How to Stay Positive During a Long Job Search

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Where do you live where you can get by with only one job? I want to move there!

overqualified/underpaid of IL 2:40PM August 07, 2010

Where is a good place to sale my old wrecked car? Please help me by sugesting some sites or companies.

argughBog of AL 6:42PM January 09, 2010

Kristine,
First, congratulations on your success with your job search. I hope that everything continues to work out with your position in PA.
Second, I think you were quick to judge when you said, "People complain, but are they even being pro-active enough?"
I'd invite you to take a look at a blog that my husband started in July to get his name out there during his job search. It's http://rodneysjobquest.wordpress.com. (Due to various circumstances, I am now posting, but his experiences are reflected all the same.) He also is on Twitter @rccooley where he tweets about what is happening during this job hunt. I'd hope that a different perspective might give you some insight.

Melissa of WI 5:09PM September 10, 2009

These are both such interesting comments, stunning evidence of how individual job searches are. Just as individual as people.
Which makes me realize (again) that basing our mood and actions on newspapers and the prevailing "wisdom" and the general zeitgeist may not be such a good idea. Sure unemployment may be nearing 10%. But that doesn't mean you--you, one person--are doomed to remain jobless. You only need one job.
So, maybe, ignore the media? (Except for U.S. News, of course....)

Working Girl of WA 4:09PM September 10, 2009

Karen, you have to keep in mind it depends on what industry you are going into, as well as what city you are looking for a job in. For example, it's going to be 100x harder to find a job in a big city (where most college graduates go) because there is a larger number of applicants and a very diverse crop to pick from. I know many, many recent college grads who are having a difficult time finding jobs who are very pro-active in the process - they all network, send out resumes, everything needed to help land them a job. You may just have a natural charm, but not everyone is as lucky is you.

Sabina of NY 3:09PM September 10, 2009

Are people really having problems locating jobs? I graduated from college and found a job within two weeks and this wasn't even a big city. I got great pay and wonderful hours along with the best employer in the world (and they knew I would only be staying 9 months until I moved out of state). Then I moved to PA - people here talk a lot more than in Texas about the economy being bad. Honestly, it's not that bad and I am a college student paying my own bills. I looked for a job for three weeks after I moved here and presto I got one. Great pay, wonderful employer ... am I the only person that finds these places? People complain, but are they even being pro-active enough? I mean you have to get out there, send in your resume, meet people, network, and even apply for jobs you'd love to do but might not be qualified for (you might be surprised who will hire you anyway). I mean I'm from Texas and I got hired in PA and I didn't even have any networking, I don't know anyone here. It's call determination and sometimes you might have to take something beneath you for a time, but you'll learn something too from that process.

Kristine of PA 1:36PM September 10, 2009