Lots of you have asked me to talk more about my life as an unemployed recent college grad…which is difficult, because there’s not much to talk about. When you’re living at home with mom and dad and all your friends are still in college, your social life tends to take a nosedive. I consider Maggie good company, because she’s just so happy and funny to be around, but you can only talk to your dog for so long before it becomes boring. And creepy. Our debates are kind of one-sided.
"Sometimes she starts calling me a pretty pretty princess in a baby voice, and then I know it's time for her to get out of the house..."
I spend a good chunk of my day scouring the internet for job listings and writing cover letters, but I’ve found that getting out of the house at least once really helps me stay sane. I’ll go grocery shopping for my family, browse stores and force myself not to buy anything, or get a tea at Barnes & Noble and read magazines. If I’m feeling really crazy, I’ll go see a movie. Wild life over here. I’m thinking that if the search continues to drag on I’ll find a part-time job for some structure, but for now I’m keeping my fingers crossed that something pops up sooner than later.
Thank goodness for my friend Lauren. She’s living at home this year as well, which is conveniently located about a mile away. Her parents are super nice too, so I’m always over there in the evening. We sit around and pretend to watch TV while really having intense/ridiculous conversations. It’s lovely.
Plus, she shares my love for Cosi, enjoys baking and has a stash of bridal magazines. It’s a winning situation. Did I mention that I get to be a bridesmaid in her wedding? YAY!
What’s your go-to boredom activity? Do you have a friend that you can always count on to hang out with?
Maggie IS a pretty pretty princess…haha.
Hmm…I usually hang out with my boyfriend when I’m super bored, or the dog. Gotta love dogs company.
She is, isn’t she?
I like to watch marathons of old television shows. I recently went through the first four seasons of the practice (over several weeks), and then the Good Wife. Also, I like to cook too.
I’ve been rewatching all The OC episodes!
I need to do that. I miss that show!
Yep, you’re pretty much living my life 1-2 years behind. Wild times. I’m crossing my fingers you aren’t where I am now in 1-2 years though
. Oh Gab, I wish we were closer so we could hang out. I wanna read wedding magazines tooooo. I’m sure you know about this site already, but if not…goodfoodjobs.com is great.
I’ve checked it out before, they have awesome stuff- just wish there were more of them! And if I’m still here in two years…actually, I know I won’t be. My mom will kill me before then.
I have never been though a phaze like that but I think it would be okay. Enjoy it while it lasts. I am currently spending all extra time on the phone talking to my family since I live about three hours away and don’t get to seem them every single day, like I would like. Phone time takes up all of my free time.
I bet the wedding planning part would be fun!
I know…in a few months I’ll probably be wishing I had this much free time again!
Oh boy, do I know how this feels right now! Every winter is a lull for my line of work so I have a ton of time on my hands…and I end up spending most of my free time working out, reading and watching trash tv (heh). I hope you find a job soon!
Go-to boredom activities include thrifting, eating boatloads of chips & salsa at the local Mexican restaurant, wandering Target/Trader Joe’s/the local grocery, and marathons of watching really ridiculous reality tv shows. One day, you will be so busy that you look back fondly on these times.
Thank goodness for puppy friends. And baby friends…which are both my go-to boredom activities.
omg! Gabriela, you seriously sound just like me. Since moving home with my parents I find myself doing the same thing, studying for my pt certification, watching t.v., working out, laying around and having stare-offs with the dog, etc. I also go to the grocery store almost every day and have dinner on the table for my parents when they get home from work. In the meantime I will go study at barnes and nobles and get a stack of mags to read, mostly pop culture and cooking mags. My cousin, who is the same age as me, thank goodness lives in the same city so we always meet for coffee and lunch dates!
Haha, peas in a pod
That’s definitely a hard situation - I almost opted to graduate a semester early, but I am so glad I didn’t just because I think the in-between time would have been difficult!
I am a big fan of browsing Whole Foods, going to Barnes and & Noble and reading cookbooks/magazines, etc. when bored.
My sister and I have the same “pretend to watch TV while actually having intense/ridiculous conversations” too! I love those…
I usually try and find new blogs to follow or read a book when I’m bored but with three kids 3 and under I very seldom get bored lol. Hope you find a job soon.
I’m in the exact same situation right now-living at home and trying to find a full time job. The free time is nice but sometimes I just feel worthless!
Maggie is so stinkin’ cute!! I want a puppy!
Also, I’m in my last semester of grad school and job hunting as well. Applying for jobs is such a hard thing sometimes. I get easily overwhelmed. You seem to be handling it well!
Hope something works out soon!
getchaself a show on DVD. I’m honestly WISHING I was currently unemployed so I can just lay in bed and watch 24 all day long. I’ve never watched, grabbed the first season on DVD, and I’m kiiinda hooked.
Girl I wish I could give you some of my busy-ness and you could give me some of your free time. You will look back on this place in your life in 10-15 years or so, when you’ll likely be married, with a child(ren), having far too much to do to the point that you have to budget in time to shave your legs or see your spouse…just enjoy this freedom and boredom and think of it as…a time for personal growth. And a time to go shopping, see movies, and cook, and hang out with friends
That was me during the summer. I talked to my dog 24/7 it started to get out of control. Haha, good luck with the job search!
When I’m bored I NEED to get out of the house too - otherwise I go crazy! I like to go thrifting for clothes, books, and cute antique dishes. I also like to cook/bake elaborate dishes that I otherwise wouldn’t have the time for.
my job IS being unemployed. over the last few years i’ve figured out ways to accept that and keep busy. hit me up if you need advice!
I worked a couple of part-time, temporary jobs up until recently, when I landed a full time gig. It is tough. It takes a while - i think 7 months for me, really, but for part of that I was in Europe and for part I wasn’t looking too hard. Everyone will tell you this, so it will probably annoy the crap out of you, but it’s true: the job will come when you least expect it. I had settled into my part time/multi job routine and was hardly applying to anything and then it just sort of happened. I think all the proactive work and networking I had done in the year prior to that finally paid off when I wasn’t looking? Not sure how else to describe it.
Let me know if you need anything. Are you on LinkedIn? If not, definitely do that. I can also look over some of your cover letters if you want - I have morphed into a cover letter beast over the last six months.
And most importantly, good luck and believe in yourself!
Yes I am! It’s good to know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel- I know it probably seems like you were looking for forever, but May seems like yesterday!
I can relate so much to what you’re going through. While I don’t live at home with my parents, since I graduated it’s been an ongoing battle to stay busy and find work. Working as an actress/model is sooo unpredictable and is far from a “steady” job. But, I love it so that’s all that matters.
I’m glad you have a friend to hang out with! That makes such a big difference.
Good luck with your job hunt!
i want the best for you, but really i hope you are still unemployed and free to play when i visit pa in may. i was looking up new restaurants and realized how much i miss philly. i was a stephen starr fanatic when i was in nursing school at drexel. i went to every one - even with my broke ass non-foodie-friendly budget.
I’m actually thinking of staying around here for the time being- NYC is too expensive and though I’d love to go somewhere warm, I’m not really sure where! Let me know when you’re here, I’d LOVE to see you!!
hi Gabriela,
I know seraching for a job is not easy. more the less in the current siuation with the crisis and stuff.
Sadly for me I have no friend I can count on…
but i’m ok.. sometime we have to deal with difficulties right?
just a quick question do you speak french?
Aw, good luck with everything
And yes, I do speak French!