Background: So I was lucky enough when I was in school to get a number of jobs in my field. I have about 5 years of relevant experience now. However, my most recent contract ended in August and I've had to take on a casual labor (landscaping) position to make ends meet. I don't mind the hard work at all and I see it as just a stop-gap measure while I look for another job in my field.

The problem: I never imagined that this situation would be a professional problem. Since my last contract ended, I've continued to go to events and network in my field while I look for a new job. I've started to find that when I tell other professionals that I'm landscaping now that many of them have the same reaction: raised eyebrows, surprise and disapproval. 

The worse problem: I've had two interviews recently and both of them asked what I was doing now. When I told them I'm a landscape laborer they both had the same reaction: raised eyebrows and a quiz about why I'm doing that and why I'm applying to their organization. 

It's humiliating and discouraging to have other professionals in my field disapprove of what I have to do to make ends meet. Would it be better to tell them I'm doing nothing but sitting at home and applying for jobs? Better to focus on volunteer work (I do some of that)? Better to avoid the question of what I'm doing now or give a vague answer?
user
In my field, my last contract ended and I've been working as a casual laborer to make ends meet. My employers are judging me for having a gap of experience in my field and I don't
assistant
Background: So I was lucky enough when I was in school to get a number of jobs in my field. I have about 5 years of relevant experience now. However, my most recent contract ended in August and I've had to take on a casual labor (landscaping) position to make ends meet. I don't mind the hard work at all and I see it as just a stop-gap measure while I look for another job in my field.

The problem: I never imagined that this situation would be a professional problem. Since my last contract ended, I've continued to go to events and network in my field while I look for a new job. I've started to find that when I tell other professionals that I'm landscaping now that many of them have the same reaction: raised eyebrows, surprise and disapproval. 

The worse problem: I've had two interviews recently and both of them asked what I was doing now. When I told them I'm a landscape laborer they both had the same reaction: raised eyebrows and a quiz about why I'm doing that and why I'm applying to their organization. 

It's humiliating and discouraging to have other professionals in my field disapprove of what I have to do to make ends meet. Would it be better to tell them I'm doing nothing but sitting at home and applying for jobs? Better to focus on volunteer work (I do some of that)? Better to avoid the question of what I'm doing now or give a vague answer?
user
I work casual labor in my field to make ends meet. When I tell other professionals that I'm doing it they react negatively (raise eyebrows, surprise and disapproval). What should I do?
assistant