0 What's good about a job-search - Plenty!!

Dear McCrabby, 
I read some of your more humorous posts, and while I appreciate the light-hearted approach, I'm fairly depressed.  My morale is slipping during my job search, which is now turning into year-two.  Is there anything good you get from a job-search?  

I'm getting frustrated in being ignored, going to interviews for jobs that aren't there, being told I have too much experience (Are you serious?? - Could be a hiring manager letter for you, McCrabby), obvious age-bias, and trying to get people I'd never hire, to hire me.   There must be some positives I can focus on.  I'm looking for reasons to stay positive.  Can you help?

Frustrated in Frankenmuth 

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Dear Frankenstrated:

You are absolutely right.  There must be some good things in a job-search.   There are.  

While McCrabby hasn't done a workshop in more than a year (maybe  he should schedule one, but he's in a small town area now and not sure about turnout), he has talked about a lot of these topics the GET TO WORKshops, of which there have been about a dozen.  

THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT A JOB-SEARCH

1. Getting a job:  OK, that seems obvious; it is the ultimate goal, after all.  There's great scene from the movie, "Dave."  If you haven't seen it, McCrabby highly recommends the movie.  Dave, who runs a temp agency, but is pretending to be president, says "If you've ever seen the look on somebody's face the day they finally get a job, I've had some experience with this, they look like they could fly. And its not about the paycheck, it's about respect, it's about looking in the mirror and knowing that you've done something valuable with your day. And if one person could start to feel this way, and then another person, and then another person, soon all these other problems may not seem so impossible. You don't really know how much you can do until you, stand up and decide to try."   That about sums it up -- the movie came out in 1993 and stars Kevin Kline.
2. Meeting new people:  McCrabby would have to admit that he met more interesting and caring people while doing workshops, than at any other time.  People on LinkedIn, people in church, friends, family, and most people have been supportive and helpful, and meeting people in similar circumstances seems to bring people together.
3. Doing workshops:  While this won't apply to everyone, McCrabby has loved doing GET TO WORKshops for people, and has built so many new relationships that it's very rewarding.  It also keeps McCrabby sharp with presentation skills, and managing groups, so it's good practice and development.  If other people want to try doing some of this, McCrabby can help.
4. Learning;  It's a time to learn new things, from job skills to job-searching skills.  Understanding LinkedIN and how to use it well, learning how to write a quality cover letter and resume for a job-search, finding new websites to help, and constantly meeting new people who can teach us other techniques, is vital.  McCrabby has learned how to use new tools that should help him in all his endeavors. 
5. Getting a chance to re-invent:   When you are looking for a job, you have the chance to re-invent yourself, to change who you are and what you do to who you want to be and what you want to do.  Maybe you've never been happy with your career choice, or maybe there are some things about you that could use a tweak or two.  Now is the time to make the commitment to make those changes, and perhaps your job-search is your chance to change a couple things for the better.  Figure out what those are and work on them.
6. Discovering companies:  Now is the time to find out more about the companies you might want to work for, and it's interesting to investigate companies and see what makes them work.  You might find some really intriguing things that make you want to be there, too, to participate in the innovative, or life-altering activities of a particular organization.  Be open to what you find, and be receptive to new ideas.  They may provide you new opportunities that will make your last job pale by comparison.
7. Working from home:   Your job-search base is probably your home.  Take advantage.  Eat lunch with your spouse, and take a break to play with your kids, grandkids, dog, whatever, every once in awhile.  You probably couldn't do that as easily when you were working.
8. Saving money:  Now, we know you aren't making much, or any money, during your job search, but luckily most of it is done from home, so you aren't putting mileage on, and gas in, the car as often.  You don't eat lunch out, so that's a savings, and you may save on dry-cleaning, insurance (you might want to change your car insurance to shorter commutes, and save a few bucks), tax deductions for job-searches, etc.  Hey, we're looking for silver linings here.  
9. People want to help:  McCrabby has gotten help multiple times from friends, but also from unknown, and unmet, people.  Post a comment for something in a LinkedIn group, and you'll get help.  And, my Michigan State University group on LinkedIN always is positive and wants to help.  It's reassuring and reaffirming to know that people are willing to come to the aid of people they don't know.
10. Changing habits:   Most people can live on a lot less money than they realize.  We still need to work, but we've changed habits, cut expenses, and gotten smarter.  It will help us down the road.  When the economy does turn around, we'll be in a better position then.  

Good luck on your job search...  Stay positive.

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