Expert: Roxanne Ravenel - 5/4/2009

Question
I have been unemployed for nearly 3 years now.  I have tried very hard to find a job in my field that will not make my family have to move.  But now savings is gone and I have to pay the bills.  Is it better to take ANY job (pizza delivery, Wal-mart greeter, etc.) to pay the bills or to wait for a job in my field?  How do potential employers look at these gaps.  Filled to pay the bills = responsible or not dedicated to the profession?  Why would a professional engineer be delivering pizzas?  I'm not sure what to do.

Answer
Hi Ianette,

I can certainly appreciate your current dilemma. It is one that is familiar to many job hunters in the current job market. It may be necessary to take a survival job - like delivering pizza or a Wal-mart greeter - in order to pay the bills while you continue your job search. In this new economy, employers are coming to terms with this reality.

Whether you take a full-time or part-time survival position, you will need to continue moving forward in your job search. If you've been in your job search for three years I'd definitely advise taking the time to re-examine your job search - from your self-marketing plan to your career documents (resume, networking letters), etc. Even small adjustments can make a large impact.

Best wishes for your job search success,