Laura J. Bagby
Can I be honest with you for a moment?
I really debated whether I should just let this blog lie fallow until I got that awesome full-time job and then pick it back up once I had “arrived on the other side.” That seemed reasonable in light of my own job interview process, which I am currently still going through.
Knowing that professionals would be reading this blog made me a bit nervous about how I might be viewed by potential employers, so I took a long pause. And thought… and thought… and thought some more. Plus, the ideas were just not flowing and I didn’t think I had much to say.
And then there were other issues.
One, I am not a professional career counselor. I am just an average person like you looking for full-time employment. Knowing that potential limitation, I wasn’t sure just how effective my advice or encouragement might be as an “average Joe.” After all, I don’t know all your individual needs and concerns. I can only really speak from my experiences.
Two, I feared boxing myself in. I kind of liken this feeling to not wanting to write a book on the joys and frustrations of singleness in case I might be solely known as “that single girl who writes books for other singles.” Why do that if you want to get married some day? Same goes for talking about unemployment or underemployment — I didn’t want to be the poster child of joblessness. My desire isn’t to wave a banner of self-pity from the trenches, but rather to walk with you through this season and out to the other side. My desire isn’t to be past-focused, but rather future driven.
Over the past two weeks, I started getting ideas again. And a couple of days ago, while in Barnes & Noble chatting with a friend about this topic of unemployment, she strongly encouraged me to get clacking on that keyword.
So, I am risking it again. Don’t know just how often I will share my thoughts with you, but I will do my best to encourage you here on Joy for the Jobless.
– Laura J. Bagby
