How To Beat Unemployment

Contributed by Jay Schroyer

No one wants to be out of work. Work provides a stable schedule, a steady and reliable stream of income, a sense of self-worth, and even an outlet for creativity and human interaction with coworkers and clients. As much as some people do complain about their work, you will never hear them complain more than when they are out of work.

So what do you do if you suddenly find yourself unemployed? Everyone has different ways of coping with the problem of unemployment. For some, it’s the catalyst that moves them to finally do all of the things they talk about doing. They may go back to school, completely change career directions, or start their own business. For others, a dark depression may settle in that affects everyone in contact leading them to new lows of self-destructiveness.

It goes without saying that the best way to deal with unemployment is to stay busy. Yes, it is an unenviable position to be in, but this can certainly be a thunder cloud concealing a silver lining. Below are a few things to think about if you should ever find yourself having to cope with the woes of unemployment.

Finances
You’ve just lost your main source of income so it’s time to tighten the belt a bit. Review your finances and come up with a livable budget. Try to estimate what you spend on gas, groceries, utilities, rent, and even toiletries on a monthly basis so that you have a better idea of how much money you need to survive. Cut unnecessary spending like cable television, video memberships, and internet subscriptions. Every penny will count now no matter how trivial it seems.

Reflect
Reflect on why you lost your job. Was it something you personally did, did the company downsize, is the area you’re in starting to fall into an economical slouch? Perhaps the field that you were in isn’t as vivacious as it once was. It may be time to apply your skills to a new type of job. Are there things that you don’t know that you should know within your career track? Or maybe it’s time to pull up stakes and try a new area whose economy is on an upward swing.

Search
Once you’ve decided if you want to stay in the same career direction, it’s time to start looking. The old favorites are still worth a look: newspaper, internet, job placement services, and even message boards. But don’t forget your other valuable resources: past coworkers, informational interviews, even friends and family. You can never tell when a conversation about one thing can lead to a viable job lead. Keep circulating and let people know that you are hunting.

Routine
Don’t break your routine. If you arose at 7 a.m., went for a run, showered, ate breakfast, and went to work, then by all means, continue to do so (with the exception of going to work, of course). Your new job is finding a job. Spend a fair amount of your day working at this whether it be newspaper or Internet search and don’t be afraid to pound the pavement. The more you stay in a routine, the more you can avoid your mind slipping into unemployment mode. Also, when you do get another job, you won’t have to retrain yourself to awaken early and get moving.

Temporary Work
If the search takes longer than you expected or you need some survival money pretty fast, don’t be afraid to take on a lower-paying, part-time job. A little money is better than no money. Part-time is ideal because you can still make time to go to interviews and keep your search up. Temporary work will also keep you in the working environment and expose you to people. Choose something you’ve always wanted to do or that aligns with an interest you might have.

Update Your Skills
There are always free (or low cost) classes for something going on somewhere. Whether it’s a simple finance class or basic computer education at the local YMCA or a writing seminar at the local community college, these are the types of things that will help use up your new free time in a positive manner and possibly aid you in bagging a new job. Perhaps there’s a seminar on interviewing or an overview of office computer software to help you learn Microsoft® products. It wasn’t your choice, but this is free time that has been handed to you. It is your duty to make the best of it to improve yourself for your next job.

No Tears
Do not waste your time feeling sorry for yourself. Remember who you were when you were employed: confident, creative, relaxed, knowledgeable, friendly, and outgoing. Guess what, you are still that same person, you just don’t work in the same place anymore. You are needed somewhere and it is your responsibility to find out where through persistence and determination. But don’t forget to relax. You should spend a good deal of your time looking for a new job, but don’t forget to take care of yourself as well. Take a hike, a run, go to the gym, drive to the countryside to unwind, or watch your favorite movie. Make the most of what you have.

As you can see, just because you don’t have a job doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of things that you should be doing. You can prepare yourself for future employment by improving yourself and taking the time to research and choose your next career move wisely. Don’t forget who you are and keep trying until you land a job that makes you completely forget the one you once had.

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About the Author:
Jay Schroyer has worked in the client and customer service end of business for over five years in retail, advertising, and printing. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English writing and communication.

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