Reader Blasts McCrabby - Will that
help the $!%^@& job-search?
Editor's note: This comment came from a Friday reader, who didn't appreciate the attempt at a weekend, motivational uplift in yesterday's blog post (http://t.co/YNO5fSB); McCrabby, in trying to help, is going to take one more stab at it in the response.
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Dear McCrabby,
Really, really made a difference. I will send that on to the gas, electric, phone, Internet, credit card, snow plow, mortgage company. I am sure they will find it as helpful as I did.
Anonymous (note: why are they always anonymous??)
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Dear Anon,
McCrabby empathizes with your situation, and isn't that far from it. However, blasting those that try to support you, including family friends and McCrabby, doesn't seem like the most productive approach to the problem.
AND, you can afford to hire someone to snowplow your driveway? OMG, McCrabby can't afford that, so you can't be doing THAT bad....
What McCrabby is saying, is that family is key in your job search. Don't neglect them. Here are a few quick points for the weekend to maybe help get you back on track. If this is another waste of your time, we apologize and might suggest you watch C-span or read congressional records. While we want to deal with two issues in this blog, job searching and common sense, we want to do it with a sense of positive, a sense community and a sense of fun.
That being said (if you're still here, Anon), let McCrabby suggest that you make a point to share with your spouse (and kids, too, if they're old enough) what you're feeling during your job search; if they don't know what you're experiencing, they can't relate to it and help you through it. And, let them help.
Make time for your family; do you think you need 14 hours a day to search for a job? McCrabby isn't saying to quit looking, but you need balance -- example: McCrabby is taking Mrs. McCrabby to a movie this afternoon, and then dinner, because we haven't been out (other than to work out) for few days, and we need balance. McCrabby can do some more work on the rest of the weekend (after church - another good idea, Anon).
Note: Mrs. McCrabby has her own email now, so if you'd like to wish her a happy birthday, or share anything else with her, email her at mrsmccrabby@humantransitions.com). Ask her for a recipe; she's great at that.
Remember that the stress flows through to your spouse while you search for work; economics are in play, your mood is affected, and s/he may feel more pressure to work harder to take up the slack. This job-search thing isn't only impacting you; realize that and cut her some slack.
Do something special, for you and the spouse, once in awhile. It doesn't have to be expensive (we always feel a little guilty hitting a movie on Friday afternoon, but we all know McCrabby will work enough beyond that to make up for it.. and the movie is a matinee at $5/each and we usually have a BOGO coupon for dinner).
Don't be a martyr. Don't be a victim. Lots of people are going through what you're experiencing, and while it may be somewhat traumatic, you aren't singled out because of anything you did. People have empathy for your situation, but don't look for pity. Keep your attitude up -- it'll help in all you do.So, Anon (are you still here?), much of this is common sense, but the main point is that you are not in this situation alone and you need to recognize that fact. If you allow your family to be involved, you'll get much-needed support, you'll enhance your personal relationships, and you'll ultimately make your job search easier and more productive. You'll keep your attitude more upbeat, which will make it easier to find work. By the way, if you walk into a hiring manager's office with yesterday's attitude, you won't walk out with a job; you might not anyway, but you can guarantee it with negativity.
Good luck in your job search, and in your personal life.
In the meantime, we hope you'll follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/curtmacrae ), and if you are looking for moral support, join our LinkedIn group (McCrabby's Support (group): http://lnkd.in/4TkF7_ )