June 5, 2013 - Written by: Yazmin Joy

The Perks of Being Unemployed

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Anyone else finding it hard to find a job at the moment? I don’t mean just any job. I mean a job that is actually going to aid my life either financially (but allowing me to do what I love) or advance my career towards my dream job. Sometimes I just want to run away to Thailand and live on the beach and sell friendship bracelets – except I can’t really make friendship bracelets DOH!

I think many of us, especially those who are pursuing creative ventures are constantly looking for a job and a source of income. And I am continually meeting people who are substantially over qualified but are struggling to even get minimum wage. Why?

It’s so demoralizing! What am I supposed to do? Sell a kidney? Check into flu camp? Don’t tempt me.

And don’t get me started on rejection (click here to read more on my thoughts on dealing with shit hole that is rejection). I’m discovering the recruiting world is a cruel cruel jungle man. And this is probably single-handedly one of the biggest big ball aches of being unemployed for any amount of time.

The other month I got rejection email that said something along the lines of….

Dear Candidate,

but unfortunately MTV will not be taking your application any further in this process. We wish you the best of luck and thank you for applying to MTV.

I sat back and took a breath. Was this really happening? I mean that’s all very well and good except for the teeny tiny fact that I DIDN’T APPLY FOR A JOB WITH MTV.

‘Oh gawwwwd,’ I thought, dramatically tipping my head back and then messing up my hair so it covered the entire front of my face like a protective keratain shield. ‘What the hell?! Even jobs I didn’t even apply for are rejecting me now!? SERIOUSLY what the fuck?’

Maybe the other companies I had applied to had rung ahead and told MTV there was this crazy girl out there looking for a job and MTV decided to save both of us the trouble. Okay this is highly unlikely. But the thought did cross my mind. See how rejection can make you super paranoid?

So how do you look positively about the no/temp-job scenario?

If you don’t have much money you might be scratching your head thinking: What the bloody hell do I have? If I have to eat another bowl of dahl and rice I’m gunna kill myself.

But then I got thinking. I might be fucking poor right now but there is one thing I do have, and that my reader friend is TIME.

For people who are not in regular jobs like myself (I get most of my income working at festivals and short term jobs), it is not just a question of how we spend our money but more how we spend our time in periods without (paid) work.

This is not time to sit around as our asses get bigger and wait to win the lottery or for George Clooney to to discover you’re the child he never knew he wanted. It’s time to give ourselves the best shot we possibly can with what we got. And not just at a job but in our lives. I am really learning to value time. Being out of work can be so tough. I hate it. Damn, I like new clothes. And I like going on holiday. I don’t think anyone actually LIKES being poor to the extent of poverty, do they?

But on the bright side, we unemployed do have time to work on our passions, educate ourselves and most importantly use this challenging time to learn more about ourselves then we could ever imagine if we were draped with the ego of wealth and extravagance. I am learning that when money is stripped away, only then do you really discover who and what you are. Many of my friends who are unemployed at this moment in time are shining stars amidst this time of personal darkness. Stars shine best at night, right!?

For those of you out there who are working a job you love and getting paid well for it: you are my inspiration. I would love to hear from you. What’s your testimony?

For those who are in the same boat as me… life might be kicking you up the arse right now but don’t lose hope. Betters things are to come – I truly believe that. Sometimes when I get rejected or suffer set-backs I think: why can’t I get a job?

Actually I should be thinking less about why I am not getting a job at Currey’s and instead asking myself: What is it I TRUELY desire?

I leave you with some encouraging words from Alan Watts. For all troopers who dare to dream…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOXMzwx7Mlc

Are you on a job hunt right now? How do you deal with the challenges with being unemployed? Help spread a lil joy by sharing your silver lining.

Thanks for reading peeps!