Today is the day to recover.

If you've been following the Class of 2008 series in ElleGirl magazine, a new issue is out.

Mrs. Zulkey.com Loves Telling Unemployed People What to Do

Dear Mrs. Zulkey.com,

I think I may need your advice on several fronts. For the first time since graduating from college, I am unemployed. Actually, even through my time in school I always had a job, so perhaps for the first time in my adult life I find myself unemployed. I recently moved closer to home because my husband got a good job in the city of our choice.

Right now, the financial situation is not dire. However, soon I will need to find a job - any job, really - and start contributing to the family's income. We don't have children right now, but would like to start a family within the next couple of years. Here is my problem: I don't really know what I want to do. I don't have any career
goals. I generally don't mind working, but so far I haven't found anything that I find especially interesting or enjoyable.

So, should I try to figure out what it is that I am supposed to do with my life, professionally? Or should I just continue to get jobs that aren't particularly challenging, enjoyable, or lucrative, but that will provide me with some flexibility and a low stress level for the upcoming childbirthing expedition?

Also, what do I do with my days while I am still looking for a job? I have started to volunteer at the Humane Society, but is there anything else I should be doing?

My Dear Idle Friend,

You're not giving me much to go on here, other than you are a college graduate and presumably educable. Without knowing your interests, talents, previous job experiences or keyboard skills it's difficult to advise you other than in the broadest generalities, so here goes:

1. If you decide to spend time figuring out what you're "supposed" to do with your life, you're in for a long wait.

2. Many people, if not most, simply fall into their life's careers. Math majors have been known to become artists, French majors become doctors, music majors become lawyers, political science/history majors like myself become bankers. Go figure. So making a life plan isn't always the best or only way to go. We have to be open to all opportunities.

3. It's been my experience and observation that deliberately taking on an un-challenging job is one of the worst mistakes you can make. You will be unhappy, ineffective and bored. Your employer won't be too thrilled with you, either. A challenging job is much more fun than one in which you just pass the time. So don't sell yourself short. You can do better.

4. What to do with your days while you're looking for a job? Why, you look for a job! Search the web, go on interviews, polish your resume, phone your friends and family for leads, choose an appropriate interview outfit and iron it, go to job fairs, contact your alumni association for referrals, shine your shoes, make follow-up phone calls, remove that nose ring. Looking for the right job is a full time occupation.

Editor's Note: I have been more seriously unemployed more recently than Dear Mrs. Zulkey.com, so I wanted to weigh in here. I know that no matter what your intentions, it's impossible to fill a day with job-hunting: there are only so many resources to tap a day. Since the brand of unemployment I endured a few years ago somewhat similarly reflects that of the correspondent, I recommend checking out a few tips I wrote up for those unemployed here.

5. Whatever job you land, give it all you've got. Make yourself proud of your work product. No slipshod, half-baked effort will make your career interesting or enjoyable.

6. None of this advice should be colored by your expectation of becoming pregnant. All sorts of happily employed people have had healthy, contented babies.

Now get going! You have a job to do.

Mrs. Zulkey

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