I was super unhappy in a toxic environment and needed to get out.
Because I didn’t have a job, I was able to travel to help my parents when they asked.
When it turned out my dad’s cancer was back, I was able to spend as much time as needed with them.
If I had still been in my job, I would have filed for FMLA, meaning they couldn’t have terminated me. I’d be stuck on payroll but with unpaid time off. Two months of non-paid leave vs. 9 months of unemployment, some of it with a pandemic-bonus.
Because so little was hiring, I was able to take time to really explore where I wanted to go and decide what was really important.
Bonus time off gave me time to get household projects done, start exercising, take professional development classes, travel to my nephew’s graduation, and so much more.
It also allowed me to go on a week long mission trip to Haiti, physically being part of an organization I’ve supported for years. (Love For L’Allemand)
In the end I landed the perfect job that fits every one of the things on my list!
In the beginning you’re choosy, but eventually you hand out resumes the same way men use Tinder: Swipe right on everything.
Your friends tell you their success stories so you start to believe you just might find the perfect match.
It’s all about the networking. But that’s exhausting.
Most of what you find isn’t even slightly attractive.
What looks good also looks out of your league.
Everything that seems interesting ignores you.
When anyone gives you the slightest bit of attention you get giddy, even when you can clearly see they are not right for you.
Meeting in person for the first time is nerve-wracking.
You buy new clothes for that first meeting, even though this is the first time you met so how would they know if the clothes are new or not but you do it anyway.
After your meet up all of your friends want the deets but really all you can say is “I don’t know. I guess we’ll see.”
After a couple weeks of radio silence you realize you’ve been ghosted.
Half the time you get 15 minutes into that first meeting and you think “Eh, is this really the best option I’ve got?”
