BBC The Office with Ricky Gervais — The show tells the story of a branch of a firm- this is the least successful one. The employees mostly ignore or despise each other. The number of normal (sane) people? Not many...

The economy is bringing you down. The level of competition is depressing and you are starting to lose confidence. You are starting to feel like you are not good enough or you will never find a job that is good enough for you. Stop right there. Yes, stop brooding and just read what I have to say. There is a chance it will give you the boot of confidence and positive energy you need.

I have been you. My friends are you. You graduated, maybe not with the perfect GPA but you have done OK. You have some work experience but you are failing to get the jobs you are applying to.

No, I am not claiming to be a guru here. I am just experienced, rebellious and challenged enough to defy the status quo. I am also a good observer. I have worked office-jobs took part-time gigs and suffered through internships. I am working as a freelance writer now. But I am getting calls from my CVs on the job search sites that I forgot about. And while I can get a full-time office job, I am simply not looking for one. Assuming that you value stability and a regular paycheck more than I do, let me entertain and “warn” you a little bit.

I want you to consider the office life- yes, before you are actually hired to get into one. Chances are you tried the office, and it didn’t go smoothly. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be on the lookout. So instead of applying to all smart-sounding ads, let me do a little test on you. A little consideration beforehand might save a lot of time and pain.

1) The Hours: Do you really want to work in an office? Seriously. Just forget about the paycheck for a second. Do you want a life of working from 9 to 5 (which is a lot longer in this day and age, as you might have noticed)?

2) The dress code: Do you want a dress code? Unless you got a job in a creative field, let’s face it, you will be expected to dress according to the wishes of the company. And if that is the case, you might need to have a complete wardrobe makeover. Before you notice, your first couple of paychecks might be spent on office wear. Oops. And you thought you could save a little…

3) Size does matter: Do you want to work for a small, medium or large-sized firm? Yes, it is not just about getting into any job. You need to consider your needs and wants. Which one do you think you are better suited for?

I worked in them all. A corporation means, you can avoid the big boss for a long time but you are still under the observation of your supervisor. A small firm means even the top guy/gal knows your name. If you like anonymity, big ones are recommended. But keep in mind that big firms also tend to be more structured and formal.

If you get fired right away, it does look worse than being unemployed. So does quitting in a rush. So yeah, you need to consider your personality traits and expectations before you apply.

4) The Paycheck: Any amount sounds lovely when you are broke, but never forget about the fact that you are not only selling your services and intellect, but your time too. You are trading all that for money and if it doesn’t compensate accordingly, you will be discouraged, demotivated and uninspired. These three make for an unproductive employee and the unproductive don’t climb the ladder fast. I am just saying.

5) The co-workers: If you have a chance to check the company culture before you get in- or better yet before the interview- please do. Find forums, ask around in your social circle. Is the environment friendly? Competitive? Social? Even if you think you can survive an unfriendly group of colleagues, the reality does end up being different.

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Do your research. If you know about all these, you will know whether applying is a good idea or not. If you know the answers, you will adjust your CV accordingly, and your resume will stand out amongst others. If you know the answers, you will know more about the company than its products and services (I am assuming you know them, otherwise what else could have motivated you to apply in the first place?). This will impress your interviewer. You will be a person knowing what she is getting into. You can’t get into battle without being fully prepared. Job-hunting is one of the hardest battles you are going to fight, but there is a high chance of survival if you know and are ready for what you are getting into…

On the left, you have the annoying and impossibly chatty desk buddy. In the center, you have the schmuck of a boss who thinks he is cool. Art imitating life.

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