Five years ago, I was jet-setting across the country for work, making good money – no, make that great money. The creative, free spirit that I am was trapped in a hectic world of IT infrastructure, diagrams, wires and data. Work definitely paid the bills, but it didn’t allow me to tap into the well of creativity that existed within me. I was miserable.

The lure of a steady paycheck kept me away from what I really wanted to do. I had toyed with the idea of going back to school to earn a writing degree, but I lacked the courage to make the leap. Every time I thought about applying to a program or attending an open house for grad school, work crept up and grabbed my attention. I was consumed by the trappings of a busy corporate life. I lost myself to a corporate brand, an identity I didn’t believe in.

Then one day, opportunity knocked in the form of a layoff. It didn’t come as a total surprise. I never felt comfortable in the job. I just couldn’t get with the culture of nepotism and sleeping your way to the top. When my boss called me into the conference room to tell me I was being laid off, I wasn’t shocked or upset. I saved my tears for the trip to the parking lot, but then that didn’t last long. Panic set instead.

It took a few days for me to realize that I could use the time I now had to go back to school and pursue my dream. Sure, I was unemployed and facing the possibility of racking up student loan debt, but I looked beyond that. Losing my job afforded me something that I did not have before: time.

Fast-forward three years. I had survived a second layoff, this time at a struggling media production company. I tried my hand at temp work and later, contracting. I had a horrible two-hour commute each way between Baltimore and Virginia. Then a job opportunity opened up down the street from my home. The pay was about a third less than what I was used to making, but it was better than the paltry unemployment check I was getting.

Soon, I found myself in a place where the work was unfulfilling. Some days I had to work on inane tasks doled out by tyrannical bosses. (“Go count the boxes of light bulbs in the supply closet.”) Other days, I’d wander through the office trying to find work.

I had to evaluate the types of jobs I was drawn to. They barely lined up with my skill set, and in no way stirred up any passion. I was drowning in a world of data, rote processes, technical details and useless reports. There was no room for me to design, to create or write. I dreaded getting up and going to work in the morning. I made a decision that the madness had to stop.

When I decided to look for another job this time, instead of applying for everything, I looked for jobs that matched my skills, experience and interests. It had to be fulfilling and it had to have room for growth.

I recently left my job and started a new position with a new organization that has potential. I now have a chance to put my skills, experience, education and interests to use in a challenging position that I actually enjoy. While a job might fill your bank account up and pay your bills, you have to do what you need to to ensure that you’re actually happy. Whether that means going back to school or hustling for something else, something better, it’s essential. While the layoffs I experienced could have been some of the most devastating of experiences, they wound up being blessings through the lessons I’ve learned and the opportunities I’ve been given to actually figure out what it is I want to do. Because even though this new job is not my dream job just yet, it certainly is closer to where I want to be.

(Black Enterprise) — Like most industries, trends and standards in resume writing have changed over time. What worked for a resume in the ’90s certainly doesn’t apply in 2011. Unfortunately, many professionals still use the same format and style that they did many years ago. In order to remain relevant in today’s tough job market, it’s important that your resume isn’t filled with industry-old traditions. Use this checklist to ensure that both you and your resume appear current and competitive to your next potential employer.

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Job interviews are huge. Seeing as how it’s becoming more and more difficult to get people to even look at your resume these days, having the opportunity to get your foot in the door and get to plead your case and qualifications in person is major. Once it’s over, a huge weight is lifted off your back, even if you did poorly. Now it’s time to wait. How agonizing is that? Spending too much time mourning a bad interview with your shoulda, couldas and wouldas or being too cocky about a good one is a waste of time that will leave you crazy if things don’t go your way quickly. So here are a few things you need to do to fill in that time, and to help you keep your dignity intact and your options open.

With unemployment rates for African Americans coming in at a whopping 15.9 percent as recently reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it’s clear that folks need jobs. So why are the good mid-level jobs, and even some gigs deemed entry-level out there that the unemployed are applying for, being given to people who already have jobs?

According to our friends over at theGrio, more and more employers are becoming hesitant to offer jobs to the unemployed. Why? According to writer David A. Love, because they’re assuming the worst of those candidates. There’s a perception floating around that if you were laid off, chances are you were given the boot because of your inadequacies and laziness, since of course, employers always keep their “top tier” workers. On top of that, others making the hiring decisions don’t want to pay for extra training for those who have been out work for an extended period of time. But most of all, cutting out unemployed individuals who haven’t gained experience for a while helps make the hiring process go a faster. Less candidates, less time spent reading over resumes. Crazy, right?

Can’t tell you how jacked up this is on so many levels. You’re either too qualified for some jobs on one end, or you’ve been unemployed so long you’re all of a sudden not fit to work on the other. You can’t win for trying these days! But what are your thoughts?

To read the entire thought-provoking article and hear from the head of the National Employment Law Project, click over to theGrio.