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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

This unemployment thing is the pits!

Hi, my name is Kim and I like to work.

There I said it. I wish I could say I am not defined by my career, that there's more to me than what I do at work, but well, I can't. I have been pulling in a paycheck since I was 15 and that's just who I am. I am very, very thankful that we are able to survive on one salary, but it makes me depressed when I think about things we'd be able to do if I was also working. For the first...oh, I don't know...6 months, it wasn't so bad, but one year on and the lack of employment is really starting to bring me down. It's not just the money though, it's more the feeling that my brain is rotting away.

Please don't tell me I should just enjoy it, because I don't. I sit here and feel totally useless for most of the day. I'm not crafty or oh my god I'd start an Etsy shop in a heartbeat. The one thing I love to do is DIY stuff, but I can't really do anything in this flat nor do I want to do anything to this flat. Short of becoming a house painter, I'm not really sure how I could make a career out of my love of DIY.

Yes, I can keep blaming my lack of work on the crap economy, but I have to also blame it on what seems to be my poor interviewing skills. In one year I have manage to score two interviews (yes, I'll blame that on the crap economy) and while the first position was a bit out of my league, there is no reason why I shouldn't have gotten the second position. Trust me, I am furious with myself! Now I have plans to change things up if I manage to get another interview in this town, but who knows if I'll ever get that chance.

Now, I have ideas and I'm trying to think outside the box, but it is all a little daunting. I mean, if I can't succeed in an interview in my field, how am I going to convince someone that I'm a good candidate for a career change with their company?? Who knows if any of this will actually come about and I just hope I'm given the opportunity to make a case for myself.

Thankfully, the weather is a bit nicer today and I'll be able to get out an exercise off some of this angst!

16 comments:

  1. The economy does suck - it's not your fault. Maybe you should write about DIY mishaps - that would make a funny read.

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  2. I should also add I'll provide beers and music, as well as paint and supplies.

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  3. Same boat! I wish I was crafty. Since you love DIY, want to come over and help me paint this apartment? I can pay you €50.

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  4. VW - I didn't have any DIY mishaps to write about...UNTIL NOW!!! Liz, I would LOVE to help you paint! And you don't have to pay me. FYI - I can hang ceiling fans, blinds, rip up carpet and floor tiles, and lay laminate flooring.

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  5. Oh man, hang in there!!

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  6. Holy shit, Kim. We could go into DIY business together, because I LOVE rippingup carpet and laying flooring!!

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  7. Thanks Beth.

    Well Liz, what with the shoebox size of property over here, we could probably knock out a couple of places each day!

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  8. Kim, any employer would be lucky to have you, and I am sorry this is upsetting you. The economy sucks. What about volunteering while you're on the job hunt to make that brain rot feeling go away (although I think your brain is lovely!)? Would never hurt to have that (Irish experience and all) on the 'ole CV...just a thought.

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  9. I'm sorry about it, everything will be all right.

    By the way I found your blog from Expat, I'm a brazilian living in Dublin with my Irish husband to be :)

    I love your blog.

    k

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  10. Thanks KD and K.

    KD, I mentioned volunteering to W and he thought it was kind of weird. I think because I was considering contacting the places where I want to work (i.e. not going through a volunteer agency) and ask if they could use a volunteer. Is that weird?

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  11. Oh, and K, thanks for visiting! Glad you like my blog and I'll be sure to check yours out as well!

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  12. I don't know about weird...we live in weird times and if they had you in volunteering and saw how amazing you are, well that couldn't hurt, right? And then if a position opened up, you would be right there...

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  13. Hi Kim -- I hope you don't and never lose heart over opportunities out there. (and I hope the economy makes an upturn very soon for the sake of all). :) I am all for volunteering. It's interesting how it is less strange in the US to volunteer to help out than in the UK (or sounds like Ireland too as you say). I often miss that kind of go-out-and-learn-do-or-help attitude/spirit that seems to be more commonplace in the US.

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  14. Hey! I'm on the verge of buying a fixer upper all you DIY folks need to come and help me out! LOL I'll even feed and water you!! Finding a job in the UK is HAAAAARD I don't care what people say.

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  15. I haven't been following your blog, so pardon the question. What field are you in and have you been confining your job search to that field?

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  16. Hi Traci! Thanks for stopping by! I'm looking for an administrative position in higher education. I have primarily been applying for jobs in that field, but i have looked outside of it as well. Frankly, there's just not a whole lot out there.

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