it’s getting harder to stay positive. i’ve found myself competing with folks that were recently laid off for jobs at the very companies that laid them off.  this was not good news when one of the companies that i’ve been interviewing with made me aware of this last week. 

as much as it stings, it makes sense. if i was forced to downsize my department, it would be tough. there are few people that i’ve ever actually wanted to fire. given the opportunity to re-hire those folks again would be a dream. not only would i get my team back, but the guilt of letting them go would be lifted.

of course, that isn’t helping me now. i think it’s given me more perspective of the intensity of the various challenges i’m facing. that perspective is not quite the ray of sunshine and hope i was looking for, but it could be more realistic.

i am very qualified, confident, experienced, skilled in many industries, and i have great references. usually, this gives me a really good edge and boosts me past some of the competition. right now, in this economy, with the layoffs, the concentration of unemployment in detroit, and some advertising work leaving detroit (for non-auto clients), i don’t really have the edge.

i don’t really feel sorry for myself, though. i’m not in a desperate situation. it could get there, but not yet. so, what is an unemployed schlub to do? i can’t get a job, which would be my first choice.

• strengthen my ties. keep in touch with folks. have lunch with old co-workers (even ones from out of town). keep yourself at the top of their memory bank if anybody asks them if they know anybody. you want as many people as possible to think of you first.
• consider classes at local colleges that differentiates my experience. maybe that’s graphic design, creative writing, etc.
• seriously think of ways to downsize your consumables. i’m a food snob. i don’t want to eat much in the way of processed or fast food, which are probably the cheapest dinner options. i can’t eat at my favorite restaurants, so i’ll make dinner at home. i’ll also cut ingredients that aren’t necessary or try to find ingredient substitutes that exist in my pantry (no sour cream? i do have yogurt…)
• take the time to get rid of crap. i’ve accumulated a stupid amount of crap that i don’t need. this includes toys i haven’t played with in a while that won’t be passed down to my children, clothes i don’t wear, books i don’t intend to read, etc. de-cluttering gives me a sense of control over my life.
• visit family/friends that i don’t get to see often. i don’t have a lot of money to spend, so i’ve been taking advantage of cheap megabus and amtrak fares.
• now that the weather is nice, go for a walk, familiar and unfamiliar territories. it gives you a chance to get away from your constant surroundings and get inside your head for a while
• discover new music. i could spend hours on rcrdlbl.com listening to new bands or songs. 
• make lists of what i’ve liked and disliked about previous jobs.
• keep hope alive!
• LATE ADDITION: volunteer. i should have said it earlier, but the great thing about volunteering, even if its seasonal, is that it keeps you busy and extends your network.