What is Docent?

Docent is a free newsletter that humanizes unemployment and helps you navigate life between jobs.

Why subscribe?

Because “Career Resources” aren’t enough. We’ve been there and we know navigating unemployment is more than landing your next job.

Because support matter. If you want to be a better ally, I have a +Allies section for you.

How often do you post?

I publish 2-4 time a month, each post under 750 word.

Doesn’t this already exist?

Not that I know of but I hope I’m wrong.

TLDR: Docent is Born

A few years ago, I lost my job. Simply put - being unemployed sucked.

Why? The sleuth in me had to know.

I started close to home with friends and family. What was unemployment like for you? It didn’t take long to figure out I wasn’t alone. Regardless of the support (severance, health insurance, outplacement, etc.) they received or the reason for their unemployment (restructuring, layoff, resignation, etc.), they felt the same.

Maybe academia would have the answer? I emailed professors and hit the books. I still couldn’t find a satisfying answer. A PhD candidate gave me the best explanation. “You won’t find much in this space because it is hard to capture data from people who are unemployed. If you get any data, let me know.”

Not one to throw the towel in easily, I conducted my own lean market research. Here I found my answer:

People experience a “loss of control” during unemployment. The existing services aren’t designed to bring any of that control back.

Outplacement provides career coaching but finding your job is only one aspect of the unemployment experience. Sharing your job loss with your family and friends, reevaluating your finances, and reorganizing your days without a job are a few others. Yet too often we believe finding a job IS the unemployment experience. Providing career coaching isn’t enough.

So I built Docent.

To humanize the unemployment experience. To offer support that goes beyond resumes and job boards. And most of all, to let you know you’re not alone.

Docent is new and I’m trying to figure it out. There is no script here. Please be patient with me.

I developed a site. Few people came. So now, I’m coming to you with a newsletter.