You’re probably used to reading/hearing/twittering about the latest depressing economic data that lets us know that we’re in the deepest recession since the Great Depression. But there is hope on the horizon. As MSNBC reports, currently 90% of economists believe that the recession will be ending in the 3rd quarter of this year.
However, while this is welcome news to many ears, there are still many ready and willing workers who have been laid off by their employers who are looking to stay lean by cutting costs. If you’re reading this article while taking a break from looking at job sites, hopefully these tips will help you to stay motivated until you find your next job.
STICK TO A ROUTINE – Just because you’re not willfully employed at the moment, doesn’t mean that you should just mope around the house and feel bad for yourself. No. Instead, you should wake up at a reasonable hour and go about your daily routines, get dressed, eat a healthy breakfast and get to work re-tooling your resume and start applying for jobs on every site you can.
BE FLEXIBLE – These days, the ability to work flexible hours or quickly learn new skills is immensely valuable to your employer. The truth is that the more value that you bring to your company, the more you’re able to negotiate a good position and compensation. For example, if you’re knowledgeable in the tech sector or social media, you can use these skills to your benefit when interviewing with a potential employer. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, start researching.
STAY ACTIVE – Go for a quick walk or perhaps a light jog in the middle of the day. Staying active or exercising releases endorphins so you will, literally, be in a better mood because you’re causing a natural state of well-being. And we could all use a bit more of that these days.
STAY UPDATED WITH THE NEWS, BUT NOT TOO MUCH – Read all the latest news, blogs and websites that have to do with your industry. However, there is such a thing as TOO MUCH INFORMATION. I used to read all the depressing news data on a constant basis and wondered why I felt down all the time. You need to know what’s going on, but you don’t have to become obsessed with it.
FOCUS ON YOUR STRENGTHS – This recession has affected almost everyone whether you’re a Wall Street type or a waitress at a local watering hole. So keep in mind that you’re not alone when applying for jobs and you need to stay positive and focus on what you have to offer your potential employer. Don’t talk about the fact that you’re not employed. Instead, talk about what you’ve accomplished, whether you’ve managed a team, increased revenue or perhaps kept morale up. And let’s say you get that great interview, just remember to exude positivity and confidence. Trust me, it goes a long way.
DON’T KNOCK THE INTERNSHIP - More companies are cutting costs and are looking for ways to acquire smart talent on the cheap. Yes, this is not your dream position and probably doesn’t pay much or anything at all, but it’s an in. If you’re passionate about an industry and are willing to work as an intern, it says a ton about your character and goals. As someone who has been an intern many times over, I now realize how much these past experiences have helped me with my current job as I learned how to treat people with respect, work hard and always think ahead. You may have a fancy degree, but working as part of a team is an even more invaluable skill that you can only learn on the job. Oh, and when that paying position opens up, guess who they’ll think of to possibly fill that job?
Now that you’ve read this post, you’re probably gearing to head back to the job boards. Good luck and don’t be too hard on yourself.
A lot of good points in here, especially about the internship – at least for younger workers. I recently took up an internship, with a decrease in pay and hours, and a couple months later was promoted so that now I’m getting paid more than I was and I’m doing a job that I love. So it does work!
Also, be sure to sign up for unemployment as soon as you can! Like the day after you get laid off. Because the sooner you do, the sooner those checks start coming in. And believe me, a little extra cash can go a long way. And not just for your pocket book either, for morale too!
hey Chelsea, definitely agree with you on signing up for unemployment ASAP. You’re absolutely right!
good points all! one thing that kept me from losing my mind when I was unemployed was taking time off from the job hunt. It seems counterintuitive, but actually giving myself weekends off from combing job sites and tweaking my resume helped me stay motivated and made me feel less desperate… if you don’t take a step back sometimes you won’t be able to make it through the long haul!
The last time I was unemployed I also sat down and kind of talked to myself calmly (yes I’m crazy) and really prioritized my spending: these are things I still need to spend $$$ on, these are the bills I’m anticipating, these are the things I absolutely cannot live with (one unemployed friend refused to stop getting her manicures, they made her feel better) – and then, start pulling back on things, especially going out to eat and buying drinks and concert tickets etc.