Wait

And wait......and wait..
Well, you get the idea. That's the hardest part of the job search, waiting on the responses to your applications. It helps to remember that employers aren't working on your time schedule. I'm not sure whose schedule they're on, but it isn't mine either.
It also helps to think of things you can do to make yourself more attractive to prospective employers. Good place to start is with your resume. There are lots of good books out there to help you polish it up, and if you really want to go the extra mile, you can engage a professional resume writing service. Not having an income makes that problematic for some of us, though. Sometimes it's hard not to give into despair, but there you run the risk of coming across as too needy. Yeah, I know and you know we need a job, but the hiring managers don't have to know that. No....hold on. If the hiring managers think I don't need a job, then....for some odd reason, my head hurts. Ah well...(I seem to be heavy on the ellipsis today. Sorry.)

Once your resume looks sharp, you can move on to personal grooming. Although you don't want to look desperate, you also don't want to go to an interview looking like the winner of Survivor: Death Valley. Bathe, brush, shave. Dress nice. That way, even if you don't get hired, you can go somewhere for lunch and maybe meet someone to help you forget your troubles. I'm a firm believer in planning ahead. Just make sure they're buying. Remember, no job=no pay, and that's just not sexy.

You will find time on your hands and that can be an issue for some of us. You can address this several ways. For instance, you can clean house. Oh wow...I can't believe I just said that. Not even three weeks out of work and I'm getting hysterical. Okay, then head to the used bookstore for some inexpensive reading. Walk your cat. Trim your nose and ear hairs and make the clippings into a collage. Likewise toe and fingernails. I may not know art, but I know what I like. Arrange everything in your refrigerator alphabetically. Call your home phone from your cell phone and leave messages pretending you're a hiring manager. Try not to be disappointed when you return the call and realize you're not really a hiring honcho. That took me some time to get over,but right now that's what I've got: time to wait....


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