Are you one of the hundreds of thousands of job seekers in a state of panic - not landing fast enough in your next job? Today's job seeker must come to terms with the possibility that work as they've known it may be gone forever. Kind of harsh, to be sure, but necessary to accept. A new job IS out there, but retrofitting your skills and interests to it may take some time.
Online Wikipedia defines retrofitting as "... the addition of new technology or features to older systems." Does that feel like what you're in the middle of doing?
The process of retrofitting takes place in a state I call Career Dissonance, a plateau where the old no longer works, but the change required to adapt to the new has not yet been accepted. Personal attributes required to get you through the Career Dissonance and over to the "change" side include curiosity, creativity, patience, and a healthy dose of self-motivation with perseverance.
Without the above personal attributes, you run the risk of deflating like a balloon, or worse, sinking into a hopeless pit. Panic and fear are your worst enemies. Keep them at bay by maintaining your social contacts, doing something productive everyday, and giving yourself permission to take periodic breaks from the grinding job search to do something fun. It's amazing how much better you can feel after a heartfelt belly-laugh - let the tears flow! Laugh until your side aches!
Everyone has to find their own way to manage the stress, but if you don't find a way, it will control your feelings and your actions.
Just remember that you will eventually come out on the other side of Career Dissonance. Make friends with change because right now it your strongest ally.
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