In the past month or so, I know almost ten (10) people that
have lost their jobs. Whether it was
involuntarily, or a decision they made to move on, it is quite evident that unemployment
is alive and well. I became unemployed
in July, and before I could start feeling sorry for myself, I decided to take a
chance and start my own business. I hit
the ground running, and haven’t turned back! I decided that I no longer wanted
someone else to dictate when I worked, what I do when I work, and who I work
with—in other words, I’m doing what fulfills me by building my career around
something I enjoy doing—writing and helping others succeed in their career
goals and planning.
Five (5) things to
when you’re unemployed:
Start your own
business. Now you may say I don’t have the resources, desire or any clue of
what kind of business to start. If you
don’t want to start a business, please don’t.
It takes a person with A LOT of patience, perseverance, and HEART to
start, and then to be successful at owning your own business. BUT, it is possible, if that’s your
desire. Depending on what it is, funding
could be available, and sometimes it doesn’t take a lot of money to get it
started. (I started my daycare with
little money, thrift shopping, and borrowed resource center items—so be
creative!)
Take a
class/training. This is the time to indulge yourself in that computer/cooking
class, CPR certification, CDL licensing, any kind of training or class you’ve
been putting off. Doing so will not only
give you more knowledge base or skill, but it will let employers know—when you
get that next interview—you have NOT just been uploading your resume online and
keeping your fingers crossed. Being that
type of passive job seeker will NOT get you a job, so why not gain more
knowledge in your field or maybe even a hobby you enjoy. You never know if that hobby could turn into
you doing work for someone or even getting a contract gig. It’s all in how you present yourself through
your work and professionally.
Volunteer. You would be surprised how many people
gain employment by just starting out volunteering with an organization/company
they’re interested in. When people know
you will work for free, they can be certain you will definitely work for
pay. Volunteering is just another way of
getting yourself “in the door”. So find
out about events (community, etc.) the company maybe sponsoring, and volunteer
to help. Get to know people in the
organization, and allow them to get to know you—it’s not about who you know
anymore, it’s about who knows you!) You
never know when a position becomes available, and they see you’re qualified and
already acquainted with company procedures, etc., you could be asked to apply,
or hired on the spot!
Blog. Okay, so
you may not be a writer or even enjoy it, BUT you should always want to learn
more about the industry you’re in, what’s going on locally concerning your
industry, and aboard. Starting a blog is
very simple and can help you improve your writing skills, as well as get you
out there for others to learn more about you.
Getting on social media is common place nowadays, so having a presence
on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter (to name a few), is expected. Why not turn it into a blog (or add a blog
website, page, or use others like google blogspot, to put your ideas and
knowledge out there.) This could be a
prime way employers (HR Reps, etc.) could get to know you, and connect. Again, when others know you, and have some
idea of your knowledge and skills, they’re more willing to give you a chance to
work with/for them.
Temp Job. Getting assignments from temporary
staffing agencies can not only give you some cash flow, but also gain skills
and experience you may not have already.
Also, temp jobs can sometimes turn into a permanent job. It could be another way to get into an
organization you’ve wanted to work for, and you get that extra experience you
need for your next career move. Never
underestimate the power of a seasonal or temporary job/placement. They help fill that gap in employment and you
may even find a new field you’d like to go into. Shop around for the agency that best fits
your experience/field of work, if you’re trying to stay in the same
profession. Staffing agencies are
normally contracted with employers to fill certain type jobs, so make sure you’re
connecting with the right one for you.
As you can see, there are a few things you can do while you’re
looking for your next job or developing your career between employment. It’s just up to you how you want to utilize
some of your time while you’re looking…and building. Don’t take it for granted and just “chill”
the whole time, invest time in yourself, start a side gig, network and meet new
people. Just make sure you don’t become
a couch potatoe—GET A LIFE!
