With my applications starting to receive responses, and the interviews going well, I've encountered a new problem: how do I deal with prosperity?

I've got three interviews next week, and one I'm traveling for the following week. I'm fairly confident (and yes, I know I'm jinxing myself) that at least one of these interviews will result in an offer. So what do I do now?

The Editor says I should continue on as though there aren't any prospects — scour the job boards every day and continue applying. I understand the logic, because there aren't any guarantees with these interviews, but I know what I'd like to do. I'd like to get the two month contract I'm interviewing for on Monday, and then get the job I'd have to move for the following week (giving me some income while we find a place to live and get ready to move).

With that in mind, how do I deal with my other interviews, and how do I proceed with my job search outside of these interviews? Obviously I go to the interviews, but if I get an offer (a big assumption) how do I put them off until I've had my other interviews? For some reason I don't think they'd appreciate me saying "I need to wait until I've interviewed for a job I want more than this one," so how would I deal with this (admittedly unlikely) scenario?

Regarding the search outside of the interviews I already have scheduled, should I continue on as though nothing is different or put all of my energy into preparing for these interviews and then resume the search after?

I realize I'm getting a bit ahead of myself with these interviews, but the Editor is currently finding places for us to live if I get the job that would require a move, so can you really blame me?

I got a call from my mom.

We started off talking about the rest of the family; my sisters and dad are doing well, and everybody's certain that David Archuleta will be winning American Idol. Then we moved to the job search. I told her that I hadn't gotten any solid leads, just a couple interviews but beyond that nothing.

She said, "Well, I'm sure you'll do fine. You always come out of bad situations better off than you went in to them."

I agreed with her and, with a laugh, tried to sound unconcerned until we said goodbye…

In the past, I have always come out ahead when things have gone wrong. When I lost my job I was certain I'd do it again. But when I had my interview yesterday it didn't go well. I was overconfident, and as a result I seemed completely unqualified for the job.

I have been overconfident. Until now I'd relied on my abilities as a quick study, gotten myself in the front door, and excelled.

Now, I can't get in the front door. I can't even get anyone to answer the door.

It was pointed out to me today (thanks, Editor) that I haven't posted in a while.

I've tried a couple times this week, but each time have been unable to get started. The purpose of this blog was to chronicle my job search with an eye towards the humor of each day or event I described. I'm no longer finding my situation to be very funny.

I'm tired of looking at jobs, tired of submitting resumes, and tired of being ignored. More than that, I'm tired of keeping score in a game that I feel I'm losing. Where's the fun (or funny) in that?

The one face-to-face interview I've had (on Monday) went ok. I felt like I acquitted myself well, but while I was there interviewing for a part-time job they were, in fact, looking for a full-time employee (error in their post on craigslist). I told them that I couldn't afford to take the job at the per-hour rate they were offering, and that if they decided they wanted part-time, off-site support in addition to the full-time position they were seeking I'd be interested. They said they'd think it over and let me know. I haven't heard back.

I've been going back and for with a woman at a consulting firm, but every time we've had a phone interview scheduled she's canceled. That doesn't exactly make me feel as though they're interested. Other than that I have a phone interview scheduled for next week. If I end up getting that job it would be necessary for me to relocate — something I'm not keen on doing.

So, all in all, I can't say this is going well.

On the positive side I still have three-quarters of my severance package coming to me and, after that, unemployment. I'm using my free time to educate myself, learning some skills that should make me more attractive to prospective employers. Whether or not that will actually help me find a job, I can't say.

The long and short of it is this: I'm bored. As much as I try to stay active there is no sense of achievement in my day-to-day. I never realized how much having a job kept me sane.

Today, I got up at 10AM.

Recession: 103, CotR: 3

I started the day thinking about my future.

The greatest challenge I face in getting a new job isn't in getting the job (well, it might be—we'll see what happens when I start applying), it's in deciding what job I want.

When I finished college I needed to get a job. I wasn't looking for a career—just a way to pay for rent and beer. So I got a job taking personal ads and, at times, responding to customer emails related to problems with the company website. I managed to parlay that (don't ask how—I got the job even though I was wearing my sweater inside out and didn't know what a URL was) into a job setting up small business websites. From there I moved to positions in quality assurance and modifications (working on our more complicated sites). I worked at that company for over a year. Once I'd had enough of them (it was basically a telemarketing scheme) I started looking through the local classifieds, where I found my current—nay, former—position.

All of that is a long-winded way of saying that I didn't get my former job because I love the work. I got it because I needed a job, then needed a job, then needed a job.

So, what now?

Thanks to my severance package I have time to look, time to think. Do I want to continue on as a web developer? Do I want to do something else in the industry? Or do I want to do something else altogether?

At this point, I can't say I know.

Recession: 104, CotR: 3

After I'd wasted a couple hours thinking about my future I moved on to something a little more tangible: my resume.

Not much to say there—worked from a couple examples, attempted to cobble together something that might get me hired. Another piece of advice: even if you have a job, make sure to update your resume every couple months. Remembering the exact names of companies I worked for eight years ago, and the approximate dates I worked for them, turned out to be harder than expected.

Recession: 104, CotR: 4