Tips for traversing the time between jobs

Feb 16, 2024

2 min

Jill Panté


The gap between jobs is a time of not only financial woes but also an associated mental toll that can be just as difficult to manage. University of Delaware career expert Jill Gugino Panté offers tips for navigating the rough waters of unemployment.


Gugino Panté, director of the Lerner Career Services Center at UD, has years of experience in HR and helps folks from ages 18 to 80 find jobs and level up their careers. She provided the following advice that journalists can pull for stories about careers and the job market:


It's normal to feel hopeless and helpless. These are the two common words I constantly hear from job seekers. Searching for a job, especially when you don’t have a job, can be a black hole of nothing and everything. "Nothing" because you don’t hear back from applications you’ve submitted and the silence can diminish your confidence. And "everything" because of the range of emotions you feel on a daily basis.


Stay busy. Staying busy is not just applying to jobs, but it’s keeping your brain, body and mental health positively active. You can only apply to so many jobs on your computer. After that, most people sit and wait. NEVER SIT AND WAIT in a job search! Even the smallest thing will provide a sense of accomplishment.

  • Send out emails to arrange connection phone calls.
  • Attend local networking events, volunteer and give back.
  • Clean out your closet and donate clothes.
  • Organize your search in a spreadsheet, add reminders to your calendar.
  • Keep yourself moving and check off one thing on your list a day. 


Find support among peers. There are millions of groups out there on social media. Find a job seeking support group in your industry where you can get advice and even a pep talk if you need one. Friends and family are fine, but not everyone has this and sometimes friends and families don’t understand what you’re going through. Having multiple support groups can provide consistency.


Put your job search on blast. I have so many stories of people finding a job because they posted on social media or struck up a conversation with a stranger in a store. Unless you have a specific reason for keeping your job search a secret, shout it out to the world! Data shows that it’s the people on the periphery of your network (meaning 2nd and 3rd connections) who have the most effect on your professional development. So reaching out on LinkedIn, talking to a stranger, attending a networking event you wouldn’t otherwise go to can have a significant impact on your job search.


Members of the media interested in speaking with Gugino Panté can reach her directly – visit her profile and click the "contact button." Or, feel free to reach out to our media relations department.

Connect with:
Jill Panté

Jill Panté

Director, Lerner College Career Services Center

Prof. Panté can comment on workplace issues such as hiring, professional etiquette, personal branding, interviewing, and job search.

Job SearchLinkedinRecruitmentHiringResume

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from University of Delaware

2 min

Summit examines how democracy can survive a toxic media environment

Journalists, scholars, students and civic leaders from across the U.S. and abroad will explore the evolving relationship between media and democracy May 5-6 at the University of Delaware. The second SNF Ithaca x iMEdD Media and Democracy Summit will examine how we can thrive in a toxic media environment where misinformation spreads, local journalism is in decline and trust in traditional institutions has eroded. The event is co-hosted by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Ithaca Initiative at the University of Delaware, the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration and the incubator for Media Education & Development (iMEdD). The summit will engage participants in urgent conversations about media’s role in shaping informed citizenship and democratic resilience. A selection of confirmed speakers includes: ▪ Carmela Boykin, The Washington Post ▪ Astead W. Herndon, The New York Times ▪ Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN ▪ Domenico Montanaro, NPR ▪ Tara Palmeri, The Red Letter ▪ Dave Rubin, The Rubin Report Additional speakers include representatives from Media Matters for America, WHYY, Spotlight Delaware, Delaware Public Media, 2Puntos and more. The program will also feature workshops on digital storytelling and short-form video, panels on misinformation, and discussions about rebuilding trust and reimagining journalism for a new generation. The event takes place at the Trabant University Center, 17 W. Main Street, Newark, Del. To cover the summit, contact mediarelations@udel.edu. Timothy Shaffer, SNF Chair of Civil Discourse and associate professor of public policy and administration at UD, is available for interviews in advance of the event. To arrange an interview, visit his profile and click on the contact button. About the SNF Ithaca Initiative SNF Ithaca, an initiative of the University of Delaware's Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy & Administration, seeks to advance democracy by equipping students with the civil discourse and civic engagement skills necessary to navigate the mediated public square. Supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), SNF Ithaca is named after the home of Odysseus—one of Greek mythology's greatest heroes. For Odysseus, Ithaca represents not only the beginning of a journey but the ultimate destination. Likewise, the SNF Ithaca Initiative serves as both the beginning of the Biden School students' journey toward becoming engaged and effective citizens and as the ultimate destination for students across the country to come together and work in partnership to develop policy solutions.

