Well, I got turned down for another job today, one of the jobs for which I had a second, face-to-face interview. I'm pretty bummed about it. I've spent 21 years developing what I thought was a pretty terrific skill set, I've been told that I interview well, and I have a great resume. I'm open to moving to positions in pretty much half of the country. But no one wants me. Apparently I've spent two decades making myself utterly worthless.

Ugh Calli, how demoralizing. And it's not true, but I get why it feels that way.

Hil, I know the not-Jewish thing can feel daunting, but a good connection is definitely worth exploring.

Thanks, Burrell.

In less whiny news, isn't it Jilli's birthday? Happy birthday, Jilli!

Calli, I'm not sure if you're just willing or really wanting to move but, if it is the latter, you may want to think about deciding where you want to live and just moving there. When I was in your situation and was being turned down for job after job, I finally had a HR person tell me that companies didn't want to hire an external candidate who had to move unless it was for a senior executive position. I took the leap and moved, worked a retail job for a while and then found my current position which I wouldn't have even known about if I didn't live here. I know that I was lucky to have some savings (and my 401k as a last resort) but I ultimately decided I'd rather go through my savings in the place I wanted to live instead of in the place I wanted to leave.

Thats so hard, Calli. Hugs.

Smonster, I get in sunday around 530pm and leave the Saturday at 630.

It's more a willingness to move than a burning desire. The area to which I'd most like to move has fairly high unemployment, so moving there without a remote position wouldn't make sense, alas. I have been applying to as many local positions as I can find. But five out of the six positions where I've had second interviews have been out of state, so I don't even know what is going on. Except job offers. I'm pretty sure those aren't happening.

Ugh, you guys, I feel like a huge jerk. My brother told me that his wife has an amazing work opportunity that would take them to Switzerland for 1-3 years. And that DOES sound amazing, and it's exciting...and I don't want them to move further away than they already are. Vermont is far enough. They manage to come back to Cincy once or twice a year, but the likelihood of that happening if they live in Switzerland is nil.

I know my reaction is really selfish, which is why (since I'm not actually a total jerk) I didn't say any of that to my brother. Because it IS an amazing opportunity. I get that. I just don't want them to move further away.

(I 100% don't need anyone to chime in with "But that means you can visit Switzerland now!" Because (1) I know how travel works, and (2) not really the point.)

I just needed to get that out there. I feel like a huge jerk for not being able to be 100% excited and supportive of them (although I think I was successfully excited and supportive on the phone with my brother; it's just in my brain that I'm full of selfishness that wants them to not move further away).

I know lots of people don't live near their siblings. I know people have siblings in other countries. I know of the existence of Skype. None of that is the point. I'm just feeling sad and selfish and like a jerk for being sad and selfish.

Not my best day ever at altruism.

You want him where you can reach him relatively easily. Distance is distance, no matter how "easy" it is to reach out to people far away.

I think it's important to be able to say it out loud, at least once, where it won't hurt anybody or blow back.

It IS an amazing opportunity for them. I'm not *just* selfish; I think it's a great thing for them. But I'm also selfish. It's just hard.