What Two Months At Home Taught Me About Job Hunting

Job hunting can be tough but it’s tougher if your partner is successful at it and if you are failing to land one immediately. Here’s how this writer staged a self-intervention and kept herself motivated!

Very recently, my husband and I moved lock stock and barrel to another country. It was such a happy time for us as we had been waiting for this phase in our lives for over a year. We had decided to try a new adventure and to explore places beyond known shores. The relocation, like any other great gift, came with its own twist – that both us were once again on the not-so-happy journey of job hunting. Although we had saved up enough to pull us through a certain amount of time, we knew that finding a job — not just any but a good job — was possibly our first milestone in our new home.

Although we had this big task ahead of us, the good thing was that we were enjoying our time overseas. The sightseeing, the adventures, exploring new cuisines and foods and the fact that we could behave like silly honeymooners again, it was just wonderful! Having settled in the new land we began the long-awaited task and after a few weeks my husband landed a good job. It was celebration for us, for such a huge burden was off our shoulders! We couldn’t be happier and being a techie he had a fair network going for himself. Unfortunately for me this was a bittersweet happiness because although I was so thrilled that we were getting off to a great start, I was now alone in the job hunting game. This meant that I would be reading all those rejection mails by myself and I would be up worrying about my career alone. My husband is a wonderful man and he was very understanding of my situation, however it wasn’t making me feel much better.

I was now alone in the job hunting game. This meant that I would be reading all those rejection mails by myself and I would be up worrying about my career alone.

The last straw was when I suddenly felt one day that since anyway I wasn’t getting a career I might as well plan a baby. It was at that very moment that I stopped! I couldn’t believe where my mind was taking me and I then decided that it was time for a self-intervention!

What I needed to know was that my self-respect and my independence was going no where because I was at home. Job hunting is a tough phase and it can never be easy. I also realised that during these times its okay to share resources with your life partner and what is more important is not to push him away as everyone needs a voice and a shoulder. I also realised that a break away from a regular job was my opportunity to spend time on doing things that I loved, like writing or watching documentaries. It was also a time to learn new skills or take a free online course. I told myself to stay away from friends and family who did the negative talk or who put me down but not to shun close friends and family who only meant well. I told myself that I believed in equity of gender but by doubting myself I was selling myself short.

My independence was not being taken away because of my circumstance, my independence was being taken away because of my thoughts and my beliefs and that, I realised, is something like an inner lighthouse. It can help ships to safety or can misguide and take them to unsafe waters!