Job hunting gets my vote as the hardest and least appreciated work expected of us here in the 21st century. I used to put being on the dole as part of that hard work, but that seems to have become something close to the norm. I know a depressing number of folks who see getting their piece of the dole pie as the highest success they expect of themselves.

There is something to be said for taking whatever job is available to tide you over until you find a more befitting job. It's easier to find a job if you already have a job that proves your up-to-date ability to just show up. A make do job can soothe your dignity a bit and provide a solid reference for potential employers.

Steadying support while you find your way through, Patter. Please don't be discouraged by Life's refusal to follow your grand plan. Insert John Lennon quote here:

"Life is what happens while we are busy making plans." ~(Beautiful Boy)

Easy does it, my conquering hero. Life has a way of working out by its own plan.

thanks. But currently I'm of the state of mind that if I go into a job I don't like I'll end up quitting. I've had a lot of jobs, so finding the right one for me is important.

Follow your instincts. Each case is unique and strictly personal. Continued support while you sort your own. I was just sharing my own strictly personals with do desire to play expert.

For what it's worth:
When I have taken fill-in jobs during my own job hunts, treating them like something temporary helped me hold a more compassionate and steady course through the effort. I think it helped me work through some of my job-hopper reflexes, too. My shrinks and I believe my job-hopping was/is connected to my hyper-vigilance and its flight instincts.

I have hyper-vigilance and its flight instincts too. And I feel overwhelmed and sucked in my full time work I do not like. I am open to part time though.

I just had a 3 month ft contract that I absolutely hated...(I quit after a week and a half) It's been 3 weeks since I left. The people were intrusive, loud, pushy, bordering on bullying...really in your face extrovert types...it was almost an hour commute. The job was well paid and in the kindof area I wanted to work in....but it rubbed me up the wrong way it was awful. I also got chastised severely by the agency and the boss of the contract for leaving. The agency was like 'you've put us in a terrible position here and we cannot represent you again.' I felt it was unfair though as I spoke to the job consultant first (plus my boss) about how I felt about the job, I said the people were causing me anxiety and I have an anxiety problem. I said I don't feel I can complete the contract, but I can stay until the end if it's part time. At first they said this is reasonable, and it's likely they could arrange that. Then they spoke to bosses higher up, who gave them the big no way. Then they came back to me with the whole 'you've put us in a terrible position here' speech. I feel I made the right decision though as staying to the end of that contract I didn't feel I'd arrive alive.

So yeah dealing with that, plus now being on the dole has made me feel like a piece of shit.

That hyper-vigilance is rough stuff to work through. Mine is still a works in progress and ^it^ and all its sub-symptoms do get in the way of most everything I do. Can I have that frontal lobotomy now?

I like my make-do jobs to be openly and honestly *make-do*. My last one was waiting tables at a local buffet convenient to the room I was renting while I waited on the construction job I wanted to open up. By being honest and open with the restaurant managers about my priorities, they even joined the conspiracy to get me that job I was waiting for. I had the benefit of new friends by then.

I feel like I should congratulate you on feeling like shit for being on the dole. Honest work integrity is getting harder and harder to find. Continued support while you work it through. Hope healing happens here.

I'm sorry you are having anxiety about being on unemployment benefits. Looking for a job can be stressful.

Use your time wisely to learn something new or brush up on some old skills. Network as much as you can. You never know who knows who. Do the things that you enjoy too to try to calm your nervous system down.

I hope you find a job that you like soon.

Patternskies,
Thanks for sharing this with me. It is understandable it is difficult for you now. It sounds like you feel frustrated and overwhelmed from the depression and unemployment. I see you mentioned you are trying and this is the most important thing. There is a lot of stress that comes with these feelings, and I know that you do not deserve to feel this way. I know you want to go back to work soon and not feel this way. Sometimes disappointments happen to the best of us. I admire your strength and determination as you find your new position in the future. Best wishes!