Tips For The Unemployed
I’ve been unemployed a few times throughout my life. It’s unfortunately what can happen when you like to switch cities, take risks, and never let the fear of change hold you back. Nevertheless, unemployment is scary. It’s uncertain, frustrating, demoralizing, and something I prefer to avoid.
That’s why when I graduated from college being unemployed wasn’t an option. I remember spending the last few months of senior year terrified about what I was going to do next, so I looked for jobs everywhere. The day after I graduated I started a job as a paralegal at a D.C. law firm. My parents wanted me to go to law school, so this was my way of getting experience (and sending a lot of faxes) while applying to schools. Despite my best effort, this plan eventually crumbled, and I found myself on another, wilder, path — one that landed me in France teaching English, and eventually going back to school.
It’s when I graduated from my master’s program that I found myself unemployed for the first time in my life, in a country where finding a job as a foreigner isn’t that easy. Interviewing in a foreign language is even harder. I had two options: a) find a job or b) go home. I didn’t want to move back to the U.S. yet, so when I was offered a full-time job as an International Sales Manager after countless interviews, I decided to give it a go.
Now I’m not one to give up easily, but after a few months on the job, I knew it wasn’t right for me. I hated trying to convince clients to buy products, and I wasn’t too good at it. So I quit and decided to move back to the U.S. by the end of the year.
A few months later, I was living in my parent’s apartment in South Florida. Not only did I not know anyone in South Florida, but I didn’t speak Spanish — a huge asset when searching for a job in Miami. I was unemployed once again, which brings me to my first tip when unemployed:
DON’T LOSE HOPE
Keep applying, keep taking those phone interviews, keep writing cover letters. Eventually, an opportunity is going to come your way. I ended up with two offers — one as a writer for a Florida newspaper, another for a sales-y short-term position at a startup in New York City. I intensely debated between the two, even doing a trial day at the newspaper to see whether it would be a good fit.
I followed my gut all the way up north to New York City, knowing that I was going to end up unemployed and that the job wasn’t right for me (I wanted to write), but I took the risk. It was the perfect opportunity to get started in the big city. But a few months later, as expected, the contract ended and so did my paycheck. I was now unemployed in New York City.
DON’T PANIC
Not having a secure job can be terrifying, especially when you’re living in a competitive, expensive city. The worst thing you can do for yourself is panic. Take it one day at a time, and don’t fret about your bank account until you really have to. As someone who is a panicky type of person, I can tell you firsthand that freaking out will get you nowhere.
HAVE FAITH
I think one of the most important things to do when you’re jobless is to have faith, and know that it’s all going to work out. You don’t have to be desperate and take the first job that comes your way. You may not be in as advantageous of a position as someone who is already in a full-time job, and you may have to make sacrifices, but the right job will eventually find you.
ASK FOR HELP
If you have friends, lean on them. Ask them to help you. I remember one of mine did and put me in touch with people who could help me out. Don’t be too afraid to ask.
SEEK OUT RECRUITERS
Recruiters are great, but good ones are hard to find. Nevertheless, it’s their job to find you a job, so meet with as many as you can. This is by far the best way to get a job. And if you need something ASAP, temp agencies are an excellent place to look. Often temp jobs will take you on as a full-time employee down the line.
GET OUT OF THE HOUSE
Another tip for when you’re unemployed is to make sure you get out of the house. Constantly applying, interviewing, and being rejected can be extremely demoralizing. It’s important to step outside into the sun, get some fresh air, go for a run, or just hang out in a coffee shop. I found that working from cafes always made me feel better about myself, and my job search.
FIND SIDE GIGS
Whenever I was unemployed, I found freelance gigs writing to earn a little extra cash and keep busy. Only looking for a job can make you go a bit crazy. And you never know, that side gig may eventually turn into a full-time job.
Unemployment sucks, but it’s a reality. Sometimes there’s no avoiding it. Just remember that your career isn’t over, the sun is still shining, and sometimes a risk (in the right direction) is worth the struggle. I know that it was for me.