What should be a normal summer, it’s not. You’ve been given an unpaid vacation; one that you weren’t prepared for, one that you were thrown into. But how to keep things normal? There is nothing normal about this. Seriously, who yanks the carpet out from under another person without knowing a family is now in peril, that children’s lives have been turned upside down?

It’s difficult to not dwell on the actions of others that have sent your world spinning out of control; to focus on the task ahead is difficult, almost daunting. Now what? Where to start? Sure there are lots and lots of online postings from employers hiring. You’re diverse, quite the background, achievements and work experience; however, you know this will be a strike against you as someone with your skill level doesn’t find a job by accident, you have to know someone.

You put out feelers, make contact after contact with colleagues. You’re not used to asking for help and are worried at how this will be received. A few respond with keeping their ears open, how they’ll let you know if something crosses their desk, while others actively send you job postings they’ve learned of. It’s overwhelming, almost scary to think that you’ve shared with others what you’re going through.