A day in the life... of a job seeker

 

Since I graduated from grad school a month ago people have often asked me what I do all day.  Well, turns out that looking for a job is a full-time job.  Typically I spend 8 ++ hours everyday (I’m giving myself Saturday and Sunday off for the most part) doing cover letters, computer applications, attending events with networking, doing informational phone interviews, e-mails, job searches, and the very infrequent phone interview.  I do have more flexibility in my schedule but trust me, I do NOT watch TV all day or sleep late.  It is very stressful and sometimes I cry for no real reason.  So here is a look at how I spent my Tuesday.  I love people’s routines (don’t ask why…I don’t know why) so maybe you do too.  This is also kinda a What I Ate Wednesday (but it was Tuesday).  So here we go.

 

5:30 am ALARM OFF and outta bed, brew coffee

5:55 am to the BUS! Listen to iPods… My favorite early morning selections are Rick Steves and This American Life.  CAREFULLY drink coffee.

 

Tuesday is my speed drills day so that’s what I did.  I use a treadmill to do my speed drills because it is still too dark to see my watch.  It was a doozy of a workout!!! 6 miles of assorted drills.  I don’t remember what I did but it involved 400 meters at 7 minute miles for a while.  Well 6 miles later I hopped on the elliptical for a cool down and did some leg strength stuff in the form of squats and lunges.  FOAM ROLL and stretch and wonder why I felt the need to murder my legs : )  Hmmm

 

Go to locker room to get ready.  Realize that the world goes on when I work out.  HR from a job I applied for called to set up a phone interview (YESSSS) and one of my best friends got engaged.  Huh.  Damn Pacific time zone.  Already so behind!

 

Get ready quick (sans shower) so that I can get the low down on the engagement.  Freak out in happiness on the streets of downtown Seattle.  People stare.  It is early.  Oooops.  Major drop in blood sugar with the excitement.  Sit down.  Catch breath. 

 

Eat breakfast in a building in downtown Seattle with free wireless.  Schedule phone interview, check e-mail, call mom to tell her about the friend’s engagement (I’ve known my newly engaged friend since we were three), freak out about how everyone else is getting engaged.  Sad/happy/confused/jealous/lonely.  Move on.  Enjoy breakfast.  A not-too-empty Justin’s Almond Butter jar with 1/2 cup cottage cheese and a unpictured English Muffin.  It works.  Consume tea.

 

proceed to Seattle Public Library for applying to jobs/looking for jobs/phone interview prep.  Watch the interesting people who also frequent the library in the morning on a Tuesday.  Hmmm… interesting.  Wonder if the people next to me are computer hackers.  Eat snack hard-boiled egg and banana.

 

Take the bus back to apartment for lunch.  Sometimes I pack a lunch. Not Tuesday.  Watch protest about the 99% while waiting for the bus.  Get on bus to find crazy bus driver driving who likes to slam on breaks.  Happy to find a seat.

 

LUNCH- while checking up on the news on NYT, BBC, other nerdy news related sites.  Cabbage, carrots, red pepper for the veggies and beans, hummus, cheese, avocado on toast.

Do the job thing again for a couple of hours until chocolate is needed.  A pear and unsweetened chocolate.  Feel better about life.  Sit on ball to work on bad posture.  Work on to-do list.

 

Realize I really want tofu for dinner and that I need to go to the store.  Plus I need to get out of my cramped studio.  Go to small grocery store across the street but they fail to deliver on the tofu (weird) so walk another couple blocks (in the rain) to Whole Foods.  Get lost in Whole Foods for a while looking at random products and dreaming about the day when I can afford them.  Wonder why people think it is okay to leave carts in the middle of the isle.  Seriously.  Stick to list (except for the really amazing bread purchase) and walk back to apt (in the rain) and unpack and wonder how I just lost an hour.

 

Sit back down to do job stuff.  Apply for a job in Atlanta and Washington DC.  Feel sad/embarrassed/angry that these are the 80th and 81st jobs I’ve applied for.  Get bitter and cranky.  Need snack.  Apple with 1/2 cup greek yogurt and a scoop of peanut butter.  And a make-this-stop face.  

Call it quits to remain sane.  Do the apartment cleanup, organization, to-do list update, dinner prep, lunch prep for tomorrow, watch news.  Question newly engaged friend on why the engagement isn’t facebook official and why I haven’t seen a ring.  Friend is in med school and ‘hasn’t had time’ ooops.  Remember what it is like to be a student.  Sigh.  Call mom.  Probably almost cry.  

 

Eat dinner while responding to e-mails, reading news, watching the Daily Show & Colbert Report.  Finally laugh.  Read some blogs.  Check weather.  Baked Tofu, Roasted parsnips/asparagus/broccoli/kale/onion, hunk of amazing fresh bread (worth every penny), milk

 

Get ready for bed, make bedtime snack, finish book.  It was The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.  I enjoyed it.  It was really unique.  Update Goodreads.com (ekoebnick if you are a member).  Wonder if I’m weird because I like to be in bed at 9 to read for a while before lights out at 9:30.  Decide I’m not weird because I like to run, especially in the morning.  5:15 wake up calls = 9:30 bed time.  Drink sleepytime tea.  Eat yogurt + sprinkling of Vega Protein Powder.  And a scoop of peanut butter. 

There you have it!!! I do this Monday-Friday mostly.  Yup.  Fun.  But it is what needs to happen because if I don’t bother to apply for jobs I  won’t get hired.  At least if I apply, I have a 3-5% chance of getting hired.  

 

What is your routine?  Do you like routines?  I love them.  Not just my own but other people’s routines.  Kinda creepy but I think routines say A LOT about a person!  Maybe I’m a creep.  

 

XOXO

Emily