There is a limbo state we all enter into at some point. That zone of potential and frustration that can be found between jobs. That moment in your life where you’re unemployed and uncertain, with your last job receding in the rearview mirror and your next one somewhere ahead of you but so far out of view. How do you stay sane in this limbo, living between jobs, waiting for the next door to open as the one behind you slams shut? Read on as we offer some guidance of what you can do when you find yourself between jobs.
Consider Your Goals
Sometimes it can be hard to think about the future when we’re so focused on our day-to-day tasks and priorities. One of the silver linings to the limbo state you find yourself in between jobs is that it gives you some breathing room to consider your future goals. Ask yourself what you liked best about your last job. What didn’t you like? These are green and red flags to watch out for as you navigate the job market.
Knowing what’s important to you is crucial to finding a place that’s right for you in the long-run. Do you want to make more money? Is a more flexible schedule that promotes a healthy work/life balance important to you? Do you want a job that challenges you to learn new skills? What is a dealbreaker for you and what are you willing to compromise on? This knowledge can save you from making a choice you’ll regret later.
That being said: don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. If you’re low on savings and get an offer at a less than ideal place to work, it’s better to take that job for now to make sure that your living expenses are covered. You can keep an eye out for better opportunities as you settle into your new role without the economic uncertainty and stress you can feel when you’re between jobs.
Don’t Sleep on Self-Care
The time between jobs can be fraught and full of tension, especially if you don’t have a lot of emergency savings built up to support yourself during this time. That’s why it’s very important that you take care of yourself during this time. You might feel the pressure to put your nose to the grindstone from sunrise to sunset, but at a certain point sending out hundreds of applications is counterproductive when you’re stress-eating and not getting enough sleep.
Take walks outside. Go to the gym if you can. Swim. Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night. Re-evaluate how you lived your life during your last job. Were you eating well? Was your lifestyle sedentary? Did you neglect your physical fitness? Picked up any bad habits? This in-between period is an opportunity to do a “reset” on yourself. Don’t wait until you get your next job: make healthy changes NOW, adopt good habits and commit to them so that when you hit the ground running at your next gig they’ll already be second nature to you.
Don’t forget: fun is a part of self-care too! Read a book. Hang out with your friends. Work on your hobbies. Be careful not to spend too much money on entertainment during this precarious time (libraries and thrift stores are your friends!), but if you can afford the occasional trip to a movie theater or a diner with a friend, treat yourself. Granting yourself these moments of happiness can ease stress, which is important when you finally get that crucial job interview: you’re more likely to get the position if you walk in relaxed and confident than showing up as a quivering bundle of frayed nerves.
“Also consider volunteering during this time,” said Gina Pinch, Rio Salado College faculty chair for Business, Management, and Public Administration. “Helping others may give you the boost you need to keep a positive attitude.”
Activate Your Network
It’s not fun telling your friends, family, and contacts that you’re out of work but it’s necessary. This is a moment in your life where your pride should not get in the way of your network. Tell people that you’re looking for a job. Ask if they have any leads. Humans are cooperative animals: studies have found that helping other people makes us feel good. The people close to you want you to find that next job. They can’t do it if you don’t let them know you need that help.
If you have a mentor, there is no better time than to bend their ear. Are you a member of a professional association? They will often have member forums, bulletin boards, and other resources that can let you know who’s hiring; they also may host networking events that could be a great avenue for finding people who could help you land on your feet somewhere.
One thing you should do before you put yourself out there is to have an elevator pitch ready to go: a short, succinct statement of intent, something that lets the other person know who you are, what you can, and what you’re looking for. Think of it as storytelling: you’re crafting a narrative about yourself, so make it something brief and memorable. Making this sound like the sort of thing that can pop up organically in conversation can be tricky, but it’s good to think about this ahead of time so you know what to say when the moment presents itself.
One other thing to remember: don’t forget the people who helped you. When you do land that job, reach out to all the people who supported you in this time. Take them out to a coffee or celebratory dinner if it’s appropriate. Show your appreciation. Even something as simple as a personal “thank you” letter can do the trick.
Update Your Job Hunting Toolkit
When was the last time you updated your resume? How old are your letters of recommendation? Even if you’re not currently between jobs, it’s never a bad time to polish your job hunting tools. Don’t forget to add job relevant keywords to your resume and cover letters! Many companies use AI now to pre-screen applications, and these AI tools will search for keywords. The best way to get a sense of what good keywords are is to look at the job description. What are the skills they’re asking for? What are the functions of the job? Work those things into your materials. It’s a win-win: if a machine is inspecting your resume, your odds of moving to the next round improve; if a person is reading your resume, it shows them that you paid attention to what they’re looking for.
“Be sure to tailor your resume and cover letter for the specific job you are applying for,” said Pinch.
Another important job hunting tool to update are your interviewing skills. If you land a job interview, rehearse it ahead of time with a friend. Ask them to pay attention to your body language. How do you present yourself? Do you seem confident or evasive? Are you making too much eye contact or not enough? These aren’t things you can learn about yourself on your own; you need another pair of eyes that you trust to catch these things before you go do the real interview. Make sure you have at least one nice set of professional clothes ready to go for your interview, and if you’re doing a remote interview make sure that the room you’ll be on camera in is clean, presentable, and has nothing objectionable or distracting that can be seen by the other person.
“Be sure you have a quiet place to interview,” said Pinch. “You do not want barking dogs or noise distracting you or the person interviewing you.”
Lock Down Your Socials
Social media can be a big help during this in-between time in terms of networking and learning about professional opportunities. It can also be an Achilles heel if you’re not careful. Some employers will look up your socials as part of the hiring process. “Doing due diligence” doesn’t just mean contacting your references; it means looking over your posting history online. That’s why you should clean up your socials when you’re back on the market. Set your “fun” accounts to private, lock or delete anything controversial (especially if it involves politics), and be very cautious about who you “friend” and grant access to your content until you’ve got the new job locked down AND read their social media policies. Some places may have strict rules about how you present yourself online (even when you’re off-the-clock), so don’t unlock and go “back to normal” with your posting until you understand what your employer’s expectations are about your digital self.
Does that mean you should lock down EVERYTHING? Not necessarily. If you have a professional social media account like LinkedIn that you’re using to network and you know it has nothing objectionable on there, leave it open to the public.
Learn Something New
It can take months to find a new job. All that downtime can be a great time to work on upskilling your skill set. Is there a new program or piece of technology you want to train on? Is there a professional skill you need to brush up on or get credentialed? If you have a bit of a cushion to support yourself during this lean time, you might want to consider going back to school to earn a degree. Whether it’s a two-year or a four-year degree or a certificate of completion, completing a college program looks great on a resume and in most industries will increase your earning potential.
If you can’t afford to take a semester of classes or even 1-2 classes, remember: the library is your friend. You can also find many informative videos online that can walk you through a variety of subjects. With the internet, though, you do want to engage your critical thinking skills while watching videos to make sure their sources are reputable.
If you have a side hustle, this in-between time can also be a good moment to focus on that. You can work on honing that side hustle, learning new skills that can support your endeavors, and hopefully bring in a supplemental income that can support you as you continue your job search.
Article by Austin Brietta
Career Corner
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