Because “not working” is a broad phrase, it can refer to several different contexts—from being unemployed or a job not fitting your life, to a book title or a technical malfunction. 1. The Book Not Working by DW Gibson
If you are looking for a literary reference, Not Working: People Talk About Losing a Job and Finding Their Way in an Economy That’s Changing is a non-fiction book by DW Gibson. Inspired by Studs Terkel’s classic oral histories, Gibson traveled across the United States to interview everyday people who experienced layoffs and job loss. The book explores the human stories, fears, and resilience behind economic statistics. 2. Job Dissatisfaction (“My Job is Not Working For You”)
When a professional situation isn’t a good fit, people often say their job is “not working”. Common signs of this include:
Chronic Burnout: Waking up with a sense of dread or feeling constantly exhausted by the culture.
Values Mismatch: A persistent gap between what a company says it values (like work-life balance) and what it actually practices.
Lack of Growth: Doing work where you are no longer learning skills or feeling systematically underappreciated. 3. Being Out of Work (Unemployment)
If you are currently unemployed or taking a career break, navigating the “not working” phase involves specific strategies:
Explaining Career Gaps: Career experts recommend framing periods of unemployment as a planned “sabbatical,” a time for “freelancing,” or taking time off to handle “family caretaking” or personal development.
Answering Interviewers: When a hiring manager asks why you aren’t working, a common polite approach is to explain that you chose to focus 100% of your energy on finding the right long-term fit rather than trying to juggle a demanding schedule.
4. Setting Workplace Boundaries (“I am Not Working Right Now”)
In a corporate setting, “not working” often relates to communicating boundaries to coworkers or managers: