So I am one of those people who somehow found herself in the proverbial ‘valley of shadows’. There are measures that the Irish Government have been implementing again, not making it easy to socialise, let alone to find a job.
I am trying to find a job in the middle of a world-wide pandemic and I have asthma, which makes my choices limited if I want to protect myself and my household from Covid-19.
Being a high risk category person makes things that much trickier when trying to get employed. t gives me that much less options, because I should not, ideally, go in to some unknown place for an interview. I have to force myself ask for phone or Zoom interviews. I also have to be able to find ways to creatively use my time and make myself employable at the same time. And yes, it is much easier said than done.
However, all hope is not lost, I’m here to give you some tips and tricks to keep your heads high and stuck it out a much as you can, because the repercussions of this pandemic hasn’t even hit yet in its full force. So we must learn to ride this tide too.
Health
What you have to keep in mind is that first of all you must keep healthy, both in body and mind.
You should make sure that you boost your immune system with Vitamin C and D is and according to Healthline there are some vitamin supplements that can help to keep you in top shape.
Going for big walks has just gotten harder in Dublin, as the Covid Restrictions are a bit more on again, but even so, try to find the time when you can go on longer, preferably social distancing walks (or runs – whichever you prefer). The fresh air will lift your mood, and if nothing else it will give you the much needed stretch of your legs. Do this at least once a day. Will make a difference.
Hobbies
Hobbies at this time of uncertainty are a lifesaver. Try something new (like blogging), make sure you use your brain even if your mind is not going to be needed for work right now.
Start a Bullet Journal, do some painting or (if you have access to it you can play some Nintendo games – always handy 😉 ).
Alternatively you can always start something creative, like knitting, crochet or write, like I do. It doesn’t have to be fancy, you need only something that constructively fills your time until your opportunities get you back on track with life in general.
One thing I can promise: Whatever you start doing is, as I said, a lifesaver!
The Job-hunt
Of course, the end result, whatever you mean to do in the interim, is to attain indicated job that you aim to find. No play no gain as they say.
- Be patient
Be patient with yourself, with the opportunities that are out there. We got to understand, that we’re in a type of recession. There may be a lot of jobs out there, but the competition for each of them has doubled, if not tripled. This means that we must play the numbers game. Apply and apply and do as many (or few) interviews as it takes.
2. Leverage your talents
Believe me, I know you if you feel like me, and you think maybe there is something wrong with your CV or with yourself, to not have found a job yet. Most likely though, that isn’t the case.
While you’re waiting for the right opportunities to come your way, you can either up-skill or try and freelance. Volunteering is just as good with an added bonus, since you can add it to your CV, filling in some blanks. See the some links at the end of this article.
3. Take breaks
The best advice I got was from my husband, and that is to take breaks. Finding the jobs that suit you takes work, takes thinking, and most of all takes resilience. To achieve the latter, you must know your limits and recognise that you can’t do the job-hunt 24/7, however much you feel pushed for it.
You need to keep you sanity too, and so you have to turn another leaf, reacharge and then get to it again. And so we have come to full circle.
Breathe
This is the hardest part. I’m with you. I am there too. But to have fun in-between the worries is important and more, it is essential.
I’ll leave you with a quote by Jodi Picoult:
The human capacity for burden is like bamboo
– far more flexible that you’d ever believe at first glance.
My Sister’s Keeper
May we always have satisfying conversations.
Love,
Szabina
The links I promised:
Volunteer:
I-Vol: https://www.i-vol.ie/
Up-skill for Free:
Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/
EdX: https://www.edx.org/