On the road again

Here I am, on the road again...looking for employment. I never thought in a million years that I'd be looking for another job at this point in my life. This is supposed to be the time that I'm winding down and setting my sights on retirement. Well, that ain't happening!

While I have the normal anxiety of facing change and the "newness" of a new job, I am filled somewhat with excited anticipation. You see, I've enjoyed every job I've had. I've made the best of all situations I've found myself in. I have met some of the most wonderful people and made great friends along the way. These memories will stay with me for a lifetime.

That being said, I'm focusing on the future in a different way. New friends, new places, new adventures.

I have a new attitude about finding a job though...this is tough! It used to be that you sent your resume, you got called for an interview and the decision was made immediately with a question from the employer - when can you start. Nowadays, you send your resume - you get an email that says we got your resume - don't call us, we'll call you. Then you wait...then you might get a call for a phone interview...sometimes the interview takes place right then and there and sometimes it has to be scheduled...then you wait...you have the phone interview and you wait some more...then, if you're lucky the employer calls you back and you schedule a personal interview... and you wait. Then you have your FIRST interview perhaps with a recruiter and one person from the prospective department...and you wait...then you might have a second interview with someone "higher up" and you wait...THEN, if you're lucky you get an offer of employment and discuss salary. If the salary is lower than expect and you counter with a higher expectation...you wait...then the employer will come back with a counter-counter offer and you accept or decline...waiting over. All told the waiting can last weeks or sometimes this process can take months depending on the need for the position to be filled.

This waiting game can be excruiating for someone who needs to work - but it will show a test of patience and the ability to present yourself numerous times in a consistent manner so that the employer knows that you have an interest in the position and you have consistently expressed why you are the best candidate.

Now, at my age - 55 - this waiting game is becoming a harder pill to swallow. I have a business vitality that screams for me to be busy doing something productive and you can only do so much in your search time to fill the void of unemployment. Having worked all my life, this down time is not easy to adjust to. I wander from room to room, switching on the computer, the television, the radio, the cd player - anything to fill the silence that ensues after being surrounded by people and responsibilities on a regular basis.

Depression can set in quickly - so I am tackling my job hunt with an office mind-set. I have set up a binder with all the positions that I've applied for. Keeping track of those turn down notices that politely tell you that you have been selected not to work for them. I keep printouts of information from the prospective employers business website. I review this binder almost daily. Setting goals for follow up emails or phone calls. This binder is easily accessible so that when I receive a call from a prospect, I can refer to it to refresh my memory and engage my thoughts about a particular company in order to bring to mind some of the reasons I sent my application.

Yes, I'm on the road again...hitting the bricks...job hunting...whatever you call it - it needs to be done with a process and goal established as you move through the "waiting" processes.

In the meanwhile I try to fill my time with productive projects - organizing my closets, cleaning out the old and keeping the useful, helping friends with some of their projects - until that new opportunity presents itself and I can once again be gainfully employed!