Having spent some time away from the corporate grind and the "rat race" does provide you with a few epiphanies(some my own, some from wise observers). Now that I have come back to normalcy, those epiphanies had to be put down.
- A break is a really good thing.
- You need to apply everyday to a whole lot of places before you like a job and the job likes you back. Had my daily time slot allotted for this.
- Apply if you like the place or the role. Worst case they talk to you and tell you its not possible. Best case they make a place for you as and how you want it.
- Interviews and projects keep you thinking.
- Jobs are a lot like girlfriends:
- Someone's always got a cooler one.
- One of the previous ones was amazing and you shouldn't have left.
- You generally don't want to get married to either.
- Neither of them leave you with enough cash in the pocket.
- You always want one... Until the time you get one.
- Some relative is always going to disapprove of your taste in both.
- You may have rejected them but it hurts when you see someone else happy with the same.
- Learn a language in the free time, Spanish to Java to Doublespeak to auto-driver. Any of them would not only be fun but also useful at some later point.
- Build on your hobby. If you don't have one, get one.
- Travel. Money may be low, which prevents those exotic vacations with fancy comforts but backpacking, or as a friend calls it 'slumming it out' has its own charms.
- Do some free work either for an NGO or the local good guys. Combine it with travel for better effects. Have seen a couple of friends do this during their state of joblessness for some fantastic feel good factor and sense of accomplishment. Can always add CV points.
- Send across Resumes shamelessly. You are doing people a favor by giving them the privilege to refer you. They do get a referral bonus if you get through after all.
- Video Games are awesome. Those addictive freemium games were made for people like you and times like these. They are a time machine with no reverse gear. Great to keep you busy.
- Meet up with as many friends as you can. Helps with point 8 above and of course they are earning... you are not... hypothetical 'free lunches'.
- Read. Whatever you like - comics, books, magazines, newspapers... Would have liked to do more of it but well time machines are a lot more fun.
- Network. Points 5,6,7 and 10 cannot be reiterated enough.
- Make your own decisions. Everyone has free advice and these can range from awesome to awful. This maybe true for life in general but then I'd call it a re-epiphany.
- Follow all such blogs and share mutual wisdom
- A movie a day...
