Feeling Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

The economy has impacted employment in such negative fashion that the unemployment rate in some areas of the US has reached more than 15%.  Everyone, no matter what industry is one day from being amongst the masses of those that have lost their job and are trying to find work in a dismal environment.  I recently met someone who was unemployed recently for about 6 weeks and was offered 4 job offers before her severance ran our from her other job.  I asked her, "how can you have four job offers from some amazing companies during a period in which thousands have been looking for employment for years."  The answer rolled off her tongue like poetry: "One has to be comfortable in being uncomfortable."

She expounded:

1.   Increase Education: This is a perfect time to re-tool and also purchase some new tools for your tool box.  There are several occupations that are still increasing and having a hard time finding employees.  She mentioned several in the health care profession like; Surgical Technicians, EKG Technicians and RN's.  She said that there are a lot of older displaced people who are feeling uncomfortable with going back to school and being the oldest person in the classroom.  The truth of the matter is that there are several institutions offering the two-year certification program with the vast amount of students being adult learners. "Being comfortable being uncomfortable."

2. Willing to relocate: The next bit of advice that she offered was that one must go where the jobs are.  She relocated her entire family even though she had all her family living in the same town as her.  The work was somewhere else and with a job she would be able to afford to buy a ticket to fly home and see her family.  Staying in her home town, she would not be able to even afford to put gas in her car to visit her mother.  She was very clear that the idea of moving is scary and for some does not just seem reasonable or might seem rash and without reason.  In the same breath she mentioned that these economic times were unheard of some 8 years ago and one must truly think outside the box. "Being comfortable with being uncomfortable."

3. Network Differently: The last point that she made was that one must network differently than they had in the past.  "Networking the way one did in the past got them the job they are currently out of.  That network pipeline may not be able to provide much more than a lead in the same direction, but what you may need is something in an entirely new direction which would require new networking tactics.  You need to put your place in environments where those who you will network with make you feel uncomfortable in the fact that they may not look like you, may have more money than you and may help you."