6 Ways To Deal With Family Asking About Your Job Search

If you’re in the middle of a frustrating job search, the holidays can be the worst time of year for you. It may not exactly bring out the best in you when old Auntie June keeps asking why you haven’t found a job yet. Before you pull out your hair, check out these tips from our experts:

Move Away From the Subject

Since it’s the holiday season, tell them you would prefer for the time to enjoy their company rather than focusing on job search activities.

• You can move away from the topic by shifting to something related to how they are doing and what is going on in their lives.

Keep Your Answers Short, But Positive

Craft a short, to-the-point response that will satisfy most family members.

• Don’t let them continue to probe after your short answer. Focus on being able to respond in a manner that evokes positive thoughts and feelings.

Set Boundaries

You do not owe an explanation to anyone but your spouse about how your job search is going.

• Clarify boundaries with extended family and friends by making clear what you will and will not talk about in the hopes of not burdening them with details.

Realize They Do It Because They Care

Remember, your family is just trying to help

• Be patient, treat them with respect, and enjoy the time with family and friends.
• See the question for what it truly is: care and concern for your well-being

Think About It From Their Perspective

Eliciting specific information from your family will give you something to talk about and help them help you.

• Looking for a job can be an incredibly frustrating and stressful experience, and feeling like you have to explain yourself to others only adds to it. Remember these six tips to avoid unpleasant conversations.

Make Them Feel Helpful

Thank them for checking in, but let them know that your job search is proving to be more challenging than you had hoped.

• Amanda Haddaway, author of Destination Real World: Success After Graduation for New and Soon-to-Be College Graduates, suggests using their concern as a positive and asking them if they have any contacts in your field.

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