Losing your job can be a frightening and uncertain time. By not knowing when your next paycheck is coming in, you can quickly become despondent and stressed in your job search. Instead of feeling down, look on the bright side: Being unemployed can be a blessing in disguise, as you have the time to really work toward getting the job you’ve always wanted. You could even start your own business. The following tips will help you keep your spirits up and increase your chances of getting employed again quickly.
Update Your Resume:
When you’re comfortable in a job, it’s easy to let your resume drift to the bottom of your to-do list. Pull yours out and read it over. It’s most likely out of date now, so check out some creative examples online and redesign yours. Once you’re done, be sure to have somebody else read it over to catch any mistakes.
Use Social Networks:
If you’re not using social networks at the moment, now is the time to get started. Networking is always useful when you have a job, but it’s even more critical when you’re looking for work. Be your own cheerleader and advertise your skills on sites such as LinkedIn to keep yourself in contact with potential recruiters.
Create New Goals:
You may have felt you were happy in your previous role, but now is the time to reflect on what that job did and didn’t do for you. Do you want to pursue similar roles, or try something entirely new? Create realistic, manageable goals for yourself. You’re your own project manager at the moment, so make plans to get yourself back on your feet.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help:
Being unemployed can become very lonely if you don’t reach out to others. Find the people in your life who can help you find your next job or just encourage you to do your best. Maybe that person is somebody from your previous job who saw promise in you or a friend in a similar job who may be able to give you a leg up. Don’t go it alone.
Volunteer and Improve Your Skills:
Being unemployed could be the best time to pick up some new skills, especially if you’re looking to change careers. Look into classes near you that may be offering training in relevant areas. Alternatively, you could volunteer with an organization, which will keep you busy, help you give back to your community, and give you active training in new skills.
Stay Active:
While job hunting, it’s easy to find yourself cooped up at home staring at your laptop. Try to find a way to get outside and stay active, both for your health and to give yourself a break. Activities such as walking or biking can get you moving while costing you very little to get started.
Do Short-Term Work:
You may not want to do short-term or part-time work, but now isn’t the time to be picky. Pick up roles that will get you paid quickly while you’re looking for your next big career move. As well as keeping the bills paid, working these jobs will avoid gaps on your resume and show that you’re willing to do what’s needed to achieve your goals. This could also be the time to try out freelancing, although the money will be slower in coming in.
Take Some Time for Yourself:
Being proactive in your job hunt is fantastic, but be careful not to burn yourself out. When you’re not working, it’s easy to become stuck in the rut of sending out application after application, scouring job listings, and losing sight of what it is you actually want from your career. Plan for days off, where you’re not thinking about anything job-hunt related. When you come back to your search, you’ll be fresher and able to focus.
This time is perfect for sitting back and thinking about what it is you really want in a job. It’s likely you weren’t happy in your previous role, so think about what you needed from that job, then go out and find it. The trick is to be focused and active but to also take breaks and not overwork yourself. With luck, you’ll soon find another role you will be passionate about.
Sarah Landrum is a freelance writer and the founder of Punched Clocks, a site all about finding career happiness and success. For more from Sarah, subscribe to her newsletter and follow her on Twitter @SarahLandrum
These are great tips! When I found myself between jobs I made sure that I looked online every day, but gave myself a break on the weekend. I also got out and went for walks, hikes, or did yoga. Some days felt frustrating, but in the end I landed a job and was excited about the new role!
http://www.livinginsteil.com
Those are all great tips!
Good for you, Vanessa! Those are great ways to relax during a stressful time. So happy that it all worked out for you 🙂
Amazing tips! I’ve been trying to get into social media a bit more – it’s so valuable when you’re on a job hunt!
xx | Steph @ The Lovely Essentials & Jenssen’s Designs
Thanks so much, Steph! Good luck with the social media – it can be a huge help, so I hope it pays off for you!
These are such great tips! I think asking for help is so important! People forget that someone they know might open up a great job opportunity!
