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10 Surefire Ways to Survive While Looking For a Job

There was an old story about an Ohio bank clerk working in his spacesuit. His colleagues laughed at him, but the clerk had a dream. The same clerk didn't do it to earn the ire of his boss but rather wanted attention. He was no other than Neil Armstrong. It should give you some ideas for the upcoming trick or treat in your neighborhood, but not the (next) Halloween party in the office. After all, you have received your undergraduate degree several months ago. And you would be surviving while looking for a job.

You gave more than you could do for the coursework, so you deserved a break. It would turn out to be a little longer than you thought, but you figure that you have earned it. Laziness was an option, spending more time in the bed than you have imagined. Your folks don't mind it, but you've been worried about what they might be thinking of you. You're not delaying your inevitable entry into the real world, where hard work would be part of the daily routine. On the other hand, you keep on telling yourself that you'll be fine. You'll find a job sooner or later. (And that's the spirit.) There would still be those moments, though. You can't help but feel anxious, restless, and eager to do something right away.

Everything will fall into the right place, so you must learn to make the most of your time. There are many ways to survive those idle moments while you look for a job. You'll put your creativity into use once more while you learn the virtue of patience.

It's Time to Keep Busy

Indulge in reading. If you're a BA English graduate, then this would be the perfect time to read for pleasure. H.G. Wells intrigued you, but you didn't have the time to read his books in its entirety. You have no excuse this time. Likewise, you have wished that you could read more poems (to appreciate it). No one is reminding you to do it. The likes of you have learned that reading is a necessity, the only way to become a better writer. Authorship doesn't have to be the only reason, though. (There's nothing wrong with keeping company with dead authors, even writers you hardly know.) This should help you in communicating better, which will be useful during the job-hunting process.

Update your blog. You're one of those thousands of (online) users who have a blog. You want to keep a journal of your happenings, and you want an audience. However, you can't recall your last entry. Coursework gave you little time for anything else, and you're thinking of catching up. You may evaluate your reasons, though. Why not write about the things you're passionate about? Recruiters will notice it, and you can be certain that one (or two) will be prompted to get in touch with you.

Get fit. You have added weight during your final year in college, which affected you in many ways. (You became lethargic every morning. Your clothes won't fit easily. You noticed the change in your mood.) Go to the gym, if not run every other morning. You can also do long walks. You must be flexible about your regimen, as it's the only way to keep on doing it for a long time.

Reconnect with friends. It should make you feel good about yourself, which should uplift your mood whenever you realize that you don't have a job, you're (still) broke or your love life is DOA. You must be secure about yourself, as you'll get in touch with some buddies who have a job already. They could also be acquaintances (or friends of your family) who are in high places. If you keep on imagining the life that you want, then there's no need to be green with envy. The next item is related to this one.

Spend less time on social media. Users post to impress (in Instagram), but you can make an exception on LinkedIn and your blog. Learn to showcase your talents. Never be modest about your capabilities. Show your interests, and how it would make you different from the others.

Sell your books. If money is an issue, then you can let go of the books you have read during your time at the university. If It's still in good condition, then you can get as high as $20 for each title. You should know where to sell it. (eBay won't be the only one.)

Find a part-time job. You don't want to be asked about your idle time, so it will be better to look for a temporary job. Anything would do at the moment. (Remember that recruiters are looking for applicants with many skills. A Jack of All Trades if possible.) It should lessen your worries on money-related matters; you might need to buy new clothes (for that new job) sooner or later.

Learn to profit from your talents. If you're good in something, then you might be wondering why you should keep on doing it for free. There's nothing wrong about being a generous character, but doing something you truly love would make a huge difference. You won't be getting burned out, not even considering looking for another job (after many years).

Do a research. You may have a short list of the companies that you want to work for. You have all the time for industry magazines. Remember that a (company) blog won't be enough. And the company description in Wikipedia reveals your lack of enthusiasm. If you don't have a list, then start one.

Expand your network. Matt Damon won an Oscar for playing a smart, young man who could have been something else. But he was a janitor. He rather talked about his traumatic experience during his childhood years while getting tipsy inside an Irish pub. It could be anyone. It should be easy to give excuses, wallowing in self-pity. The world would be out there, and it won't wait for anyone who doesn't want to seize the opportunities.

If you're still dissatisfied with your situation, then you're left with two options

You still want to delay the inevitable, so you have to consider the possibility of pursuing a graduate degree. Don't do it if you're not thinking about an academic career. (As the likes of Steve Jobs have shown, you don't need to have multiple degrees to make it big.) And you must assess yourself once more. (Are you motivated to handle the demands of the coursework one more time?) If you're uncertain about it, then think about the other option.

Traveling is the best excuse in this kind of situation, such that you have all the time to think about your career options. And you'll be able to think of it differently. Have a good time, but make sure that no one will tag you in photos that will make recruiters think twice about your application. If you're smart enough, you can be a volunteer for a good cause. Don't worry about the time, as you would have lots of it.

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