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.