On downsizing your expectations

So you have executed your job search flawlessly. You have kept up with your network, you have stayed active in your field through other means, you have gone on informational interviews, you have assiduously checked out the listings on PhillyJobs.com and other boards that carry jobs of interest to you, you have sent out hundreds of resumes in the course of applying for such jobs.

And you still don't have a steady job in your field after all this time.

First off, remember, it isn't you. While conditions have improved somewhat, the job market remains highly competitive at just about every level. Employers' inboxes continue to be flooded with scores of resumes for every available opening, and many truly worthy people will get passed over in the screening process.

But there are some other matters that you will have to deal with, if you haven't already. One of them is basic: How will you continue to live after you've run through all your money?

If you were prudent and followed the advice of financial experts, that day may not yet have arrived. If you had six months' worth of income saved, as they advise, you might be living off that right now even if you have become a 99er two years ago. Still, the handwriting is on the wall even now. And if you didn't save - or worse, if someone Madoff with your savings - you may have already come to that day of reckoning.

Which means that you will likely have to adjust your life to fit your circumstances.

For some, that means taking jobs well below their professional level. You may have seen stories in the media about six-figure managers ringing up purchases at Wawa, or stories like that.

For younger workers, it may mean going back to the nest. As Gertrude Stein once wrote, "Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in." The parents may be less than thrilled by this development, but chances are they will understand and lend a hand - unless they are also out of work too.

Those in the creative professions may be able to cobble together a living doing freelance work. In fields such as finance and management, this goes by the term "consulting." But it may take a while to build a client base that can make up for the lost income. What then?

In many cases, the answer is, downsize your living expenses. Most of us have some areas where we can economize if we think about it, whether it be dining out, entertainment events, where we shop for food, or even where we live. It may be painful, but a good, hard look at your lifestyle and spending will probably reveal areas where you can cut back, or tradeoffs you may have to make. For instance, to keep that spacious apartment in town, you may want to ask your landlord for a break on the rent or permission to take in a roommate if there is space for it.

As for me, I'm moving to a cheaper part of town. What, if anything, have you had to do to adjust to changed fortune? Share your experiences in the comments. And don't give up on the search for the job you really want.

By Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is a veteran freelance writer, editor and public relations professional who lives in Philadelphia. Besides blogging for PhillyJobs.com, he has written for numerous publications and websites, would be happy to do your resume, and is himself actively seeking career opportunities on Beyond.com. Check out his LinkedIn profile and read his other posts on PhillyJobsBlog.com.

5 Rules For Making a Change Today!

I keep a Buddha piggy bank on my desk to have a place to put loose change in, but also to remind me every time I look at it that “change comes from within”. Silly, I know. But, self change is hard. Really, really hard. We all have things in our lives that we would like to change. For some it could be to become more motivated in their job search or careers, for others it can be as simple as making a stressful part of the day easier. No matter what it is that you are trying to change, it always has to come from inside, and it is always part of a process and not something you can do over night.

In a recent article at Psychology Today, listed rules for making a change, and I thought that they would be a good place to start.-

So, here are 5 Rules For Making A Change In Your Life:

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  Change is frightening- Anytime you decide to make a change in your life, no matter how small it is, there is always that voice in your head that tells you not to do it. That it won't work, why things are better the way they are. Letting go of a habit that has been a part of your life for a long time is scary. Don't let the fear get the better of you. Everyone resists change, so try to set a realistic goal and be prepared to work through the fear.
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  Change has to be positive- Unless you are changing something for yourself, it just wont work. Be sure that the change you are making is going to be a positive thing for you. Changing something to make someone else happy isn't a good enough reason, and you won't be able to stick to it. Don't beat yourself up about your lack of progress or not having reached a goal quickly enough. Enjoy the process and enjoy the results. If your goal is to get all the laundry done by a certain day, when you reach the goal, be sure to spend some time enjoying it. This will help your brain associate meeting the target with good feelings and will make it easier as you keep going.
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  Slower is better- You can't change the world in a day, so don't think that you can make a lasting change to your life over night. Change takes time, and setting small goals will keep you motivated and on the right track. Be sure to reward yourself for little accomplishments so that you won't get overwhelmed and give up.
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  Practice is necessary- Practice, practice, practice. Many experts say that it takes 30 days to turn a new routine into a habit. Keep practicing, even when you backslide or forget, just keep trying. Eventually, you won't even have to think about it anymore, the change will have become part of your new habits.
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  Small successes are big- Reward yourself at all points in the journey. Don't fall into the trap of punishing yourself for not achieving enough, because all improvements are big successes. Try breaking down your big goal into lots of smaller ones, so that as you move along the path, there are plenty of places to stop and pat yourself on the back.
  Making a change can be frightening, difficult and hard to maintain, but if you are persistent and keep at it, you will be able to make the new practice a habit.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Take a look at PhillyJobs.com!

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.