How to Stay Busy (and Invest in Yourself) While Looking for Your Next Job

I’ve been looking for my next job for a couple of months now. While I can’t yet write an article titled “How to Find Your Next Role After Your Project is Unexpectedly Canceled,” I do feel equipped to share a bit about what I’ve been doing besides submitting applications.

Don’t get me wrong, applying for jobs is important. It’s likely the only way that you’ll find financial security and progress in your field—unless you happen to “(Get) run over by a Lexusss.” But it’s only one piece of the puzzle. This article explores other ways to invest in yourself while you’re looking for that next gig.

Make Yourself Presentable (Resumes and Portfolios)

I’m not talking about getting a haircut here—although that is important. If you’re like me and haven’t looked for a job for a bit you’ll likely want to kick the tires on ye olde resume. Some quick reminders on effective resumes:

Try your best to keep it to one page.
Tailor it to specific roles and include keywords from the job posting.
Quantify achievements where possible. “Increased ticket resolution rate by 10%.” plays better than: “Made things easier for the support team.”
Remember when sharing your resume to send a PDF copy.

When embarking on my most recent job hunt I was quickly asked for a portfolio including examples of my work. This was confusing, because I didn’t have one. I’d never needed one in the past. Furthermore, it was frustrating because all of my most recent work was inaccessible and protected by NDA. While I was eventually able to put together a portfolio—found elsewhere on this site 😁—not doing so earlier made the whole experience more difficult. So my advice to you is: if you at all feel like your work can be showcased to future employers, start on a simple portfolio today. It’s a lot easier to add to it over time than to start one from scratch.

Sharpening Your Skills…

If you’re happy with your most recent role—something that took me woefully long to find—you’ve probably identified some valuable skills related to that role. These may have helped you to land the job, helped you to succeed while you had it, and might even help you to progress upward in a career path that includes that role. If you’re between jobs it’s likely that some, if not all, of these skills will at best retain their level of proficiency, and at worst atrophy over time. That’s why it’s so important to stay sharp. Here are some ways I’ve retained my edge as a technical writer.

Typing Speed and Accuracy
- If you’re reading this, I’d bet money you type as part of your job. Being able to write quickly and accurately can always make your life easier. I’m embarrassed to admit, especially as a writer, that it took me well into my adult life to learn how to touch type. Thankfully, after investing time in this skill I can now write much faster and with much more confidence. For those interested: I used TypingClub to get started, Keybr for casual practice, and TypeRacer as a fun way to flex my skills.
Read!
- Holy shit, there are so many great books, articles, blog posts, and other written resources out there (maybe even including this article 😉). I’ll admit that I often struggle with prioritizing reading and the price of books. I’ve found it helpful to dedicate at least a little time in the evening to reading. It helps me relax, I learn a bit, and many technical writing books are great sedatives.
  - My local library has been an incredible resource for reading materials. If I can’t find what I want they can likely order it from a neighboring branch. Otherwise, I can usually find a digital copy via something like Libby.

…And Developing New Ones

In addition to keeping your tools sharp it’s just as important to acquire new ones. (Sorry, sort of stretched that metaphor a bit.) Between proven past methods, and emergent technology, it’s likely that you don’t know EVERYTHING related to your profession. So why not spend some time expanding that mind of yours?

Online Courses and Certifications
- The information age has made it easier than ever to learn from the comfort of your home. From YouTube videos, to online courses, a quick Google search is certain to yield ways for you to expand your knowledge and skills. A great thing about many online courses is that they usually present you with a certificate of completion at the end. Not only do these serve as great wall decorations, they’re also solid ways to flaunt your skills on your resume or LinkedIn profile.
HAVE I MENTIONED READING!?
- No but seriously, there’s no better way to learn more about your field than by cracking open a book. Some of the ones on writing that I especially like are Bird by Bird, On Writing, and On Writing Well.
Explore Skills Adjacent to Your Role, or Entirely New Ones!
- Technical writing is kind of specific. Sure, there are variations in style, platform, and methodology, but it often still boils down to how-to guides and reference pages. (I’m not knocking it, it’s just sort of it’s own thing.) I’ve found it interesting and exciting during this time to explore fields that are similar to tech writing, but different enough that you’d probably consider them their own fields. For me I’ve been trying my hand at more creative writing, journalistic writing (a bit like this article), and marketing copy.

Focusing on Your Mental Health…

Once the shock of learning my project had been canceled subsided, a wave of depression washed over me. I was devastated. There were no signs warning us that our project might be canceled—I guess aside from the litany of others layoffs that continue to decimate the gaming industry. I battled with renewed imposter syndrome (feeling like I never deserved that job and I’m not good enough to find another), worried about feeding my family, feared that my job would soon be made obsolete because of AI, and lost a lot of faith in an industry I used to love being a part of. While I can still hear those worries their voices have been muted considerably through time and therapy. I love my therapist and implore everyone to find one that works for them.

Mental health isn’t solely improved through therapy though. Take some time to explore new hobbies, or revisit old ones. Spend time with friends and loved ones. Do things that make you happy. And for the love of god, try and get out and get some sunshine.

…and Physical Health

I’ve been lucky enough to work from home for the past several years. This, paired with the fact that I’ve picked a profession that works almost exclusively in front of a computer, makes it incredibly easy for me to be sedentary. While I love to get out and go for walks, I also know myself and need to find ways to remain active while still trying to get work done. If possible, I highly recommend a standing desk and walking pad. These items have been critical in helping me stay active, especially during cold months and bad weather.

Additionally, I think it’s important to stress good hygiene. I’ll admit it, with nowhere to go and no one to report to, it’s easy to go a day or two without a shower. More than once I’ve been reminded by my loving and patient wife that I could use a rinse when she asks “How many days in a row have you been wearing that hoodie?” I then usually feel worlds better after a shower and shave. I find a clean body begets a clear mind. To be direct: shower, get a haircut, wash your clothes, and remember deodorant.

Mind Your Substance Use

A bit of overlap between this and the previous sections, but I feel that it warrants its own section. This is not a call for judgment but rather a cautionary plea for moderation. Like many of you, I don’t mind a drink in the evening as the day comes to a close. The thing is, without the looming threat of job-related responsibilities, it’s very easy for an evening drink to turn into a lunchtime drink. Then before you know it you’ve had three beers on a Tuesday before 3pm and you’ve wondered where the day went. Increased substance use not only accounts for lost time but also has a negative compounding effect on your mental and physical health. I’ve certainly had weeks where I’ve wondered why I feel like shit, only to realize my drinking has taken a bit of an uptick. So again, I’m not saying that something like drinking is the devil, I’m just recommending that you keep an eye on it.

Find Ways to Give Back

I’ve always liked helping others, both professionally and personally. Sadly, I find volunteering is often a difficult thing to prioritize. Lucky for those needing help, I suddenly have a ton of free time on my hands! I’ve found some incredibly rewarding opportunities by helping out at my kid’s school. The things I’ve been able to help with range from manual labor (like stocking food donations) to some unexpected ways of using my skills and growing them in new ways (like reviewing grant applications). Either way, I’ve found it incredibly rewarding to help others during this time.

Thank you for taking the time to read my article! I’d love to talk with you more about the topics explored above. Also, I’d be happy to help out with things like resume reviews and writing advice. So please, drop me a line! You can reach me via the contact form or directly on LinkedIn.

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