checking out
by rantywoman
An acquaintance told me that she has a long-standing friend who is employed at a popular company in town and encouraged me to apply there. I put in an application for an entry-level job, but I didn’t hold my breath. Yesterday the acquaintance told me her friend never answered her email about my application. And so it goes.
I’m now down to one application for a professional job within this city, and one in another city in this state where I have family. I’m not that excited about the latter place, but it does meet my minimum requirements.
Meanwhile, I have six applications in for professional jobs in California, not including the prospects at my former organization. The writing on the wall is becoming clearer and clearer. I’ve stopped investing in this city emotionally and socially, although I do still search the job boards. After the initial depression and anger, my psyche has kicked into survival mode. I find myself more and more envisioning possible lives elsewhere. I have a feeling I’ll be gone sometime next year, possibly as early as two months from now.
I can hit up the temp agencies again starting next week, but the one I signed up with has only offered $10 an hour jobs, and the worst part is that they are not in companies where I could grow into another position. They have been in dead-end sectors, such as childcare. I have a feeling the company jobs are going to young women in their twenties.
I’ve started telling everyone I’m looking for a job, but it hasn’t resulted in any leads. Three or four of my friends haven’t replied to my last messages or texts, so I have stopped contacting them.
Onwards and upwards?
thebitterbabe 
I feel for you.
My thoughts on life have radically changed in the last years and I find myself viewing it from above, the side, the distance. A research topic of sorts.
If I could check out further, I would.
Good luck with your job hunt. It’s not easy.
For what it’s worth I think you should give it a few more months, then jack it all in and head somewhere sunny. California sounds nice.
The jobs I’m applying for now will take a couple of months to play out, and in the meantime I’m still looking here. It’s hard to time things, as I feel I need to send applications out to find out where I stand in the job market, and then if something comes through, I’ll feel like I have to take it, even if it means moving.
I wish I could check out completely too. So tired of the whole game.
Nice clip. I agree with him totally. I’ll have to show it to anyone who wants to talk to me about either the planet or politics.
It’s very frustrating and depressing to feel so powerlessness. I’ve felt that way, too and have wondered, “Why me? What are others doing that I need to be doing?”
Thank you… it’s nice to know I’m not alone in this frustration.
The organization I quit apparently has me in mind for some high-level posts, which I think proves I was a good employee! I feel like I have two choices: to remain angry or move on. So I’m choosing the latter.
I suspect plain old luck plays a large role. People who are successful are reluctant to admit to this because it takes away from their supposed personal greatness.
I wish you both good luck.
I’m Australian, and the news here reminds me that currently around 200 homes have been destroyed thanks to bush fires in NSW. That’s some pretty rotten luck. Life really is a bitch sometimes.
Yes, I’ve had friends who have taken five-year breaks from the workforce, but their best friend owns a company and gives them a job or they apply somewhere and the owner notices on their resume that they went to the same college or whatever and presto, they are employed almost immediately after re-entering the job market.