Use Your Recession Lay-Off to Change Careers

Getting laid off, especially in the middle of a recession, is a terrible thing. But, it doesn't have to be the end of the world. Your lay off could actually be the opportunity you've been waiting for. While you might be in a hurry to get a steady income coming back into the house, there's no reason why you can't deal with your immediate concerns while planning for the future.

If you've been thinking about changing fields, or working towards the job of your dreams, consider taking on an internship or volunteer opportunity in your ideal field. And while you look for a stop-gap job to keep income into the house, consider one that will allow you to keep your volunteer or internship position until you're ready to take the step into your desired field.

While others are busy brooding over the recession, you can be busy turning a negative situation into a positive one.

Benefits
Taking on a volunteer or internship opportunity may feel like a lot to handle on top of a regular job. However, the added boost that it will give your resume is immeasurable. What employers look for is evidence that an applicant can handle the job that they're being interviewed for. And nothing shows that better than experience. Plus, your volunteer opportunity can give you a great recommendation from someone in your field and valuable contacts. You may even luck up on a paid job opportunity at the company you have been volunteering or interning for.

Search
As you search the web for job opportunities to help make ends meet, search a few websites that list volunteer opportunities in the field in which you'd like to work. www.idealsit.org is a great website that lists volunteer opportunities by field and organization. Another option is to look for paid and unpaid internships. These aren't just for college students. If you can spare the time, most companies would welcome the help in exchange for training. www.internweb.com and www.internshipprograms.com list several interesting internships along with helpful advice about finding a position that's right for you.

Ask
If you know of a job that would really help make your resume more attractive to perspective employers, don't be afraid to contact their Human Resources departments to ask if they offer any volunteer or training opportunities. Tell them what you would like to do and the field that you would like to enter into. Even if they don't have any room or time for a trainee, they may be able to point you in the right direction or refer you to other employers.