At the start of April, I resigned from a permanent CMO role after just 4 weeks and very mindfully entered into a job market which was uncertain, to say the least, in search of a CMO or Marketing Director role.

I’ve been extremely fortunate so far in my career, in that I’ve never had a period of not working, and I’ve moved from role to role seamlessly, so the experience of not working and at the same time looking for work is a brand new one to me.

People often ask me how I’ve found the market so far. It’s been a mixed bag in my industry and at my level. Waves of optimism combine with bouts of pragmatism and so it can feel like there is sometimes more certainty and opportunity than there actually is. I have found that there is a lot of caution being (understandably) exercised by companies, so even when they are hiring, there is some uncertainty in exactly what they want and therefore it is unclear if they are ready to ‘invest’.

Don’t get me wrong, it has been lovely at times to spend long Summer days enjoying walks and bike rides, but it’s also been incredibly challenging to face what seems like a bleak outlook combined with a few false starts.

Here’s how I’m managing to (sometimes but not always) stay sane during this time:

  • Remember your purpose – for me this is making a difference to people. In the four months that I have not been working, I have given some of my time to others in order to help them. For me, this has been pro-bono advice, coaching and support. Being ‘on purpose’ motivates me and reminds me of my ongoing value to others.
  • BUT protect your boundaries and notice your own energy. The temptation of having few commitments can mean overextension of yourself to others, be that frenetic networking or 24/7 job-hunting. Protect some time (if you need it) for you, whether that be for family, alone-time, relaxation or exercise. Saying no does not always need an explanation.
  • Ask for help and express gratitude to those who are able to help. There are those in my network who have really come through for me, who have gone out of their way to make introductions or support me with help and advice. I will be forever grateful to them.
  • BUT when that help doesn’t transpire, don’t take things personally. It’s easy for me to say ‘use your network’ at this time, but realistically not everyone I have reached out to ask for help has responded. That feels disappointing, but I’ve learned not to take this personally and to understand the wider context at play in order to protect my confidence.
  • Set micro-goals. These might not be written down, but I’ve found it helpful to look ahead to the following week and month and think about what I would like to have achieved. This might be networking conversations I would like to have, things I’d like to learn, fitness goals to reach or simply fun things to do or places to visit (ideally a mixture). Being an action-orientated person, this helps me have a sense of achievement when I mark my progress.
  • BUT be flexible. With the uncertainty that we face, it’s really important to be flexible and patient. Everything as we know it is uncertain, so imposing some flexibility around goals, milestones and achievements and understanding that sometimes an achievement is getting through a week is in itself OK.
  • Finally… take time to write down what you want from a role (think working environment, people, culture, development) so that you can remain objective when a role is offered. It’s easy to get excited quickly about any role which is offered in times like this. I’ve spent a lot of time writing down what I want and what I don’t want from a role so that I can be clear with myself and others on what will work for me, and make the right decision when the time is right.

In closing, I want to mention that everyone’s experience of this is different. A friend of mine said wise words to the effect of ‘we’re all struggling at the moment for some reason, but it’s important to remember that our reasons are different’.

I recognise that I have not been made redundant, or been furloughed. I have chosen this situation. I also recognise that those who are in a role have also found this period incredibly uncertain and unfamiliar, perhaps because they have to work from home constantly while home-schooling their children, their remit has changed, their pay has been cut, they are on maternity leave or maybe because their partner is furloughed or made redundant. I have found that looking outwards to understand other’s situations and developing empathy for them is a great way of maintaining perspective on what can at times seem to be a lonely and bleak situation.