| |
| |
|
Careers & Employment Information |
|
|
|
Unemployment Blues: Staying Afloat
The unemployment checks are running out and there is no potential job in sight. The wolf is knocking at the door and you need to survive. Here are five tips to keep you afloat. 1. Ignore your ego and get everyone on board. You hate letting your children see you as less than competent and completely in charge but now is the time to share your predicament and let them help. By talking with your family, you allow even small children to better appreciate the realities of the world and feel like an important part of a big project. You may be surprised by how they will rally around the idea and come up with ways to save money which makes them feel as if they are really contributing and have value in the family hierarchy. Make saving money and "making do with less" into a game, like Survivor and the other reality shows they watch. 2. Adaptive life style strategies. Stop buying brand names of everything from food to household items to clothes. Change to generics and make using coupons and comparison shopping into a game where you can learn to excel. Leave the expensive prepared foods on the supermarket shelves and start cooking from scratch - the savings can be substantial and you have plenty of time right now for preparation. Only buy something that you absolutely need, luxuries and treats will be available after you find work. 3. Temping. Temporary work through an agency can provide a paycheck, even if considerably smaller than your prior income. If the work is in your field, it may lead to a permanent position but is worthwhile even if the work is low skilled and routine. It keeps you thinking and looking like a worker, not a drop out. It forces you to get up in the morning, shower and dress, be active and involved. It keeps you in the business loop and can be positive when you apply for permanent positions: "I took a temporary job because I'm just not happy unless I'm working and productive" is music to the ears of potential employers. 4. Self-employment. Working for yourself sounds awfully tempting with the thought of no future lay-offs and potentially high income. Unfortunately, the worst time to start a business is when your resources are limited. Starting a business takes money, more money than you can imagine, to say nothing of the time and effort you will invest, possibly with little monetary reward. It will also sap the energy and time you need for finding that next job. 5. Entry level jobs. You have paid your dues through the years, gaining skills, experience, and personal competence. All led to increased income and a higher level of responsibility. To step backward into work you could have performed as a teenager makes you think of yourself as a failure, that you are no longer worth anything. Try changing your perspective. Entry level work, such as fast food positions, customer service, cashiering, pays minimum wage and often results in minimal worker effort and service. Since you are only doing the job temporarily, you have the chance to shine above your coworkers by displaying enthusiasm, caring, efficiency, and excellent customer service --something always noticed by the public. In a best case scenario, you may impress a business customer who is looking for a great employee and receive a job offer. At worst, you are bringing in some money to the family coffers and if you are clever enough to select an evening shift, you days are still free to devote to job search for that position you really want. Virginia Bola operated a rehabilitation company for 20 years, developing innovative job search techniques for disabled workers, while serving as a respected Vocational Expert in Administrative, Civil and Workers' Compensation Courts. Author of an interactive and emotionally supportive workbook, The Wolf at the Door: An Unemployment Survival Manual, and a monthly ezine, The Worker's Edge, she can be reached at http://www.virginiabola.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Employment - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Get In Career Shape Research suggests that as many as 8 out of 10 employed adults are in the wrong job or career! They are in poor career-shape or have little or no career-stamina.If you are one of the 8 or your goal is to shape up, it is important to have a good understanding of some basic career management principles for a healthy career workout and to help you make the best decisions about your career on a day-by-day basis. Resume Objectives: How Do You Know if Resume Objectives Are Right for You? Some experts say NEVER bother with resume objectives. While others say they should be an essential element on every resume. Bringing Our Family to Work Let's face it, most of us consider professional success and personal success the same.In other words we become our careers. The Squirrel Effect An industrious black-tailed ground squirrel has his home beneath a stump not far from my office window. I've been watching him squirrel away provisions for winter. Q & A How to Find a Great Search Firm Q & AQ: Are people sometimes cautious of 'headhunters'?A. Yes. In Control - Inside Tips on Interview Success No, you can't control how the interview will be conducted, nor can you control the outcome. But you can influence it greatly by the way you present your personality and your skills. Dont Be Defeated - Be Empowered Taking a job out of fear and desperation will never satisfy you for very long, nor will it last all that long either, and before you know it your back to square one. As I said; a job is nothing more than "just over broke", and who wants to live like that!I realize how desperate situations in life can be; I lived that existance for many years, fighting and struggling just to make ends meet, if I was lucky. The Musketeer Approach Stories of intrigue, treachery, politics, lies, double crosses, and power struggles fill the history books, much like they fill today's headlines. In the world of the 17th century musketeer, life depended on who you could trust. Phone Interviews: Prepare to Ace Them! More companies are saving time and effort by doing initial telephone interviews before committing themselves to hours of time assessing and evaluating applicants. They are doing this because, frankly, it's a good way to save a team's time from interviewing obviously unqualified people. How Can Qualifications Help Your Proof Reading Career? For those who are looking for a career as a proofreader, it is important to have the right qualifications. It is important to remember that this is a proper job. Believe And Get Hired Good things seem to come in bunches, especially in a job search. Ever wonder why?Example: ever know someone (perhaps you?) who, after many weeks in a fruitless job hunt, suddenly hit a "hot streak" and landed two or three interviews in a matter of days?What happened? What changed? Did the job market suddenly improve? Perhaps. Working On A Farm In Kent Being a student, a person needs to look for summer jobs, to keep up with the expenses for school and fun activities. This task is not always easy, especially when you are studying at an American branch university and you have to pay tuition as well. Searching for an IT Job Looking for an IT job is one of the easiest to perform due to the incredibly high demand in the IT field. As the Internet grows, corporations network through Intranets - even the advancement of science has the demand for anyone with IT skills at an all time high. Should You Seek Temporary Or Contractual Employment While Searching? According to US Department of Labor statistics, the average time to find employment is roughly six months. It could take as little as four to six weeks, or as long as ten to twelve months, or longer. Yes, Ive Had Gaps In My Employment History--What To Do About It? Yes, I've Had Gaps In My Employment History--What Can I Do About It?1. Honestly, there is not a single person who has not had SOME gaps in their work history. How ToTalk Your Boss Into Giving You A Salary Increase * If you believe you deserve a salary increase, ask for it as soon as possible; don't procrastinate or wait for your employer to offer it.* Determine what you are worth in the marketplace by carrying out a survey of people in comparable jobs. How To Stay Calm in Tryng Times That's not you? Great! Bad habits are hard to break once the addiction gets hold of us. Been there. How to Get Paid More Without Being Pretty or Good Looking Guess what. The results are out they are ugly. Five Fabulous Resume Tips for College Grads (or Anybody) Fluffy clouds. Chirping birds. Your Job Search Is A Marketing Campaign (Part 2) Here's a continuation of my article from a few months back on how the successful job search is really just a personal marketing campaign.To recap, the same marketing techniques that have sell billions of dollars worth of products and services on TV, in print and via direct mail can also help you find a job.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
