Need to Pay Rent
Dear Trellis,
My company downsized and I’m worried about all of the unemployed people in the Bay Area right now. How do I stand out and find a new job with so much high-caliber unemployed competition?
Need to Pay Rent in San Francisco
Dear Need to Pay Rent Soon,
Being unemployed is one of the hardest pills to swallow because it attacks our ego and sense of self-worth. This happens at the precise time you need to be exuding confidence and assurance and competence as you seek your next role. It’s a sh*tty formula and I feel for you.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to help land your next role and retain your equilibrium despite the uncertainty you are facing.
Maintain your certainty anchors. Certainty anchors are the routines and things in your life you can count on. They let you accept the uncertainty you can’t do anything about with more grace and equilibrium. These might include waking up at the same time each day, or doing yoga for 15 minutes before you face your computer. It might include your cup of coffee in the morning or snuggling with a loved one in front of the TV in the evenings. It might include paying for a coworking space where you have a community of supporters even if the money seems like a stretch when you don’t have a paycheck coming in. These people can be a lifeline and also make it easier to focus since your TV is far away and everyone is working hard so it’s easier for you to as well. These may feel like indulgences sometimes, but they are keeping you sane. Don’t lose them.
Set tiny goals that are so silly and small they make you giggle. Like opening your laptop. Seriously. Make that a goal.
Aim for one resume out per day, and if you get more than that, pat yourself on the back.
Leverage LinkedIn to make your network work for you. If you find a job you are really excited about, see if you have any 1st, 2nd, or 3rd level connections to the company and aim for an informational interview. Employees are always the best way to get your resume noticed, even if you don’t know the person well or at all. People want to help people, especially if it’s easy. Offer to write an intro blurb for your contact to tweak as they see fit so it’s as easy for them to connect you as can be.
Reward your efforts. This could take a long time, and you need to reward yourself for the little wins like getting your laptop open, so you can maintain over the long haul. Rewards could be taking a walk around the block, adding a chocolate to the side of your coffee, cutting out early to picnic in the park and enjoying the forced leisure time, or something as tiny as an air kiss to yourself in the mirror. Something that gets you excited and gets the dopamine flowing.
Be gentle with yourself and your ego! This is hard. Remember that you are awesome, you will land sooner or later, and you can do hard things. I’m rooting for you.
-Rebecca