Dear Liz,

The holiday season took my mind off my job search for a while. Now that the holidays are over, I am panicked. I am running out of cash, and ready to accept any job anyone would offer me. I’ve had two job interviews since the new year, but it’s hard to sit there and smile when inside I’m panicky and feeling desperation.

What do you suggest?

Thanks,

Grace

Dear Grace,

I sympathize! We don’t make our best impression at a job interview when we’re feeling desperate; so, ironically, just when we feel that we could accept any job at all, we don’t get offers because we’re not showing up in a way that inspires confidence in a hiring manager.

We know that our panic doesn’t help us get job offers, but knowing is not enough; when we’re losing sleep over finances, it’s hard to keep the anxiety at bay as we sit in a job interview thinking, “Please let me get this job.”

If you can take steps to reduce your living expenses (getting a roommate, or moving to a smaller place) I’d consider doing that. It’s amazing how a physical change like that can help, not only by giving you financial breathing room, but also by helping you see that you can make proactive choices and stay your strong, wonderful self.

If you need to take a survival job, do it — just don’t give up your career-type job search in the process. If you’ll be working full-time, that means you’ll be job-hunting part-time. That’s OK; you’ll benefit from being around people, learning new things and getting affirmation for what you know, even if you’re seriously underemployed for a period of time.

Tons of brilliant people have worked at Nordstrom for a period of time, and all the ones I know have been positive about the experience. There are folks with advanced degrees working at non-career jobs everywhere, some by choice and some of necessity.

A survival job is a great thing, as long as you don’t lose yourself in it, and start to believe that you’ve somehow become damaged goods. You are fine. You just need your career mojo back. That will happen over time. The one thing NOT to do is take a horrible job, as your gut screams, “Don’t work with these people!”

When you’re up against the wall financially, your radar can easily falter.

One remedy is to talk through every job interview with a trusted friend. Recount the whole conversation, leaving nothing out. Your truth-telling friend will let you know whether the job sounds like a good fit or a white-collar sweatshop you should run away from.

In the meantime, don’t forget to take care of yourself — journaling, exercising and remembering what’s powerful and wonderful about you. You have a lot to offer an employer.

This is just a moment in your life, and six months from now you’ll be stronger for having surmounted the adversity you’re facing today. You’re amazing, and a terrific employer is going to see your power very soon — you just have to see it first.

Best,

Liz