Your boy got a job!
For those I don’t know or haven’t seen in a while, the majority of my team including myself were let go in November of 2023 after the antenna on our company’s $750 million dollar satellite snapped in outer space. Whoopsies.
At the time, it was an unexpected relief. Things had slowed to a crawl due to the malfunction and prior delays, and I wasn’t making the personal progress or social impact desired in connecting developing countries to the Internet.
Being laid off put fire under my feet to seek the next big opportunity, to reexamine my career expectations and chart a new course forward.
I was optimistic, wide-eyed, and impassioned.
But then reality crept in...with its unyielding agent of chaos, time.
Gossip on the street is true, this job market sucks. Especially when you’re one of 3.6 billion ‘project/program managers’ and especially when you narrow your scope to roles that meet your vague criteria of social impact.
Months rolled by. Despite having a career coach, dozens of interviews, and being runner-up for 3 different dream jobs, nothing would stick.
I began to lose hope.
Then, all of a sudden in July, 3 opportunities materialized from the recruitment ether, one of which transmuted into an amazing role that I will be starting on Monday. FINALLY.
In retrospect, the last 10 months have held some of my life’s highest highs and lowest lows, like all the way to China low.
So here I present my reflections on the top 10 lessons learned during my time of unemployment, lessons permeating with regret for things I wish I'd done as well as pride in what I did do.
The aim is for this to be an aid to any of you who are currently or will be going through this strange phenomenon of modern existence, but also a closure for what may very well have been the most important months of my life.
My door is always open if you have questions about the process, the lessons below, or if you are looking for any kind of support.
Lesson #1: Stay Busy
The single most important lesson that underlies all that follow.
When I was first laid off, the idea of expanded free time was exhilarating. I could set my own schedule, travel whenever, dive deep into music, writing, and volleyball. Sure, I would devote time to finding the next job...but for all intents and purposes I had been granted an indefinite vacation.
Fact of the matter, however, is structure is necessary to a healthy lifestyle.
After a few months, my drive dampened. I was exhausted on job applications, bored of my hobbies, and cynical of the daily routine all while living in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
The freedom to do whatever I wanted, paradoxically, had become a prison. I had too much time on my hands with nothing assigned to it. If I were to do it all again, I would have treated myself like an employee of the company called Life.
I would have set time-sensitive and measurable goals not only for job applications, but for music production, live performances, blogposts, and volleyball improvement. I would have spent more time educating myself on employment skills and pursuing certificates beneficial to career progression.
I planned all these things at a high level, but the day-to-day accountability was missing. So, most importantly of all, I would have scheduled each of my weekdays beforehand – just as one does with a real job.
And relax on the weekends, of course.
Lesson #2: Rediscover Your Passions, and Make New Ones
That’s not to say I didn’t get anything accomplished.
The freedom allowed me to focus in on a passion of mine that had been sidelined since the pandemic: live acoustic performances.
Over 10 months I improved greatly in singing and guitar, played several open mics including a few headliner spots, and performed a whopping 2-hour set at a charity gala in Los Angeles – something I never would have imagined doing a year ago.
Along with a lot of beach volleyball, I sought out new activities like improv and yoga..
Unemployment offers an opportunity to reignite existing passions or explore your curiosity with new ones, so set some structure and chase those things you normally wouldn’t have time for!
Maybe you’ll surprise yourself 😊
Lesson #3: Make Plans with Friends
Unemployment gets lonely. Unless you’re a master introvert or at total peace with the universe, it helps to have friends.
So do things with them! Make plans and invite them, you are much less busy than they are.
But also, don’t overwhelm them...you are much less busy than they are.
Is there anyone you would like to get to know better? This is the time. Old friends who fell out of contact? Reel them back in!
Spend time with family whenever you get the chance and lean on them and friends when the going gets tough...you are not alone in this.
Lesson #4: Travel, Travel, Travel
The increased free time can be daunting, but it also opens the opportunity for exploration. Plan a trip to get excited about if finances allow, send a solo vacay (I chose Nicaragua for mine), and visit friends in other cities.
This is also a chance to become a tourist in your own city. Go discover something you didn’t know was there or reembrace what you’ve taken for granted. Go for a hike, swim in the sea, go hug some trees babyy.
The best moments of the 10 months were when I maintained an adventure mentality, even if the adventure was in my own backyard.
Lesson #5: Be Fearless in Your Job Search
The corporate machine can be soulless. It will raise you up to rip you apart like a stormbound ship on indifferent tides. With time, I learned to accept this reality as well as a skillset to overcome the sea rather than be its ragdoll.
The greatest trick I learned was to be fearless, even when it’s awkward.
