Pix, that was lovely to read. Yay for being in a good place!

smonster, I know that weird, sad, unsettled feeling too. Sending you a hug, just because.

Suzi, I hope your podiatrist can tell you what's going on.

From the personal notebooks of T.S. Eliot

Ha!

We're having tornado warnings right now. Do not want.

You guys, I am not doing well with this job thing. We should know this week what kind of time frame we're looking at (IIRC, the contracts should be signed today, and Big!Boss doesn't want to talk about a time frame for transitioning things over, etc., until the money is in the bank), but my best guess is 2-4 weeks, and probably closer to 2.

Anyway, what I'm not doing well with (and that is the understatement of the year) is what to do next. I am paralyzed with fear and indecision and WAY more fear. It's been 18 years since I've had to look for a job (and I'm also freaked out at the idea that by staying with one company for so long, it's going to look horrible on my resume, like I haven't grown or achieved or produced deliverables [whatever the FUCK those even are] or learned things), and I feel completely unprepared to do it.

(And, I should note, I am filled with not only pants-shitting* fear, but also a huge amount of shame at being a grown-ass adult who doesn't know how to do this job-search thing. HUGE.)

I am an editor at a business-casual company. I don't have any business suits or other interview-appropriate clothing. I don't even know if people in my field WEAR business suits when they interview.

I don't even know where to start LOOKING for a job, and I'm certain that I'm not qualified to do anything except Olympic-level freaking out right now. (Which doesn't pay well.)

I don't know what to do or where to start. And I'm embarrassed that I'm a grown-ass adult who has to say that. But I could really, really, really use some advice.

I wasn't really going to post this until Big!Boss gave us a timeline, but I'm so unbelievably stressed out (see below) that I can't keep it inside anymore. It's killing me.

*(Not quite pants-shitting fear, but truly, I am SO stressed that my IBS, which had already flared back up because of wedding planning, before the sale was even announced, is HORRIFIC. My entire GI tract, top to bottom, hurts like knives. I am so bloated that it's comical-looking, but extremely uncomfortable. But mostly pain. And horrific trips to the bathroom. Enough said about that. I know the answer is "Don't be so stressed" -- my lovely mother actually told me the other day to "get over it" -- but if I knew how to do that, then I'd have my next career, selling the secret to getting over massive stress.)

I think you should take several deep breaths. And then several more.

Try to clear your mind and start making a list of what you think you need to do next.

Post it here and we can help.

For example: among the things on a hypothetical list may be, list your current job responsibilities and what kinds of things you are good at

then: list things you might be able to do in the near future with some training and/or time

then: list things you might want to do if you had your druthers

4. update resumé

5. try to look broadly for the kinds of jobs that might interest you

then you can tackle the list in whichever order makes sense or that you have energy for.

Teppy, I will leave the job searching advice to people with actual jobs, but so much calm~ma to you. And if you do find the secret to getting over stress, you'll let me know, right?

Tornado warning has moved on from my area.

Tea: Teppy, also try to remember you're awesome.

You're in a upsetting and tenuous situation, Teppy. It would be highly disconcerting to just about anybody.

Your first step: stop beating yourself up for being upset by this

Seriously, stop picking on my friend Steph. She's got enough goin' on without you gettin' all up in her grill.

The bad news is, job hunting kind of sucks. The good news is, it sucks for everyone. You will do fine.

I am an editor at a business-casual company. I don't have any business suits or other interview-appropriate clothing. I don't even know if people in my field WEAR business suits when they interview.

Even if the company environment is business casual (or even more casual), I think you'll want a good suit for interviewing purposes.

There are plenty of people here who can help you with your resume.

I agree with LeN: before you stress about where to look for a job, take some time to think about if you want to keep doing what you're doing or try to move to something else. I work in communications too, and trust me, our skills are transferrable.

Teppy, having one job for along time actually looks GOOD to HR, because it means you're a stable employee. So that's one thing to strike off your worry list. Once you start looking for work, you can find out what kind of clothes you need and buy one interview outfit if needed. I just did that a couple of months ago and it was relatively painless and now I own a black suit. SO that's two things to strike off.

Job-hunting is not fun, but you have marketable skills and you WILL get a good job.