Nirali Bhate, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer
Let me start with this: being unemployed is weird.
One day you’re complaining about how many emails you got before 9 a.m., and the next day your inbox is silent, your calendar is empty and, suddenly, cleaning the fridge feels like a productive use of time.
At first, I felt like I’d fallen into a black hole. Then I realized maybe this wasn’t the end. Maybe it was a pit stop. Or better yet, a scenic detour.
Here’s what I learned on the wild rollercoaster that was funemployment: the healing, the ugly cries, the breakthroughs and everything in between.
“Funemployment” Is Real (and Sometimes Boring)
Call it funemployment, a cute word that suggests you’re sipping smoothies on a beach while figuring out your next big career move. Reality check?
I was sipping chai in my pajamas at 2 p.m., Googling “How to answer ‘Tell me about yourself’ without crying.”
But once I stopped treating unemployment as a punishment, I started treating it as a project. I took walks without purpose. I watched documentaries I would have never clicked on before. I even attempted yoga . . . once (we don’t talk about how that went).
It became a time to reconnect with myself. To ask, “Who am I when I’m not producing, achieving, hustling?”
Answer: A human being. Not just a human doing.
Everyone Is Employable: But First, You Have to Believe It
There’s this moment when you start doubting if you’ll ever get hired again. Like maybe your LinkedIn is cursed. Or your resume is getting lost in a black hole.
I’ve been there.
Then I realized every person is employable. Yes, including me. Including you. It’s not about being perfect on paper. It’s about knowing what you bring to the table and refusing to shrink yourself to fit a job description.
So I started rewriting my story: not with fancy jargon, but with real value. “Yes, I took a break. Yes, I grew in the process. And here’s why I’m better for it.”
Confidence is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets.
Feed Your Brain—It’s Starving Without You
When I stopped working, my brain went from 100 tabs open to . . . Netflix autoplay.
But then I discovered something beautiful: learning for the joy of it.
I signed up for a free online course (okay, five). I watched TED Talks about things I never cared about before. I even listened to podcasts while folding laundry. It made both tasks weirdly satisfying.
When you learn something new, no matter how small, your world expands. And it reminds you that you’re growing, even in stillness.
Lean Into Your People—They’re Your Safety Net
I’ll be honest, unemployment can be lonely. Especially when your friends are busy climbing their career ladders and you’re still figuring out which ladder to climb.
But here’s the thing: connection keeps you grounded.
Talk to people. Even when you don’t feel like it. Share your struggle. Ask for advice. Laugh about the awkward interviews or ghosted emails. You’ll be surprised how many people have been where you are and how willing they are to help.
I even joined a few communities online (some serious, some just full of hilarious job search memes). It helped.
Sell Yourself (with Kindness and Sparkle)
I used to hate talking about myself. Now? I still kind of do. But I’ve learned how to own my story without apologizing for it.
Imagine you’re your own product. Would you sell yourself by saying, “I’m okay I guess, if nobody better applies”?
No!
You’d say: “Here’s what I bring to the table, and here’s why I’m excited to work with YOU.”
That’s not arrogance, that’s truth.
Your Dream Job Might Be Outside Your Comfort Zone
During my job hunt, I stumbled on roles I never would have considered before. One day I was looking at banking jobs, the next, I was reading about customer success roles at startups. I even considered writing (and look—now I’m here!).
Sometimes life redirects us, not because we’re lost, but because we’re ready for something we never saw coming.
Never Give Up (Even If You Cry Into Your Coffee First)
Look. Some days will suck. You’ll feel behind. You’ll doubt yourself. You’ll wonder if your future employer is hiding from you like a plot twist in a thriller movie.
But don’t give up.
Take breaks. Cry if you must. Then get back up.
You’re not starting from scratch—you’re starting from experience.
In the End . . .
Being unemployed didn’t break me, it rebuilt me. It made me softer, stronger, more self-aware. It reminded me of what truly matters: health, growth, connection and purpose.
If you’re reading this in your own in-between space, I want you to know you’re not alone. And you’re not failing. You’re becoming.
Take this time as a gift. You don’t have to have it all figured out today.
Just promise yourself you won’t give up.
And maybe, just maybe, you’ll look back one day and say, “That was the beginning of something beautiful.”
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