What to Do If You Become Unemployed

The economy is tough. Companies are going under, others are down sizing, and many people are becoming unemployed. Many people wonder what they should do if they become unemployed. Here are some tips to help you survive unemployment. Since everyone's situation is different not all tips will work for everyone. Taking care of your finances,

Take Care of Your Finances

Bills don't stop because you don't have a job. So, you will want to register for unemployment in most cases right away. If you have a severance package you would want to register for unemployment before the severance benefits expire. You want to maintain income while you are unemployed. It is also important to work out a tighter budget. It is likely your unemployment benefits will be less than what you were earning before you became unemployed.

Search for Employment

First make sure your resume is up to date. While you are updating your resume take a mental note of any "holes" in your resume. The job market is very competitive so you want to make sure your resume can help you compete. Updating your resume will also help you when you get an interview because the information will be fresher in your mind. Search daily for employment. Your job search should be your full time job. If finances cost you to cancel your newspaper subscription or your Internet account you can always go to a public library. A library would have computers you could use and newspapers.

Fill the Gap

Unemployment creates a gap in your work history. It will create a "hole" in your resume. Take the time to learn a new skill, hone old skills by taking continuing education courses or a training course. You can add these courses to your resume. You can also list the new skill on your resume. The courses will also help keep your mind sharp. Volunteering is another great way to fill the gap. You can put volunteer experience on your resume. Volunteering is another way to add a skill. Also volunteering will help lift your self esteem as you get the satisfaction of helping someone out. Remember, the longer you are unemployed the bigger the gap. You want to be able to fill the gap on an application or your resume. Employers like someone who can say they took this course, completed this program and volunteered at this place during the six months I was unemployed. It is a better answer than I just looked for a job. Also classes and volunteering are excellent ways to build your network.

Take Care of Yourself

Exercise regularly while you are unemployed. It will keep you healthier, it will reduce stress, and you may feel better. Eating right is important as you want to stay healthy and keep your spirits up. Talk to your friends as you want to keep up your support network while you are unemployed. Who knows they might have a job lead for you or they might be a reference.

Spend Time with Family

Take time to spend time with your spouse and children. You could share some special times while you are unemployed to strengthen your family. When you go back into the workforce you won't have as much time to spend.

Sources:

Personal Experience