Comments on: How to Stay Busy When You’re Out of Work

By: rick

rick — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:29:14 +0000

I don’t want to sound disrespectful but this is all good if you have money saved aside and a spouse that is working. But most of us don’t have large piles of cash lying around and some of us don’t have spouses or family to fall back on. Some like me have done one thing and one thing only for several years and now that the well is drying up, our buckets are empty without much water in site to save us. I just want a job now. I am within weeks of losing my house. My self respect is almost all gone. My friends distant themselves, maybe they feel the stigma of bad carma can carry over to them. Before I go to sleep at night I beg the Lord to help me find a job the next day so that I can keep my house, self respect and my life as I know it. I want a job, is there anyone out there hiring
Pmaha. nebraska

By: TPS

TPS — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:41:20 +0000

Just wanted to let you know you are speaking to my soul, so much that I submitted an article to several magazines this week on this particular topic. When I was younger I would have been beating myself up about the job market, what will I do next, etc. I am not stupid; of course I am concerned. But it makes absolutely no sense for me to be miserable, deprived and all around unwell at this time. It’s only been a few weeks for me, but at 41 years old, I know that while I’m waiting for the phone to ring after sending out resume after resume, it’s perfectly sane to enjoy the simple, inexpensive pleasure I could not only a month or so ago. A bubblebath in the daytime; going to the grocery store during the day when it’s practically empty instead of packing myself into crowded aisles on a Saturday; getting a full eight hours of sleep every single night just because I can. I download audio books for free from the public library so I can keep the tv off and enjoy something new, fresh and engaging.

While friends of mine (I’m sure) are certain I’ve lost my mind, I just can’t imagine how running around like a chicken with my head cut off would do me any good. I might be unemployed another month or another six, but is it any better to feel and look depleted, anxious and stressed when going to interviews? I think not, so I’ve got to run now. Time for my steam facial. NO matter what I do, the phone isn’t going to ring any faster, so why not be gorgeous, healthy and content while waiting? I start every morning with a delicious breakfast, a good workout, time for prayer and then I’m off and running to the sites. This economy might break my bank, but I’ll be damned if it’ll break my spirits. As Ali would say, I’m just too pretty!

By: Seventeen Things to Do When You’re Out of Work - SavingAdvice.com Blog

Seventeen Things to Do When You’re Out of Work - SavingAdvice.com Blog — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:02:58 +0000

[...] Hunt. Never stop, though it could be easy to give up. David G. Mitchell has some good tips on how to keep up the [...]

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:24:02 +0000

Dave, has excellent advice but then he is a good lawyer.
I learned from hindsite to make sure you are networking while employed as well. Keep a good list or business card stack handy, and as Dave said don’t be afraid to email or call all of them. You don’t know who might have a position. Using LinkedIn and Facebook is also good to keep in touch with old colleagues. Being unemployed is a new thing for me as I have been blessed to have had continuous work since college, two jobs and 20 years. Now a new beginning for me, looking for a new job, maybe even a new profession. The last piece of advice is to always, always stay positive as it can get worse. So enjoy each day that God gives you, because He put you here for a reason.

By: Ann

Ann — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:35:50 +0000

Liz! I wish you all the best and, knowing you, believe you won’t be on the unemployment lines for long! Love the volunteering idea. Also, take it from one who knows, make sure you have/keep health insurance!!! My danged hand cost me over $20k. When I did look for health insurance (after the fact), I was turned down for individual. Luckily, I found a program for people who can pay but are turned down for whatever reason and, as of this week, am insured again. Whew!

You’ll come through this just fine!

By: Liz

Liz — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:27:49 +0000

As I prepare for my journey into unemployment in the next week, this really hits home. My resume is now posted with a couple of the major boards and I am in the process of contacting all those recruiters that have called me over the past couple of years looking to place candidates at my current organization. For me the biggest thing is not getting dragging into the bad-mouthing and negativity that has pervaded my current organization as people continue to leave, the halls become quieter and a depressing atmosphere is everywhere. To combat this, I have turned my office into a mock Tiki Room. Although it is cold and dreary here in Chicago, I have turned my office into a tropical haven by hanging grass table skirts around my desk and on my white board, added a couple of inflatable palm trees and added fun slogans to my white board. Everyone (who is left) has gotten in on the act – stopping by to laugh about the funny times, leave their own creative additions to my white board, etc…

From a personnel perspective, I have decided to re-engage in volunteer opportunities and will be heading to the Gulf Coast again to help rebuild homes after the Katrina disaster. This will be my second trip (the last one was also after a layoff). I will say it absolutely gave me perspective when I returned last time. As much as I thought I had hit hard times, it was really revealing to realize how luck I was that I still had a safe home to live in and still had a healthy family.

Keep the positive attitude, take a step back and remember the things that are really important in life!

By: Ann

Ann — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:48:29 +0000

Actually, for those of us in the wintry north, now’s a good time to take care of those household things and updating of resumes and keeping in touch with old friends, etc. I’m certainly better at being productive with those things when I don’t have the distractions of nice weather and the garden.

By: Persephone

Persephone — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 01:10:52 +0000

Excellent advice. Doing anything positive is a step in the right direction while in between jobs. Work out, eat healthy foods, organize your house, get that physical you may have put off. When that job interview presents itself you’ll be ready and when you start your new job you’ll value the time you had to devote to yourself.
And by all means, continue the healthy habits you put in place during your hiatus from the work force.

By: spicoli

spicoli — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 15:03:51 +0000

all 10 are great things to do when the time is avalible.
I would also use that time to catch up on my favorite T.V. shows.

By: Ann

Ann — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:23:11 +0000

Carl, you definitely did the right thing ’cause keeping busy and networking, rather than having a pity party, is definitely the way to go.

I was in a position once where the whole group I worked with was let go. While others were sitting around moaning, I contacted my headhunter and started the conversation with “you’re not going to believe this!” I interviewed with the company I eventually went to within 2 weeks (while others were still updating their resumes), even though I didn’t start with them until nearly 2 months later (they actually had to get board approval to hire me because of a pending joint venture). I was still doing some cleanup work at the old company, so I didn’t really even have a break between jobs.

Hmmm. Guess that also means that it’s not a bad idea to touch base with headhunters occasionally, even if you’re employed, so that you’re already on their minds should disaster occur.