Am I Even Trying???

Recently someone I know (who shall remain nameless) asked if I was "even trying to find another job?" Before I got all huffy and defensive (which is another "growing up" goal) I asked for clarification, "what do you mean?" They said they were just surprised that I didn't have another job already, because it has been like over a month now. Me: ummmm ok....

So after replying that "yes, I am trying" we had a (short) discussion as to the reasons I do not YET have another job: 

1) the job market is competitive, it is definitely an employer's market and they have their pick of applicants. I recently saw an interview with Suze Orman ("the internationally acclaimed personal finance expert") where she was discussing the average length someone spends finding another job. The stats have moved from about 6 months to 10-12 months...ON AVERAGE. That means that for some people it is taking even longer than a YEAR to find another job!

2) I have been applying for positions within higher education as that is the field that I have come to love and feel is the most rewarding for me (btw to date I have applied for 14 positions at area colleges/universities, had 1 interview, 3 flat out rejections, and 11 complete ignores), but there are only a finite number of colleges and they only have a finite number of openings that I qualify for...I mean I am pretty awesome but I don't think I qualify, just yet, to be the President of a University.

3) I refuse to settle for something that is not worth my time, money, or energy...just yet. I know I don't have "forever" to look for that perfect job but for now we are fortunate in that I have unemployment money coming in and can afford (no pun intended) to look for a job that I WANT rather than settling on a job that I can't stand and feel lousy going to. But yes, when push comes to shove, I will take "a job"...wherever that may be.

So could I go out and get any old job right now??? Probably. But do I want to just work just anywhere (that frankly will have restrictions on the times that I can schedule an interview elsewhere)??? No, I do not. I would rather be a full-time, stay-at-home wife, puppy mom, house cleaner, laundry folder, errand runner, dinner maker earning waaay less than half of what I was previously earning than getting paid minimum wage at a job that makes me want to "off myself". 

(And yes, that is a pretty good description of how the brief conversation went).