There are very unpleasant chores like cleaning the bathroom and then there a chore a lot of people need to do to survive. That is a job search. Sorry for writing a post about it again but the word ‘chore’ is kind of a boring subject. It’s not even fun to write about. Writing about a job search is not that either so it’s actually a chore as well. An unpleasant thing, a routine. People with jobs don’t need to worry about job search the same way as a person without one. It seems people with a job can find a new job much easier. For a long-term unemployed (in Finland it’s over 500 days) it’s absolute hell. It’s so easy to say “get a job, any job” Does these people have any idea how job search works? You have to apply to them. You won’t get hired by just asking. Maybe they still live in the 1950s or something. Is not easy at all, I tell you that. Nothing is certain. Not even for those with a job. You can be laid off any day because of co-operation negotiations. If you get a job somewhere else, then you must be really lucky. Luck is what you need in a job search. Someone who tells you otherwise is lying. Being unemployed is more difficult than for others. They have families to support. Living on welfare is something no one voluntarily wants to be in forever.

While searching about job search on Google, I came across some forums where they spoke about their unemployment. Some of the comments were so stupid. One who had allergies and couldn’t be a nurse for example and this other person replies. “Why don’t they wear gloves? Or some other excuse. Those things won’t help. Having allergies myself, that’s the worse suggestion anyone could make. None of that will help. Even if you cover yourself up until you sweat like a pig, you still can’t do the job. Your allergies could only get worse. You can’t force someone to do a job they’re not suitable for. People who don’t understand about limitations shouldn’t give advice about job search at all. If you can do any job, then you really are lucky. You can apply to that nursery job or cleaning people’s houses. Some of us can’t do jobs like that. Besides, we can’t all be nurses, cleaners or even telemarketers. When you have limitations, you can’t change it.

This claim, if you really want work, you’ll find it, really is one a pet peeve of mine. It’s not about what you want, it’s about what the companies want. You can apply to hundreds of companies but you don’t even get an interview. If you really want to have the job you want, you must become self-employed. But not everyone is up to that either. It’s a shame job search seem to be for the extroverts. Marketing yourself and mastering the interview is like a nightmare for an introvert. Even if there are tips online for an introvert, they won’t work. At least not for me. I never know what comes out of my mouth or if anything at all. I haven’t got that many interviews to begin with so I can’t gain experience from job interviews. But I know how they will end. No job. Maybe I should retire and live on my savings because this job search is going nowhere. But I’m too young and my pension would be really small because I’ve never had a paid job. I’m also healthy so I can work. There are people who are too ill to work but they still are forced to look for one. Those are the ones who need to retire.

I’m too old to be changing occupations. My situation is different from the ones who write online about their job search. I found an occupation I like the best and I’m sticking to it. I have the skill, the age and the attitude. If that’s not good enough, I will find another way to find a job. If you give in, then you give in and that’s not an option.