Michaela || The Monogrammed Midwesterner
Thanks, Michaela! I think so, too. You never know where it may lead!
Awesome tips! It’s so easy to get down on yourself when job/internship hunting but the key is to stay positive! This has been the hardest part for me!
xoxo
These tips are very helpful as I am currently on the job hunt.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
xoxo, Jenny || Breakfast at Lillys
I’m so glad they were helpful! Good luck!
Thanks, Jenny! Best of luck with your job search – I hope these tips help!
Great tips! I’m going to start looking for a job once school rolls around in Fall
Thanks! Good for you for staying ahead of the game! I did the same thing and it was a major relief! Best of luck!
These are so useful! I loved that link to the creative resume examples. Something that really helped me was having an online version of my resume. There are some great customizable wordpress themes that can help you make ‘landing pages’ for yourself so that you can showcase your portfolio (be it artistic or written work).
Alessandra | The PumpUp Blog
That’s a great idea! LinkedIn and portfolio sites are so helpful.
Thanks! It’s great to hear that one of these tips has actually helped you! I love online portfolios and resumes! So cool, and it definitely helps you in this digital age!
Fab tips, thanks for sharing!
Jessica Grace
Thanks, Jessica!
Great tips. And came at a perfect time, considering my company just announced a merger meaning I could be out of a job in 90 days!!
Just read your blog post about the merger. Stay positive. Let me know if I can help.
I wish you the best in either case! Stay positive!
Great post! I think these are wonderful tips- I have had many friends in that situation whose lives really came to a halt thanks to not knowing what to do next. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much! I hope everything worked out for your friends!
These are amazing tips! It’s so easy to loose yourself when you don’t have a job but these are great tips to keep you focused and spirits high.
Sophie
Smitten Sophie
Thanks so much, Sophie! I couldn’t agree more.
Great tips! Thanks for sharing!
Great tips! Anything job-related can be so hard to manage.
Allyssa, Life with Lyss
Great tips! I will remember these in the future!
Anchors and Pearls
Love this post! Thanks so much for sharing. And I love that first pic. Rach Parcell is my favorite!!
xoxo
Lauren
The Fashionista’s Diary
So how do you stay passionate about the job hunt when you currently have a job and no time to look for one? Me. Currently.
That’s a tough one! I’d say to wake up an hour earlier and aim to get two or three really strong applications out a day. You could also dedicate one or two hours every weekend to searching. Networking events can also be a fun way to meet people who can help introduce you to people at companies so your resume gets to the top of the pile. Good luck! You’ve got this!
This is super helpful with great points! It can be really easy to get burnt out and discouraged on the job hunt. It is important to take a little time for yourself here and there!
XOXO
Marie H.
Progression By Design
I absolutely love this! I was getting down while job hunting (and still holding my fulltime job) so I can’t even imagine being unemployed and not having any success looking. Definitely takes a toll on confidence and passion. Great tips!
x Sarah
http://www.bohochiccafe.com
Great tips. Networking as much as possible and continuing to try and get small side work to sharpen and practice your skills is also helpful! Keeps you on top of your game, looks impressive, and just helps to partially alleviate the dry spell.
cominguprosestheblog.com
Great tips! Had done some of these myself back when I was unemployed.
I’m glad that I found your blog! Love the advices. It’s been 7 months since I ended school and I have yet to get a job! I really am so bad at interviews even when my resume and cover letters are written nicely. I wonder when I’ll be able to get a job at this rate.
Sarah,
Thank you for writing this article. It gave me hope!
So glad it helped! Best of luck in your job search. Mary!
This is just the article I needed to read. I’ve been unemployed for going on 4 months and these tips will hopefully help rejuvenate me! The social networking is key and I work on that a little each day!
SO happy to hear that, Tracy! I love your optimism – it will take you far in your job search! Good luck!
I’m so glad that it helped! You’ve got this!!!