The Opportunities of Unemployment

As the economic situation deteriorates across the globe, the unemployment level is steadily climbing.  This can be a stressful and guilt-ridden time especially if there are children to feed and debts to pay. People require employment for reasons far greater than money. Employment offers individual's something to do every day, an identity, purpose and direction, friendships and companionship. It may also provide satisfaction, hope and fulfilment. If a position at work is taken away, negative emotions will most likely surface and a whole new challenging chapter of life will become apparent. 

So before blindly jump back into the job market, consider the following;                          

View the situation in a positive light!  View your loss as an opportunity. As well as thinking about your career and conducting your job search, focus on other important areas in life which may have been neglecting in the past.  Start exercising more, prepare healthy, tasty home cooked meals and spend more time with family and friends.  If funds allow, you may wish to travel, update skills, change your career or undertake volunteer work.

Swallow your pride and go to your local Government agency to register for unemployment benefits. Hopefully you will not need to use the service but in case you have not managed to find a suitable job in the next couple of months, as small as this amount is, it may prove vital for a short while.

 Reassess your career and set new goals.  What were the positive and negatives in your previous role?  Do you wish to stay in a similar role?  If you do, finding work should be fairly straightforward.  If not, write down what aspects of a job are important to you. For example, you might value a work/life balance, employment close to home or opportunity for growth and learning.  Note your skills, knowledge and attributes.  Doing this exercise helps you look at yourself objectively and may demonstrate other work areas you are suited to. If you are uncertain which direction you should take, a career counsellor may give you more ideas. A psychological/personality test may be conducted that illustrates what careers you may be suited to. Consider working from home by starting a part-time business. Once you know what you want, set time-specific goals that will aim to achieve your desires.

Plan your time. Divide your day to increase productivity. Note what actions you will take to achieve your goals. Take on the view that you are still working (even though you aren't paid for the job searching). Decide how many hours you will undertake in job searching per day. Send your application to companies you are interested in working for, even if there are no current opportunities, they will keep your resume on record.  Make sure you leave sufficient time to focus on yourself, your potential part-time business and other needs and desires.  In saying that, do something you love everyday. After all, you may not have this opportunity again!

Network.  Tell everyone you know that you are looking for work or starting a part-time business. Join recruitment agencies. As most job opportunities are not advertised, your industry contacts, friends or family may be the ticket to a new career. 

Start a part-time business. Start a market stall selling your wares, publish your poetry or build furniture, do handy-work, house-sitting or gardening. This can mean you are doing something to continue building your skills and also maybe make yourself a little bit of income.  There is a growing trend of people working from home and there are many great opportunities out there if you take the time to decipher the scams from the legitimate opportunities.

Find creative ways to save money.  Draw up a rough budget of how much you can afford to spend every week and stick to it!  It may mean less haircuts, dinning out and clothes.  You can always shave money off your current lifestyle without decreasing your standard of living to any great depth. Use your creativity to find activities that are free or cost next to nothing.

Remain in a positive mindset.  Mindset is everything and as they say, like attracts like. It may take some time to get back in the workforce or set up a part-time business but don't give up.  Believe in delayed gratification, that is, believing you will be rewarded for all the hard work.  Stay motivated and keep focused on your work goals by reading them everyday.  You will eventually get to where you want to be!