What to Do when You're Unemployed

You lost your job. You've registered for unemployment benefits. Your application and resume is out there, but you're getting no responses. Let's face it. Though many people think the economy is recovering, the job market is slowly getting worse and worse. It may not seem like it to those who actually have jobs, but to those of use who scour the job boards on a daily basis, it is quite clear. There are really no jobs out there. This means that there will be a gap on your resume. How will you explain that gap to prospective employers? What will you say you did with that time? They will ask. So you must be ready to answer. Here are some simple things you can do to fill in that gap and be prepared with a solid, impressive answer.

1. Brush up on linguistics. Adding another language to your reportoire is never a waste of time. As the international marketplace explodes, companies need employees that are not limited by language barriers. Plus, any interviewer will be impressed when you tell them you used your time gathering unemployment to learn a new language. There are many easy ways to do this even with no income. Visit your local library. Most have language books and CDs available to check out. Some might even have free classes to offer. Also, the internet is a valuable resource here. Free software such as Byki.com offers is incredibly easy to download and use. Also, LiveMocha.com offers free courses and the opportunity to connect with native speakers.

2. Volunteer in your community. Volunteering costs you nothing but time. And let's face it. Since you're unemployed, you have an abundance of that. Check out your local Boys & Girls Club, Goodwill, and schools to see if you can be of any assistance. In addition to filling in that gap, this is a great opportunity to put yourself out there and meet members of the community that might be able to offer you a job. Volunteering is a great networking opportunity.

3. Write about your field. This is a great way to showcase your expertise and also keep up-to-date on everything that's going on in your industry while you're out of the office. Find online communities focused around your industry and get involved there or you can start your own blog. Just make sure to keep your entries fresh as this will keep you on top of all of the new information that comes into play while you're out of the game. Blogger.com is probably the easiest blog hosting platform to use and has the largest community. Try to make quality posts that you'll want to show off to prospective employers.

4. Continue your education. One of the best things you can do is continue your education. Is there a certification that you're always talking about getting, but never had the time to before? Well, you have the time now. Maybe you're an architect that has been wanting to get LEED Certified. Or maybe you're in the financial industry and have been wanting to get your CFP. Whatever the case, you now have the perfect opportunity to add that little something extra to your resume.

Any of the above activities would greatly impress any interviewer. Instead of saying that you spent your time in unemployment job hunting, you can say that you learned a new language, improved your community, did freelance technical writing, and became certified in this or that. Whatever the case may be, doing something useful in your time off will make the interview process and also the transition back into the workforce a lot smoother.