Authored By Sean Phipps

The past few years for me have been pretty tough job-wise, to say the least. I take comfort in knowing that I’m not alone and that times are tough. But I’m also a firm believer in making the most of your situation and never doing something (for longer than necessary, anyway) that you don’t want to do. I’ve been working a composite of several part-time jobs with the occasional burst of full-time employment for years. I’ve had a number of jobs over the past few years that I didn’t think I would have, and they’ve all helped me, even if it was just to get a few bucks in my pocket until something else came along. Here are a few ways I’ve found to secure positions and stay sane while your neck-deep in all that mess. List your suggestions below.

Clever correspondence

It’s not easy to just email an employer and tell them you’d like to work for their company. Or is it? Everybody is different, and I’ve found that some people appreciate the directness of a quick email stating exactly your intentions without the BS. However, others like to play the game of stringing you along. I had one employer email me back only after my third try with him. He said that he received my first two messages but was just waiting around to “see if I was serious or not.” So there’s that kind of person to deal with, too. I’ve found the easiest approach to finding someone to help is to send an email without intentions. I like to tell them that I’m “looking for advice” or “seeking some direction.” I usually don’t just come out and say I’d like to work for them, but instead I seek their expert opinion on where a guy like me might find some help. It at least gets them to look at your resumé, if only to help send you a few leads. It’s a win-win, usually.

Straight talk (network)

I’ve found the direct approach works best face-to-face. I remember telling my last employer that I was interested in what he was doing and that I’d like to learn more. We were sitting next to each other at a hockey game at the time. A few weeks later, I was touring the factory and learning about the business. Six months later, I get a phone call and a job. Ultimately, the line of work wasn’t for me, but I did all the work to get noticed and subsequently employed. There’s no reason this won’t work for you too. Get out and meet people. It doesn’t matter if you’re at a networking event, a coffee shop or a sporting event. The person sitting next to you might be looking for exactly what you have to offer. I keep “business” cards in my wallet at all times. All they say is “Sean Phipps” and then my email and telephone number. If I’m feeling bold, I’ll write “guy at hockey game” underneath my name so they’ll remember me.

Cut yourself some slack

Being in a job slump isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I’ve learned more about myself over the past few years simply because I’ve had days and days with nothing to do. The pressure to get a job can lead to hours of disappointment if you constantly dwell on the fact nobody is emailing you back. My advice is to send a few emails, make a few connections on Facebook or LinkedIn, and then call it a day. You can over-exert yourself into a mess of depression and anxiety. Try to take a few deep breaths, cut yourself some slack and not let it get you down. Because if you’re not in the right frame of mind when they DO call, then you’ll blow the opportunity. I’ve found that about three hours of intense job searching/networking is all I can handle. I’ll spend the rest of my day planning dinner or reading a book. Go hug a puppy or a cat at the local shelter. Teach some kids to read. The world will give you what you need.

Mix it up

With unemployment so high, there just aren’t enough salaried, full-time positions for everybody seeking one. That’s OK. You just have to get creative. Right now, I consider myself about two-thirds employed. I’m lacking a full-time position, but I make some dough as a ghost tour guide and a regular columnist for Nooga.com. No, it isn’t enough money by any stretch, but I have enough to get by. If I add even another part-time position (which I hope to do in the next few weeks), I’ll have more than enough to get what I need and even have a little “walking around” money. I still haven’t ventured into sales or the service industry, so I think I’m doing OK. I’m slowly realizing, too, that what we do as a living doesn’t reflect who we are. It would be a dream of mine to do something I love to do for 60 hours a week. Is it in the cards? Probably not right now.

Know your own “zone”

Everybody has skills that are reflective of their experience in the professional world and life in general. All of those skills are different. But what makes you different also makes you interesting to a potential employer. Here’s what I know about myself and what I consider my “zone”: I work well with people on a direct communication level. I’m an excellent listener and can talk anyone’s ear off about anything. My knack is taking the hard-to-understand and condensing it to be easily understood. I can also play guitar and make you laugh (sometimes). Combine all of that together, and we reach the same conclusion that was found out in my “career assessment” test in high school: I’m supposed to be a sad circus clown. The reality is that clown college is far more expensive than you think it is.

You can contact Sean Phipps via email and Twitter with comments and questions. The opinions expressed in this column belong solely to the author, not Nooga.com or its employees.