2 min

Education expert: Delaware needs to reform its education funding system

In the next year, residents of Delaware will have the opportunity to voice their opinions about school funding in support of the students and teachers in the state's public schools. School funding reform is urgently needed. Delaware has an unusually high number of students requiring additional resources to succeed — including students with disabilities, students living in poverty, and English learners. While Delaware spends more than the national average on public education, the funding is not sufficient to meet the needs of these students and their teachers. The evidence is clear. Compared to other states, Delaware ranks near the bottom in reading and math performance, according to the Nation’s Report Card (the National Assessment of Educational Progress). Reading and math scores have been declining for the past decade, with 8th grade reading reaching an all-time low in 2024. Delaware’s spending has not kept up with student needs, and the state struggles to compete with neighboring states for top teaching talent. Beginning teacher salaries are the lowest among nearby states, with even lower salaries in less wealthy communities. Unlike every other state, Delaware does not allocate more funds to districts with less property wealth, further deepening disparities. The stakes are high. Delaware’s students and teachers deserve strong support, and the state’s economy — including businesses, employers, and universities — depends on graduates who are well-prepared for careers and higher education. Delaware’s current school funding system, largely unchanged for 80 years, lags behind reforms enacted in other states. Many states have shifted funding to prioritize student needs and address inequities, resulting in measurable improvements in academic achievement, graduation rates, school climate, and college and career readiness. In the coming months, the Public Education Funding Commission will complete its review and present recommendations to update the funding system. When Governor Matt Meyer — a champion for Delaware’s public schools — sends his recommendations to the General Assembly for consideration, public understanding and engagement will be crucial. –––– Gary Henry is a professor at the University of Delaware and a commissioner on the Public Education Funding Commission. He specializes in education policy, educational evaluation, educator labor markets, and quantitative research methods. He is available for interviews on education funding, accountability and related policy changes, helping ensure Delawareans are fully informed as they prepare to voice their views on this important investment in the state’s future. He has advised various states on education funding including Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and Texas. 

2 min

Researchers laying the groundwork to eventually detect cerebral palsy via blood test

At the University of Delaware, molecular biologist Mona Batish in collaboration with Dr. Robert Akins at Nemours Children Hospital, is studying tiny loops in our cells called circular RNAs — once thought to be useless leftovers, but now believed to play an important role in diseases like cancer and cerebral palsy (CP). This is detailed in a new article in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. What are circular RNAs? They’re a special type of RNA that doesn’t make proteins but instead helps control how genes are turned on and off. Because they’re stable and can be found in blood, they may help doctors detect diseases more easily. So what’s the connection to cerebral palsy? CP is the most common physical disability in children, but right now it’s diagnosed only after symptoms appear — there’s no clear-cut test for it. Batish and her team are trying to change that. Working with researchers at Nemours Children’s Health, Batish discovered that in children with CP, a certain circular RNA — circNFIX — is found at much lower levels in muscle cells. This RNA normally helps the body make an important muscle-building protein called MEF2C. When circNFIX is missing or low, MEF2C isn’t made properly, which may lead to the weakened, shorter muscles seen in CP. This is the first time researchers have shown a link between circular RNAs and human muscle development in cerebral palsy. Why does this matter? If scientists can confirm this link, it could lead to: Earlier and more accurate diagnosis of CP using a simple blood test New treatments that help improve muscle development in affected children Batish’s ultimate goal? To create a test that can spot CP at birth — or even before — giving kids a better shot at early treatment and a higher quality of life. To speak to Batish, contact mediarelations@udel.edu. 

View all posts