An Open Letter to Anyone Unemployed: How To Deal With Unemployment

An Open Letter to Anyone Unemployed: How To Deal With Unemployment

*These are general tips for dealing with unemployment, tips for what to do when you're unemployed and suggestions for how to get a job. Most of the tips can be applied to the current situation of the world concerning the pandemic but some of them are again general (as in relating to the way the world used to be and hopefully will be again soon).*

If you recently became unemployed it is okay to take some time to get used to your new situation and comprehend it as it is a life changing event. Your life is no longer the way it was before or the way you were used to it being. You will probably be feeling many different emotions and it would be hard to move forward and progress if all those emotions were bottled up inside. It is very important to talk to family and friends about how you are feeling even if they can't 100% understand what you're going through if they've never been in that specific situation. It still is very helpful for you to get things off of your chest by allowing yourself to discuss them. And remember, you are not alone. There are many other people currently going through the same thing. There have been many other people in the past who have gone through it as well and they have been okay, you will be too. Try not to be embarrassed about being unemployed, it can happen to anyone at any time. It is just something you are experiencing, it is not a reflection of your worth as a person.

Once you have processed the circumstances you are in it is time to start making a game plan. Assess where you are now and where you want to be in the future (career-wise.) If you don't know exactly what job you would want ideally, you can think about some possibilities of paths you could see yourself going down. You do not need to get a perfect job or an impressive one, just one that fits for you and one that you would be willing and hopefully happy to do. Again, even if you cannot find or get an ideal job there is still the potential to get one that would be a stepping stone. A role that could help bring you closer to a better job down the line. Assess what you did and did not like from your previous job(s) and then try to determine what type of work you are open to and what types of industries you'd want to be in, in the future.

Update your resume and make sure that you have references in case you need to provide them after an interview.

Reach out to people you know and let them know that you are looking for a job. They may know of an open position somewhere that you could apply to.

Make sure that your LinkedIn profile is up to date and make more connections. Maybe look up former coworkers and connect with alumni from you school(s).

Look up companies that are located in your area that are in the industry where you would want to work. Check out the career pages of those companies to see if they have openings. Some companies just post openings on their own site and not other websites. It is still important to check general job sites as well. Go on Indeed, Monster, etc., and see if your former school has a job board as well. Try searching different keywords and phrases when you check the sites. Don't just type in the exact same search terms every time. You can look up the same types of jobs (whatever you're interested in) but re-word the searches in case you get different results you may have missed by not re-phrasing the search terms.

Make a document with a list of possible jobs to apply to, include the links to the job postings in the document and indicate which you have applied to and the status (have you heard back, will there be an interview, etc.).

In the meantime while job searching you can focus on yourself, your family, your health and fitness, etc. Take time to work on hobbies, get organized, try new skills, anything to bring you some joy, and a sense of accomplishment. Sometimes you may find yourself feeling lost and that is completely understandable but it helps to stay busy and find a new purpose (maybe taking care of family more, volunteering somewhere if possible, etc.).

Make sure to apply for unemployment. Check that you meet the guidelines your state sets in general to apply for it and then check about what you need to do each week to qualify. Once you are approved you can start claiming the unemployment assistance for each week you are unemployed. You can set a reminder somewhere for yourself for one day a week to log in and claim the previous week on the unemployment site. Usually one of the requirements for getting unemployment assistance is that you are applying to jobs so make sure you are keeping a log of jobs you have applied to.

While you are looking for a job make sure to continue saving money and to live within your means.  If you have to stop buying coffee from a coffee shop everyday just stop and make it at home instead. If you used to go out to dinner or get takeout or delivery 1 or 2 times a week just have it once a month or none at all until you are back on your feet.

It's hard but try to be positive. Try to think of it as a new chapter, as a sign from the universe that it is time for you to move on and do something different. "Everything happens for a reason".

Keep in mind that it's okay to apply to a job even if you don't have 100% of the qualifications and even if you don't think you'll get it because the worst that can happen is literally nothing, and the best that could happen is that people see the potential in you!

Good luck and may the (job hunting) odds be ever in your favor!

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