First, thank you all for your wonderfully supportive comments on Friday’s post about quitting my job. While I wasn’t sure what the reception would be, I knew that I had to post about it because I want this blog to be rooted in all aspects of my personal finance truth, be it the good, the bad, or the ugly. I pride myself on sharing my financial blunders and milestones in an effort to inspire and/or educate others, and I value the feedback I receive here.

Second, I won’t be filing for unemployment regardless because doing so would be 1. Illegal (I quit, I wasn’t laid off) 2. Immoral (I have plenty of other side income from my part-time jobs and side gigs), and 3. Unnecessary as I plan to be gainfully employed in some sort of full-time capacity ASAP. Here is what I’m doing to avoid any potential of the unemployment line (if I were eligible for it):

1. Networking my bootay off. While it seems as if this decision was made out of the blue, it definitely was not. For the past few weeks, I have been a networking fool. However, I’m not a natural networker–in fact, it makes me quite nervous. So putting myself out there is not only sending the “I’m seeking a new job” vibes to the universe, it’s also giving me an opportunity to brush up on skills that will help me build my side businesses as well as hopefully secure me a new full-time job.
2. Tweaking/upgrading my resume. Luckily, I’ve always had a bit of a talent when it comes to selling myself via cover letters. I also pride myself on having a decent resume, and I’m pretty much continuously tweaking it for one reason or another. For the latest round of upgrades, I sought out professional assistance….
3. Accepting the assistance of a head-hunter. This is a first for me. But I have to admit that it was a great feeling to walk into a stranger’s office and have her pretty much shower me with potential job opportunities to apply for after just a few minutes of discussion regarding my resume, experience, and expectations. One day after meeting with this person, I had 2 interviews lined up for positions I’m interested in learning more about, so I hope this trend continues (and brings me a job!). She also offered a few suggestions for how to tweak my resume and I couldn’t be happier with the results. That being said, I’m not relying solely on someone else to find me a job. It was my decision to give notice at my job, and it’s my responsibility to secure a new one. I will work tirelessly to ensure that something comes along.
4. Seeking out opportunity where it might not be evident. One of the reasons I’ve been able to turn my finances around is because I’m creative when it comes to solving problems, cutting expenses, and bringing in extra cash. Sure, I’m a hard worker, but I’m also someone who’s always thinking outside the box. In order to apply this to the job hunt, I’m keeping an open mind when finding job descriptions that relate to my skill set but not exactly to my current role, and I’m not passing them by. At this point, I’m targeting certain industries but the net I’m casting is quite vast.
5. Staying positive. I’d be lying if I said I’m not nervous. This is the first time I’m throwing caution to the wind with regards to work (that’s in my control). However, I refuse to let negative thoughts or doubts slow me down. I feel like I’m entering the prime of my creative, personal, and professional pursuits, and I’m actually pretty excited about what the future holds for me. My biggest rule throughout this entire process is to keep smiling, even if it’s hard to do.