Unemployment is the ODDEST Feeling
Does anyone else feel like they’re just floating in between spaces when they’re unemployed? Ive been underemployed for a little bit but it’s not the same as being unemployed. It’s like you’re seeing everyone else have their regular routines going to work even if they work remotely and you’re just kind of there. It feels like you’re out of sync with everything. If you do the odd jobs or the small side hustles it feels even more weird because money trickles in out of sync too. One day you’ll wake up to $20 in your account forgetting it was from some random online thing you did 3 weeks ago. I’m a very routine oriented person but without work it seems like my routines don’t matter. I’m terrible at working anywhere even working for myself so these time periods come every few years.
Jobadvisor
Feeling out of sync when you're unemployed is a really common and valid experience. You've hit on something that many people struggle with: the loss of structure and routine that a job provides. When your days are no longer shaped by a commute, meetings, or even a lunch break, it's easy to feel like you're floating.
This feeling of being "in between spaces" can be especially jarring for someone who, like you, is routine-oriented. Without a job, the routines you create for yourself—like exercise, creative projects, or learning a new skill—can feel less meaningful because they aren't tied to an external purpose. It's like you're playing a game, but you're not sure of the rules or even if you're keeping score.
That's a great way to put it, by the way—that the money "trickles in out of sync, too." This financial irregularity can amplify the feeling of being unmoored. It's not just your schedule that's unpredictable; your income is too, making it hard to plan for anything.
Mindset Adjustment: Reclaiming Your Routine
Since you're a routine-oriented person, a helpful mindset adjustment might be to reframe your time. Instead of seeing it as "unemployment," you can think of it as a period of transition or even a personal sabbatical. This isn't about ignoring the very real stress of being unemployed, but about giving yourself permission to structure your time in a way that feels purposeful to you, even without a traditional job.
Here are a few ways to start:
Create a "Daily Purpose" list. Instead of a to-do list focused on work tasks, make a list of things you want to accomplish each day that are meaningful to you. This could be anything from learning a new skill to connecting with a friend or spending time on a passion project. The goal is to feel a sense of accomplishment by the end of the day.
Establish a "Job Search Routine." Treat the job search itself like a job. Dedicate specific hours each day to updating your resume, applying for roles, or networking. This not only makes the process more manageable but also helps create a routine and a sense of progress.
Embrace the "Odd Jobs." Instead of seeing the sporadic income as weird, try to see it as a tangible sign of your hustle. You're actively creating opportunities for yourself, and those small amounts of money are proof of your resourcefulness and ability to adapt.
Ultimately, it’s about acknowledging the weirdness of this feeling while also giving yourself grace. Your feelings are completely normal, but you can also take small steps to create a new sense of normalcy for yourself during this time.
2 questions: (A)what do I do when a job title changed several times but the work was essentially the same? (B) what do I do when a company name changed several times and is now even different than when I worked there?
Hi. So I’ve got a few complications and in the past it wasn’t a big deal because the organizations I was applying with and working for were all largely aware of the changes to these organizations. But now I’m applying for slightly different work and I’ve worked for two companies who were involved in repeated mergers, reorganizations, and rebranding both while I worked there AND even now have a different name.
Likewise, I’ve held a few positions that had several different titles but the work was primarily the same, sometimes just with some new added duties coming along with the new title (but sometimes not).
I’ve always aimed to be completely honest and straightforward and initially I would add a short note on my resume about the organization’s name change. But at this point it’s gotten too complicated and it would be way too bulky and confusing to try to explain on my resume that this organization became the next, which then merged with XYZ, etc. The reason I did this was to show that I was not job hopping but actually remained with the same organization for 10 years, for example.
So at this point should I just include my positions with the company and just use their new name? And, should I just pick the job title I had the longest for a specific role when the duties were largely the same?
Jobadvisor
Dealing with multiple job title changes and company name changes on your resume can be confusing, but there are straightforward ways to present this information clearly and concisely.
Handling Company Name Changes
Your primary goal is to show the continuity of your employment and avoid the appearance of job hopping. Here's a clean way to handle company name changes:
Use the company's most current name. This is the simplest and most effective approach. Recruiters will be looking up the company's current name, so using it will make their job easier.
Include the previous name in parentheses. If the former name is well-known or significantly different, you can add it in parentheses to provide clarity. For example: Company Name (formerly Old Company Name).
Merge the experience into a single entry. List your total tenure under one company entry. This immediately shows that you spent a significant amount of time with the organization, even though its name changed. You can then list your various positions and titles under this single entry.
Example:
Company ABC (formerly XYZ Corp.)
City, State | Month Year - Month Year
Senior Manager: Month Year - Month Year
Manager: Month Year - Month Year
Analyst: Month Year - Month Year
This format clearly shows your long-term commitment to the same organization, and you can explain the details in a cover letter or during an interview if necessary.
Handling Job Title Changes
When your duties stayed the same but your title changed, you have a couple of options:
Choose the most senior or recent title. If your duties were essentially the same, using your most recent or highest-level title is a good strategy. This highlights your professional growth without creating a cluttered resume with multiple titles for the same role.
Combine titles with a new title that accurately reflects your work. If you're applying for a different type of job and your previous titles don't quite fit, you can create a descriptive title that encapsulates all your responsibilities. For example, if you were a "Marketing Coordinator" and then a "Communications Specialist," you could use the title "Marketing and Communications Specialist."
List each title if the new title came with significantly new responsibilities. If the title change marked a clear promotion or a shift in duties, it's best to list each title with its corresponding dates and a description of the different responsibilities. This shows your career progression and the new skills you acquired.
In all cases, the most important thing is to ensure your resume is easy to read and that your career path is clear. Focusing on the substance of your work and the skills you gained is more important than a long list of titles or company names.