The loneliness of the long distance [job] runner

One of the most frustrating things about being out of work and hunting for a job is the feeling that you are all alone. Every day one gets up and searches for new jobs for which to apply; every day one sends off applications and waits, and waits… It can be thoroughly dispiriting (a) not to find suitable job openings; and (b) not to hear any response from those for which one applies. 

However, it is important not to send off applications and then to forget all about them (i.e. to succumb to pessimism). While I do not advocate making an application and then forgetting all about it, equally it is important not to dwell too much on what the postman might bring. A balance has to be struck, and above all it is important to keep a record of everything in play: there is nothing more annoying than when the phone goes, one answers, and some unknown person starts asking all about a long forgotten job application. If at all possible, it is hugely beneficial to have knowledge about the application to hand so that one can jump straight in to what is (in effect) a pre-interview. Bluffers will out, so best not to have to bluff. Be organized: if you don’t want to commit every application to memory, keep a running record of live applications to hand because you never know when the phone will ring.