This means cold contacting, and a lot of it. Message recruiters and hiring managers directly, reach out to friends and acquaintances for referrals, even if you haven’t talked to them in years. People are more willing to help than you think.
And don’t be afraid to ask them to put in a good word directly. In this market you need all the help you can get.
Unless you are financially constrained, go for those dream jobs first – don't settle for less until you have to. You'll surprise yourself at what you’re capable of.
Use the time to challenge yourself, especially if you’re an introvert or hybrid like me. Go to career fairs and industry conferences, connect with interesting people on LinkedIn, and be bold with what you ask them for, with humility.
Confidence and fearlessness will take you miles in this forsaken realm.
Lesson #6: Don’t Exhaust Yourself on Applications
Yes, it’s important to find the next job. It’s also important to not burn out.
So go easy on yourself. There were too many days I'd sit down in the morning with a list of open roles saved on LinkedIn, thinking it would take an hour or two to get through.
Fast forward 8 hours to me hunched over a desk in a dark room eyes glazing at the bajillionth application wondering if the suffering was sufficient to check that ‘I’m a Veteran’ box this time around.
By that point my energy was sapped and chances of finding any joy for the remainder of the day were slim to zero. Some of the most garbage days of my life, and worst part is cold applications rarely ever go anywhere.
What I learned quickly in the job search is connections are everything. The old “It’s who you know” mantra your dad sang from atop the kitchen table.
Use the connections you’ve built and simplify the search wherever you can. Create generic resumes and cover letters for jobs you care less about and spice them up for dream jobs. Design your resume to be easily scannable by the infuriating application websites.
And, most importantly...
Lesson #7: Use ChatGPT Wherever You Can!
Seriously guys, this tool is so flippin’ helpful.
Need a resume and cover letter review? Check
List of companies that may interest you? Just ask
Questions the interviewer might ask AND questions you should ask the interviewer? Yes, please, may I have another
The meaning of life and the purpose of the cosmos? No problem, let me cook that up for you.
I even used it to make the cover art for this post.
Every step of the way these LLMs make your life easier, so why not take advantage during such an overwhelming and trying time?
Lesson #8: Interviews are What You Make of Them
This was the first time I interviewed in 7 years, and it was nerve-racking. Would I mention everything I needed to? Would I say something unforgivably weird? Will they grill me on things I don’t know? Will they even like me??
What I learned quickly is interviews are a breeze if you let them be. Yes, definitely prep and know how to sell yourself and your skills relevant to the job. But also, don’t overdo it and shapeshift into a stress parrot nervously reciting your career history like you were recording a YouTube video.
Be yourself. Show character and talk about your extracurricular passions. Employers hire people not robots (at least for now...see ChatGPT section above).
If you are meant for the role then your honesty, charisma, and experience will land you it.
Lesson #9: You Will be Rejected
Like I mentioned in the intro, I was runner-up for 3 dream jobs before finding this one. Each failure stung. It was encouraging to get all the way to the finish line, yet devastating to fail so close to it after spending so much time and energy.
But what I didn’t mention is the approximate 35,634 rejection notices sitting in my inbox.
Many roles already have candidates in mind before even reaching your screen and there are so many people out there displaced and looking for roles right now.
You will be rejected, so try to come to terms with that before even starting the process.
That doesn’t stop hurt from occurring along the way. When it does, take the time to heal as you would in a breakup, but don’t overreact and don’t take it personally.
You are awesome and you’ll find the gig that’s right for you at this moment in your life.
Lesson #10: Prioritize Your Mental Health
Unemployment takes a toll. It can make you feel weak, worthless, insecure, unwanted. But truth is, these are all self-perceptions we create in our minds.
At the end of the day, we control the narrative of who we are to ourselves.
So, take a proactive approach to maintaining a positive self-image. Maintain a sleep schedule, exercise daily, stay present with mindfulness and meditation, remind yourself of all the good things in life to be grateful for.
There will be bad days, maybe awful ones. That’s okay, it’s part of the process. Lean on your friends and family in those times and seek out therapy if there’s even the inkliest inkling that you need it.
Sneaky Lesson #11: Everything Will Be Okay
Whether it's 10 weeks or 10 months, you will survive. You’re not fighting a war, but (if you’re as anxious as I am) it can still feel like life or death at times. Recognize your negative self-talk then tell it to bugger off, you’ll get there when you get there so long as you keep up the good fight with all your heart.
Unemployment is a beautiful opportunity to reset, to learn about yourself at a deeper level, to cast yourself into the flames and be reborn a new you on a new path into the endlessly bright and mysterious future.
I’ll meet you there, on the trail.
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