The Long, Cold Winter of your Job Search

The Long, Cold Winter of your Job Search After I got married I lived in an apartment with my wife in Pocatello, Idaho.  We started our married life in May and were going to be in Idaho for about a year (we thought). Winter came.  Idaho winters are cold and brutal.  It wasnt as bad as the people who lived a couple hours north, but it was way worse than I wanted to experience.  I didnt spend many winters in cold weather, so going through my first Idaho winter made me wonder why in the world people lived in that horrible weather.   That was almost twenty years ago, and Ive had many winters like that since then. A few years ago, after I tried to understand vegetable gardening, I had an epiphany. Winter is a time when plants and trees get a chance to take a break.  Soil gets to take a break, and even regenerate.  Animals take a break.  Everything takes a break! I came to learn to cherish this time of taking a break.  Self-reflection and quiet.  Peace and pausing. It is a time for gardeners to plan and prepare. I was able to see what I thought was bitter and dreary as something necessary, and a part of the cycle. Im going to draw a relationship from this analogy to your career (job search, unemployment, etc.).  Im not suggesting that you NEED to have a period of winter so that you can grow, regenerate, etc.  I want you to figure out how to do that even when you are happily and gainfully employed. But I want you to think about your period of unemployment differently.  Instead of hating it and wanting it to end, like I did with my Idaho winters, what can you do to live through this time happily?  My time in Idaho would have been different if i didnt let that time rule my attitude. You can get through your job search quicker, sure.  There are things you have control over (unlike the weather).  But what can you do right now, during a bout with unemployment, to enjoy and learn and generate and regenerate and prepare? Some of you should rethink your education and skillset. Others will contemplate big career changes (new industry, new roles, etc.). Others know you want to stay in what you were in, but realize its time to reconnect with industry contacts.  Its time and YOU HAVE THE TIME. Im not sure what your career winter will be, but what Ive learned is that if I have to do it again, Ill look at it differently, and take advantage of the time better. How about you? The Long, Cold Winter of your Job Search After I got married I lived in an apartment with my wife in Pocatello, Idaho.  We started our married life in May and were going to be in Idaho for about a year (we thought). Winter came.  Idaho winters are cold and brutal.  It wasnt as bad as the people who lived a couple hours north, but it was way worse than I wanted to experience.  I didnt spend many winters in cold weather, so going through my first Idaho winter made me wonder why in the world people lived in that horrible weather.   That was almost twenty years ago, and Ive had many winters like that since then. A few years ago, after I tried to understand vegetable gardening, I had an epiphany. Winter is a time when plants and trees get a chance to take a break.  Soil gets to take a break, and even regenerate.  Animals take a break.  Everything takes a break! I came to learn to cherish this time of taking a break.  Self-reflection and quiet.  Peace and pausing. It is a time for gardeners to plan and prepare. I was able to see what I thought was bitter and dreary as something necessary, and a part of the cycle. Im going to draw a relationship from this analogy to your career (job search, unemployment, etc.).  Im not suggesting that you NEED to have a period of winter so that you can grow, regenerate, etc.  I want you to figure out how to do that even when you are happily and gainfully employed. But I want you to think about your period of unemployment differently.  Instead of hating it and wanting it to end, like I did with my Idaho winters, what can you do to live through this time happily?  My time in Idaho would have been different if i didnt let that time rule my attitude. You can get through your job search quicker, sure.  There are things you have control over (unlike the weather).  But what can you do right now, during a bout with unemployment, to enjoy and learn and generate and regenerate and prepare? Some of you should rethink your education and skillset. Others will contemplate big career changes (new industry, new roles, etc.). Others know you want to stay in what you were in, but realize its time to reconnect with industry contacts.  Its time and YOU HAVE THE TIME. Im not sure what your career winter will be, but what Ive learned is that if I have to do it again, Ill look at it differently, and take advantage of the time better. How about you?