A year of unemployment altered my outlook on work: 'The cost of perspective is extremely high'

In June 2017, I was fired from my journalism job and opted to work a temporary job during the summer to save money for travel in the fall. Upon my return to the US in December, I felt prepared to search for a new journalism job. I stayed with my parents to cut down on housing expenses.

Over the course of a year, I applied to numerous jobs and went through various stages of the hiring process, including emails with hiring managers or recruiters, phone conversations, and even seven rounds of interviews, but ultimately, I did not receive any offers. Over the first six months alone, I interviewed at over 10 different companies, but none of them hired me.

The constant rejection left me feeling worthless and depressed. I questioned my value and self-worth. What defined me if not my job title? What evidence did I have of my significance?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are currently 7.2 million unemployed people in the U.S., with 1.5 million of them being long-term unemployed. Many of them may be experiencing the same pain I felt that year.

The emotional toll I experienced led me to make critical shifts in my approach to work, which have helped me build a healthier relationship with it ever since.

Even if that was the end of my career, it was enough

In May 2018, while heartbroken and lying in my parents' basement, I experienced my first realization.

For seven years, I worked as a journalist, writing for both national publications like The New York Times and local ones like the Village Voice. However, despite my accomplishments, none of it affected my self-worth.

No matter how much I accomplished, it never felt like enough. I had this emptiness in my stomach that no amount of published articles could fill. My work left me feeling unfulfilled.

"Janna Koretz, a clinical psychologist and expert on leadership and mental health, remarks that gaining perspective often comes at a high cost. She explains that people typically acquire a new perspective after going through a challenging experience, whether personal or professional."

As my professional career began to feel like a black hole, I decided to change my perspective on my career. If I never got to write professionally again, I thought, everything I'd accomplished so far was enough to be proud of and find joy in.

I have nothing to prove

Months passed, and the application process continued to wear me down. I placed all my hopes on receiving a response from hiring managers.

My friend, who had a change of heart about work due to a neurological disorder, gave me an assignment. He asked me to imagine a world without work and write a list of human characteristics that I would bring to it. He wanted to know what I would add to the world just by being who I am.

Koretz believes that the exercise is great because it makes people realize the things they bring to the table that are not related to work. At Azimuth Psychological, they give a similar exercise where patients are presented with a scenario where there are no jobs and they have unlimited money, and they are asked what they would do.

According to Koretz, "realizing you have more than you think and you are more than you think can bring people a lot of hope and joy."

I discovered 11 distinct traits about myself while doing my friend's exercise: naturally curious, creative, seeking joy, and so on. Within a short period of time, I experienced a significant transformation in my body. I came to the realization that while I could excel at work and give it my all, it did not define me as an individual. Instead, it was simply a part of my daily routine.

Finding a job was no longer a daunting task for me. I felt more relaxed and clear-headed as I embarked on my search, knowing that my primary goal was to discover something I loved and could sustain myself on. My self-worth was not solely dependent on landing a job.

I prioritize spending time with friends and engaging in creative writing in addition to my main responsibilities. These activities serve as a reminder of what truly matters to me.

In the fall of 2018, I was thrilled to finally get hired for a new job. However, by then, I had a different perspective on work. While I could enjoy the successes it brought, ultimately, I knew that I had nothing to prove.

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