Everyone lent a sympathetic ear right after you lost your job. And many people probably called you once or twice after that to see how you were coping. But now that your job search is a few months along, the flow of support has probably dried to a trickle, and you're feeling alone and cut off from the "real" world.
It's not that your friends don't care anymore, but they might not know what else they can say or do to help you. So... true to human nature, they do and say the worst possible thing: nothing.
It's up to you to give them some suggestions! Do you wish your brother-in-law the recruiter would critique your resume for you? Do you wish your former supervisor would give you a LinkedIn recommendation? They'll probably be glad to do it, but you have to ask.
For example, here's a request I wish I'd shared with more of my friends when I was looking for a job:
Please force me to go out and do things with you!
I tended to withdraw from social activities while I was out of work, so I always appreciated the friends who wouldn't take no for an answer. Just going out for lunch, a movie, or a scenic car ride could shake off that crushing sense of isolation. You can pay them back (or pay it forward) once you land a job.
It's not always easy to ask for what we need, but you can start here by answering this question:
What do you wish people would do more (or less) of
to support you during your job search?
Whether you're currently out of work or recalling a past job search, post your answer in the comment space below!
RELATED LINKS
The Pain, Grief, and Shock of Being Laid Off
How to Get Hired after You've Been Fired (or Worse)
Two Harsh Truths about Your Job Search
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