My dad gave me some pretty good advice a few years ago as I was in the woes of not being gainfully employed.
In 2009, I resigned from my first job out of college. This was a great job, with great people, with friendships that I maintain to this very day. My reasons for leaving are varied, but to summarize, the personal and spiritual requirements became a bit much. The other problem with 2009 was that whole economic downturn thing we went through. I experienced what has been meme'd about how jobs want experience for entry-level positions.
After some time off, I had to re-enter the workforce and the aforementioned 2009 was frustrating as many would remember. Applications, zero interviews, going back to college to retake courses, and a dwindling bank account.
“There’s nothing wrong with a lateral.”
My Dad around this time was also feeling the pangs of 2009. He took some promising risks that did not pan out, and then accepted a lucrative career in the healthcare industry. He ended that in order to come back home to Texas, and takes a job with Costco.
This is what you call a 'lateral'. Call it a move, you could even call it a pass. I drew inspiration from this, because my Dad was committed to working. Costco is a great company to work for apparently. Anyways, my Dad eventually got enough classes to teach as an adjunct professor and that's his bread and butter.
I learned that laterals are okay. Laterals, while they do not necessarily advance the ball, they create opportunity to move forward. They keep the play going.
So, keep the play going. Throw the lateral, and keep at it.
