My Unemployed Life

There's nothing like a 90-minute session with a resume maven to point out how little you know about your own accomplishments-or how lame you look on paper. I knew I needed help, but when Miriam Salpeter, a job and social media coach, began her critique, my head started spinning. ...

I'd be lying if I said that I'm not worried about my age -- 51 -- being a problem in my job hunt, especially after working independently for more than a decade. But I just can't believe I'm doomed because of it. I have friends who've switched jobs, acquired new skill sets, and launched satisfying careers ...

Gail Belsky is blogging for AOL Jobs about her quest to find a new job -- and reinvent her career. She will be posting every Monday. In the meantime, feel free to share your suggestions, thoughts and ideas in the comments section below. As part of my attempt to reinvent my career, I had my first consult ...

Last week I marked the one-month anniversary of the day I started my new job. I'm noticing that, like riding a bike, the routine of working full-time is beginning to feel almost comfortable again. It was tough at first, but I'm getting used to it. Although I very much dislike the fact that I have less free ...

What's it like, working full-time again after a nearly three-year sabbatical? It's seeing the beautiful full moon, still in the sky at 6:30 in the morning. It's smiling to myself because I feel connected to the world again. I'm no longer an observer, I'm a participant. It's having daily ...

I'm starting a new, full-time job this week. I've waited 34 months to write that sentence. I received an offer on Tuesday and accepted it on Thursday. I can't even pinpoint exactly how I'm feeling right now, it's such a jumble. Happy, nervous, worried, anxious, sad, excited. ...

Lately I've received more calls than usual for job interviews. I'm very happy about this; but after one particularly promising interview today, I'm surprised that I'm also feeling a little unsettled. I think this employer may be on the verge of making me a job offer. You know how they say, "Be careful ...

It's the morning after Election Day 2012 and I am feeling numb. Over the past four years, nearly three of which occurred after my layoff from a good job with a good company, I came to believe that the policies of the Obama administration were antithetical to a robust economic recovery after a deep ...

I wonder if I'm the only one who applies for jobs multiple times at the same company. It's not that I'm banging my head endlessly against certain corporate walls. These are usually companies with whom I've previously interviewed by phone or in-person. Obviously they haven't offered me jobs -- yet -- but ...