It’s been about ten months since I started working for my current employer after being laid off from my previous job. In The Birth of the Job Nomad, I introduced the chapter that brought me here. And if you’ve been following along, you know the promise I made to myself: I’m working to live. I am no longer living to work.
Well, babe, the Job Nomad is browsing again.
At first, having a job felt great. Bills paid? Check. Lifestyle funded? Check. Finally being able to exhale after a layoff? Absolutely.
But once that relief settled, I started noticing the things I could no longer tolerate: the long commute, no separate sick time, constant customer interactions, and workplace inefficiency that turns simple tasks into unnecessary productions.
So, you know what time it is, folks? This month, I officially started job shopping.
Job shopping is the more relaxed cousin of job hunting. I’m still employed, which gives me room to be selective. I can explore better opportunities without treating every job listing like a life raft.
Instead of sending out hundreds of applications a week, I’m aiming for eight to ten. Instead of applying everywhere and anywhere, I’m choosing positions that match my skills and offer work I can realistically see myself doing every day.
I’m open to different industries, too. Except food service and retail. Fuck that. I know my limits.
And I hope recruiters look beyond my previous job titles long enough to recognize my transferable skills. My résumé has range, babe. Read it.
As for what I want next? Here’s my shopping list.
Work from home.
Atlanta traffic has taken enough of my time and patience. You can wake up ridiculously early, leave with plenty of time, and still end up staring at brake lights while your arrival time creeps further into the future.
My workplace uses a no fault attendance policy, so a valid reason for being late doesn’t necessarily spare me an attendance point. Now I’m sitting in traffic, watching the clock, and doing attendance math. Lovely way to start the morning.
I also miss having my fur baby beside me while I work. With another puppy hopefully joining the family soon, working from home sounds even sweeter.
PTO available from day one.
I want usable PTO when I start, instead of waiting months to build enough hours to take a breath. Ideally, I’d like to take a day for myself at least once a month.
A random Tuesday to rest, handle my business, or simply enjoy being alive? Yes, please. I want time off before my body starts drafting its own resignation letter.
No working holidays.
Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Easter. I want to enjoy my holidays.
I understand some jobs require holiday coverage. That’s something I’ll be checking before I apply. My next role needs to leave room for celebrating, resting, and spending time with my people.
Little to no customer interaction.
My call center era needs a finale. I hate phone calls, and I’m tired of spending my entire workday on them.
Email? Fine. Chat? Manageable. Social media? I have experience. A role where I can focus on my work without constant customer conversations? Beautiful. Put it in the cart.
I’m grateful this job helped me get back on my feet. I can appreciate that and still want something different. Gratitude doesn’t come with a lifetime employment contract.
For this chapter of The Job Nomad, I have the breathing room to think about what I want next: work that uses my skills, pays my bills, and leaves me enough energy to enjoy the life I’m paying for.
So, let’s see where this job shopping takes me. I’ll update you in a few weeks, hopefully with some promising finds.
Until then, I’m keeping my paycheck and browsing my options.