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Why You Should Apply For Your Less-Than-Dream Job
How ignoring the unwritten rules of the job search pays off.
I was 28 when I quit my first real job after law school with no job lined up. I remain very proud of what I accomplished as the first executive director of a “start-up” nonprofit. Yet after two years, I was emotionally exhausted from the role and couldn’t figure out how I could balance my personal life and remain in that position. I didn’t have the energy to launch a job search while fulfilling the responsibilities of my position, so I felt trapped.
Everyone always told me it’s far harder to find a new job when you’re unemployed. I never questioned that logic before, so I kept waiting for a miracle. Somehow, the job would get easier after the first two years or someone would step up with another job offer. After six more months of struggling and waiting for someone else to solve my problem, my husband helped me realize I needed to step away from the job and put myself first. He could see I was not thriving and that I was too overwhelmed with guilt to do anything about it. I felt embarrassed because I thought I was weak for not being able to stay in that job. Other people had far more difficult jobs. I thought I was being selfish for putting my mental health first. Other people pushed through. I felt stupid for breaking the rule of…
