Posted by Mark in 
I have quite a few friends that have either been laid off without a penny or were let go with a retirement package. Some have been lucky enough to find a job in their field and others are still waiting for the right opportunity. But what if the right opportunity doesn’t strike? What if there are no right jobs that you have been waiting for? If you can easily cope financially and emotionally after a layoff, good for you, but if you can’t, it might be time to consider some opportunities that you might have thought weren’t good enough for you.
Let The Ego Slide a Little
I met with one of my friends yesterday who has been out of work for over 2 months. His family includes four children, a wife and two dogs. I can only imagine the household expense that comes along with such a large family. Well, he has been out of work for two months, bills are piling up and he is still waiting for the right opportunity.
Sometimes job seekers need to let go off their ego and grab any and every opportunity that comes their way, especially during this economy. If your ego has been holding you back and making you think that you are way too good for a particular job that you could possibly get hired for, think again. Your ego won’t help you feed your family, the job that you think is the wrong opportunity might at least help put food on the table for the time being while you look for the right job.
Wrong Opportunities Pay The Bills Too
When I say wrong opportunities, I am not talking about jobs or work that are not legal. I am simply referring to jobs that you consider yourself too good for. Drop the attitude and get hold of those wrong opportunities. As I mentioned above, my friend has been waiting for the right opportunity for two months, bills are piling up and their monthly house payment could soon be in jeopardy. If there are no other options, wrong opportunities are the best opportunities. If it can put a roof under your head, put food on the table and keep you going while you find the dream job, those opportunities aren’t wrong opportunities. They are called alternatives.
Diversify, Diversify, Diversify
Diversify your job search. If you have been working as a web designer and can’t find web designing gigs, grab opportunities that allow you to write tutorials or articles on magazine and blogs. It might not pay what you would otherwise make but it at least pays. Whether you are a CEO or someone who got laid off from an entry level position, when the wrong time hits it might just be wise to diversify your job search and hit the wrong opportunities. Get hold of your ego and grab every opportunity that comes your way. Grabbing an opportunity doesn’t mean you are losing another one, it just means you have an alternative while waiting for the right one to knock on your door.
What do you think? Would you be willing to take the wrong opportunities into consideration or wait for the dream job to land?
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I think that after working many years of non-career jobs myself, the question you have to ask yourself can you afford to wait? I can totally see both sides. There are times I passed up taking a chance because of fear of the unknown and there has been times I’ve taken a chance and it was the wrong time. I don’t think a job is ever wrong if it gives you financial peace of mind. Some people thrive on risk and are able to grow from it. Right now, anything goes in this economy. It may be a cliche, but a job is what you make it. You just have to decide what you’re willing to take and what you’re not. Timing is the big thing when it comes to finding the right job for you. Just my thoughts is all.
Elena : Thanks for taking the time to comment. I think it all depends on how well the last job supported you, at least financially. If you can hold of not having a job for another six months and still be able to live comfortably, go for it. But if you are passing up opportunities when it’s getting hard to financially survive, it might not be the best move.
The way I see it : there is no job that is too good for anyone. Desperate times call for desperate measures. If situation is bad it’s time to take control and grab every and any opportunity that comes your way.
For me, it’s not ego that’s stopping me from taking the “wrong” job. It’s the fight between making money versus being completely unhappy in a job. As more time passes, the pendulum is swinging more towards making money. Then the “making the best out of any job/situation” skills kick in.
Kathy, I know what you mean. It all depends on how long you can wait to find the right job, the one you want. If it comes down to financial wreckage, it’s time to take control of situation and grab hold of the “wrong opportunities,” at least for the time being.
I genuinely appreciate this article. I’ve shared similar advice many, many, many times with job seekers who, though extraordinarily talented, need to show a bit more flexibility – especially when they’ve been seeking jobs for multiple months and the funds are getting lower and lower and lower…
Depending on what job you had, taking the wrong job can permanently damage your future potential. If you are 20 years old, that damage may be inconsequential. If you are 50, its another thing entirely.
There may come a time when you must “bite the bullet” but do so knowing the consequences.
There are things you can do “off grid” that can give you some income without damaging your future. For example, if you were a Director of Marketing, taking a sales job in retail can be a positive thing. You are ‘learning how the “rubber meets the road” ‘ while earning that income. However, if you were an Architect (over 50), taking a draftsman position means you will likely never reach the same level.
I have been out of work for 2 months. I was not let go from my old job, but was very unhappy with the unprofessionalism that was avid in the office atmosphere. I am currently obtaining my BBA in Computer Information Systems – Network Management. While I am not in dire straits for money at present, I can see it coming. I have applied for jobs that were from one end of the job spectrum to the other. I have over 10 years of administrative experience, along with a strong accounting background. The issues I keep running into is I’m either too experienced and employers do not want to “insult me” with such a low paying job or they feel I do not have the IT experience to back the degree I am pursuing. What do you do in this situation? I have literally applied for over 100 jobs in the last two months, developed strong leads, but they have all lead to me still being unemployed.