Looking for work is an ego-destroyer.
We start to question everything: our skills, our worth.
It’s normal. But it feels like sh*t.
So, here are 3 things you can do to combat that awful feeling of loneliness when you’re looking for work.
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I was just reminded again of how dreadful the job search is talking to a client, how lonely it can be.
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And there are lots of things that you can do to kind of combat that loneliness, but it can be overwhelming, like sort of like, where do I begin?
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So here are three things you can do, anyone can do, and a few might surprise you.
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So the first one, and this was brought to me, suggested by a client.
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And I was like, Oh my God, that’s such a good idea.
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And this client actually found a job, found a job she really liked and a job where she’s not overworked and she’s happy.
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So success story, folks, we need some of those.
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She suggested if you’re feeling drained, if you’re feeling lonely, to go be a mentor for somebody.
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And I thought about this and the reason why this is so important is cause when we’re looking for work, we feel really needy.
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We feel like we’re asking for stuff all the time and we start to feel like we don’t have much to offer.
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I should say we forget we have a lot to offer.
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So go find an organization or just one-on-one, informal, whatever, but take your expertise and feed it to somebody.
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And watch what that does to you, let alone to them.
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It’s so energizing, and it’s a reminder that you do have value.
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You just aren’t using it in the workplace yet.
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So #2 go learn something.
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We always have these things in the back of our brain.
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If I had time, I would.
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You know what I’d really like to do?
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One thing about loneliness.
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Is it means you have time.
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So if you have time, go do a free course.
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Do a Coursera course.
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They’re they’re pretty cheap.
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General Assembly, Udemy, the usual suspects.
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If you want to go deeper, take a long course at a Community College or through another organization.
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But go learn something.
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You have the time.
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Become a better candidate.
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And there’s a bonus if you do, if you if you go out into the world or virtually into the world, you might meet people, you’ll be able to share your story a little bit.
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You’re going to find other people out of work.
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It’s all good.
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So go learn something, whether online or in person.
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You’re going to find a tribe, new people, new connections, and you’re going to feel good about yourself.
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So #3.
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Pick a brain.
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So I think it is kind of strange.
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We’re all sort of feeling isolated when we look for work, but we tend to not reach out except to go, do you have a job?
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Do you have a job?
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Can you get me a job?
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Can you get me an interview?
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And instead of going, and you should do some of that, but instead of only that, pick a friend or someone you know supports you, someone who’s really wants you to win.
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Right.
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And ask them, instead of saying, do you have a job?
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Ask them, how was it when you were out of work and how did you get a job?
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It’s just a interesting story to hear and one to tell.
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They’re going to enjoy doing it and they’ll stop and say, Oh my God, I don’t even remember, but they’ll remember, give them, give them some time.
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And I can almost guarantee it wasn’t through a job board.
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I’ll bet they got the job by talking to people, but that’s beside the point.
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Just listen up, let them, let them talk and hear where you know what worked for them, and maybe you’ll come up with some ideas, which is pretty cool.
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They’re going to gain.
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Empathy for you, because they’re going to remember, we all remember what it’s like to look for work and that feeling of loneliness and despair and sort of like, you know, what if I’m finished?
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They’re going to go back and even if they don’t say it outright, they’re going to go into that space and that’s going to create some empathy where they’re going to want to help you in the future.
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So you’ll have a fruitful conversation, but more than that.
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You’re going to be on their mind and they’re going to care about you, and they’re going to care about you finding your way back to work.
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All right, take those morsels of goodness.
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Go forth.
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Try to be less lonely.
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Keep your chin up.
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Take care.
