Hi bblove,

As Alex writes so beautifully, I think there is a lot of pressure to land a great job in our fields right away, not the least for economic reasons. However, as you note, it’s a competitive field and even past that, a tough job market.

Is there a way to be persistent enough to get yourself into the field? Check the job listings for broadcast companies, independent filmmakers, anyone with whom you might like to work. If they post a position at the front desk answering the phone, apply for it. Apply for everything and if you’re willing to take what might seem a menial job, it will at least get you in the door. After that, you will have the chance to show people your intelligence, generosity of spirit, and genuine interest in the business and what they do. A consistently kind presence at work cannot be overstated. If you are consistently kind, calm tempered, and interested in what coworkers do (and perhaps offer to help them out as it seems appropriate), it will be noticed. At least, this has worked for me. Cheerfully taking on a project that is making others groan has earned me lots of goodwill, an expansive network in my place of employment, and often has caught the attention of supervisors a few levels up.

You could try this locally or you could try being very bold and apply to a network / media company away from where you live, including internationally. (Bigger companies should have more job openings.)

In the meantime, try to notice all the things for which you’re grateful in the current situation. I was actually just having this conversation with a coworker about two hours ago, during lunch. We were talking about the unknowns / unresolved situations going into 2015 and how we were dealing with the anxiety that came along with them. She mentioned that she was trying to at least enumerate the parts of her situation that were not bad or were even good. It becomes easy to look ahead to the horizon and fret about what we do or don’t see there, but in most cases, we have not much control over those things. For your situation, maybe appreciate getting to know your parents as adults and enjoying the small details of being back home. This will make me seem ancient, but at some point your parents will no longer there and your family home may be sold and you’ll think back to this time and your parents’ quirky habits and the familiar (and presumably comforting) details of your home. Enjoy and appreciate them now, as much as you can.

Finally, is there some way to practice your craft now? Whatever way you can keep doing what you love, do it. Offer your services for free, as you hone your skills and explore new artistic concepts. Post the results! Get yourself out there! Let your love for what you do and your curiosity about the world pull you forward into the future. Every moment spent on this is an investment in your future.

The best of luck to you, I am confident you will land on your feet.