New Year, New Beginning?

So 2010 is over, and many are glad to say good riddance to it.

For the unemployed, it’s been a tough year, one with many frustrations and unhappiness. As we look toward 2011, we see a murky horizon.

Don’t get me wrong. Unemployed workers like myself want to be optimistic, we truly do. But after being jobless for a year or more, it’s hard to muster much enthusiasm or hope for a new job in the New Year.

Will this be the year employers expand and hire more workers? Will HR people finally realize that laid-off employees were the victims of a poor economy, bad management decisions and didn’t lose their jobs because of some fault on their part?

I used to be one of those people who actually wrote down New Year Resolutions, things like, lose weight, find a new apartment, and yes, even get a new job (too bad I didn’t do that sooner, it would have saved me a lot of heartache).

Alas, 12 months would pass and none of those resolutions came to fruition. But why do we only think about making changes on New Year’s Day? We can make changes in our lives anytime.

Yes, I would love to get a job in 2011, one where I can use my writing and reporting abilities while learning new skills. A job where my bosses and co-workers will treat me with respect and not denigrate my work. (Of course, I will be respectful to them in kind.)

Yet so much depends on the economy and the whims of those doing the hiring. I also cannot dismiss the possibility that my career in journalism and publishing may be over if I cannot get hired within the year. Sometimes I think I have a better chance of dating Mark Sanchez than ever getting a job again!

I don’t know what career path I will take if that comes to pass, but I do know I will keep writing in some capacity.

But let’s get back to 2010. I know it’s year so many would rather forget, but I don’t think it should be dismissed so quickly. Even in harsh times, you can learn much about yourself. I know I did.

I learned I can pay my rents and my bills on a paltry weekly unemployment check and some occasional freelance assignments. Never once did I get a call from a creditor. Of that I am proud. Now if I still don’t have a job next year...

I learned I don’t need to buy clothes every week at Macy’s. Both Macy’s and I will survive if I don’t.

I learned I can make it through a year of joblessness, a major health scare and intensive physical therapy with my sense of humor and sanity (mostly) intact.

I learned that even though my former employers thought my talents were no longer needed, other people, like the website I freelance for, did. Seeing my byline published after I got laid off did wonders for my self-confidence.

I learned I can live on less and do without and that’s a good thing.

I learned that even though I got depressed at times, I still managed to go on job interviews and write freelance articles.

I learned to whine less about my jobless situation and be a sympathetic friend. This experience has definitely made me a more empathetic person. No one wants to be around a person who talks ceaselessly only about him or herself or his or her problems.

I’ve learned that I can live with disappointment and still not give up.

I learned to job hunt in a digital age. No small feat for a technophobe like me.

I started this blog and even though I haven’t gotten many comments, the ones I have gotten have been encouraging. It’s good to know we are not alone. I’m glad I’m expressing feelings that others in the same situation can relate to with a little humor and advice. This blog was never meant to be about just me, but all of us in unemployment land. I want to know about your experiences trying to find a job in a recession.

Looking back, could I have done things better? Sure. I wish I had handled my exit interview in a more professional manner. I become too upset when I just should have left the building without saying anything. Nothing then or now would have changed their decision and I just have to accept that.

New Year’s Day is time for making bold predictions and resolutions, but I’m not sure I will do that this year. Okay, I see the Jets in the Super Bowl and the Mets having a winning season. How’s that for bold predictions?

John Lennon said it best: “Life is what happens to you while you’re making other plans.” Did any of us think at the beginning of 2008, 2009 or 2010 that “This is the year I’m going to get laid off”?

We do not know what the next 12 months will bring, let alone the next hour. And that’s not a bad thing. Sure, unfortunate events can befall us, but unexpected joy can also come our way. We have to be prepared for both.

Better to take each day as it comes, make the best of it and seize any opportunity that is presented to us both personally and professionally.

So I’m keeping it simple this year. I definitely will ramp up my job hunt with more networking and possibly attend job fairs. I will also look into a new career path if that is what I need to do. I’ll go to my local job training center and try to get more freelance assignments.

Oh, yeah, I’ll try to lose weight and clean out my email inbox more often.

Am I worried? I’d be lying if I said I didn’t worry about my finances and health insurance if I don’t get a job. All I can do is keep looking for a job or find a way to rebuild my career and life. When my COBRA benefits expire, and I still have no job, I must find a way to pay for my health care, and I will. I cannot let those fears overtake me.

Most of all, I’m grateful for the support of friends and family during this past year. They’ve been understanding of my occasional moodiness and have offered invaluable advice. They are golden and are to be treasured. Because, sadly, there are some people out there who have no sympathy and are just as happy to see you fail.

So I say that those of us who got through 2010 should be proud.

I raise a glass of Prosecco to you. Here’s to a great year in 2011 for us all!