• On April 19, I received a call saying that the woman I had the phone interview with pushed for me, and now they wanted to meet me. 
• I went in to interview on two separate dates, on two separate weeks, and met about seven different people in the process.  The last interview was on May 1.
• I received the offer on May 18.

I don’t mean to bore you with the timeline, but it isn’t easy out there — and now you have evidence of it.  In this process you have to have an insane amount of patience and accept that things take time. A LOT OF TIME.

Starting a new job can be really scary; it’s unknown territory: a new office location, new coworkers, new culture.  I’m the ‘new kid in school’ who’s lost in the halls and doesn’t have any friends yet.  I need to be trained and taught and I need to get acclimated to new policies, procedures and systems.  I won’t lie, I think about all of this and start to have minor (okay, sometimes major) anxiety and fear about the entire process.  But I do know that I worked hard to get here, and deserved to get this offer.  Even if I AM eating lunch alone in a bathroom stall for a few weeks.

That being said…….unemployment, you will be missed.  I am thankful for the “me time” so I could get my life together, recharge my batteries, and reap the benefits of a paycheck from Uncle Sam.  But, alas, it was time to get back out there.

I can now rejoin the rest of society complaining about Mondays, awful commutes, and stressful work deadlines!  I’m sure being back out there in the world will give me plenty of new ‘writing material.’

Speaking of, I’ve really enjoyed writing these posts and hope that whoever stumbles on here does, too.  I promise I will try to keep it up even though I’m going to find myself with less free time very soon.

Wish me luck at the new job — and please remember that if you’re ever in my shoes…if you’re patient enough and positive enough — good things WILL come your way.

And yes, I realize this post is not funny AT ALL.  

The trouble with unemployment is that the minute you wake up in the morning you’re on the job.

-Slappy White

As I’ve mentioned in recent posts, I am currently unemployed.  I was laid off in February from a job that I absolutely despised, so I can’t say that it was the worst news I’d ever received.  

It’s now mid-May, and it’s been a whopping three months since I’ve worked.  I cannot believe how fast it went and how grueling a job search can be; even when you have more time and energy to devote to it.

Here are the stages I’ve gone through with my unemployment status:

• SHOCK.  Oh my god, did this really happen to me?  Did I really just go into this awful job on a Friday, work an entire stressful and aggravating day, only to be told at 5pm that I no longer would be employed there?  Holy balls!  How will I survive?  Will I starve?  I live in Manhattan for Christs sake!  What will my parents say?  What do I doooooo?
• ACCEPTANCE.  OK, I filed for unemployment.  I told my recruiters and friends the news and to keep me in mind for any job openings.  I have all my ducks in a row and am ready to tackle this unemployment thing and find something bigger and better!
• GLEE.  Wow, so… I don’t have to go to work.  I have free time!  It’s nice out, so I’m gonna go outside in the middle of a weekday!  I’m gonna read a lot of books!  I’m gonna get so much done!  I’m gonna learn how to COOK! I’m gonna take naps mid-day!  I’m gonna stay up late!  I’m going to have so many hobbies!!!!!!!!!!!! 
• NERVOUSNESS.  Why don’t I have a job yet?  How come I haven’t heard back from that place I interviewed?  Am I going to be homeless?  What am I supposed to do with all this free time???! AM I A LOSER?????????

I find myself currently in the ‘nervous’ stage, and it’s not easy.  Sure, there are days where I am thankful I don’t have to schlep to work (on a Monday after a long weekend, or a morning where there are torrential downpours) but it does become monotonous and even a bit boring after a while.

I have been interviewing, and in some cases have “gotten close” to landing something new, but I just have to stay patient and sane, and hope that I eventually find something.  In the meantime, I’ll relish in the fact that I forgot what the alarm clock on my cell phone sounds like, and that I get to do laundry in my building when NO ONE’S in there.