What To Do When You're Unemployed

I’m not going to address the obvious here. It should be a given that the majority of your day should be spent looking and applying for jobs and networking. Let’s focus on how to help deal with the emotional/mental effects of unemployment.

Since you may have a little extra time on your hands, now might be a good time to start doing some of the things you like to do, but normally don’t have time. During my unemployment I spent many, many hours at the computer looking for opportunities that I thought were interesting and then revising my resume to match that job. Sometimes I would get the point where I couldn’t stand the thought of getting on another website to look for work. The thought of even more rejection was just too much at times.

I decided that I was going to start doing some things that I really liked when I needed a break or just to get my mind off of my situation. I LOVE to read so I would grab a new or good old book on the days when I felt it was all going to come crashing down on me. I would let the story take me off the couch in my family room and I would be right there in the middle of whatever story I was reading.

 I was fortunate that I also found a new favorite past time, dance fitness classes! Prior to this, I had never been all that into exercise, but it has helped physically and mentally. This new found love also improved my social life. By nature I’m not overly friendly, but always say hello. After a few years of taking classes with a core group of ladies, I have made some amazing friends; some are very dear to me now. I am so thankful for this much unexpected perk of unemployment.

I challenge you to do some of the things you like to do or have always wanted to do. If you’ve always wanted to write a book, now is the time to try it. If you’ve always wanted to learn how to cook, get to the library, get some books and DVD’s and get cooking. Am I saying neglect your job hunt? Absolutely NOT! But realize that you won’t always have this extra time, you will go back to work and you’ll wish you had spent a little more time on some of your favorite past times.

Until next time!

The Beginning

Unemployment is a subject that is near and dear to my heart. Since 2008, I've found myself in that position for nearly 2 years. Once for 6 months and a second time for 14 months. The 6 month stretch was the hardest on me, probably because I was totally unprepared.

Just to give a little background, I had worked for a large health care organization in the area for 7 years, completed grad school with an MBA and was ready for a new challenge. However, the organization I was with just wasn't cooperating with my vision. So, I started looking for opportunities elsewhere, and thought I had found it. I had always wanted to get into human resources, and found a postion as a Staffing Manager with an employment service that placed medical and legal professionals. By then I had 8 years of medical experience and contacts, I couldn't have asked for a  better opportunity! I shadowed the Operations Manager, asked all the right questions and ultimately accepted the position when it was offered.

About a month into the position, some of the responsibilities that were discussed during the interview process were not coming along as promised and I realized that I was  glorified telemarketer. The opportunity to build the business through personal connection was only allowed via telephone, getting out in the community and networking was not an option. I addressed this with the Operations Manager and a week or so later, I was coming in(from an interview) and had a voicemail that I didn't need to come in, that I was being fired! I was devastated, I had never been fired. I had left an 8 year employer, all to be fired, for voicing my concerns. So, I used some of my contacts and worked part-time in a doctor's office and collected unemployment while I looked for work.

Not knowing how to manage that stress literally made me sick and I ended up in the hospital. I ended up getting a two year contract with the government. Once that ended, I found myself once again unemployed, only this time it was in the middle of the recession, jobs were scarce and unemployment was high. This time I had a plan to keep myself sane and healthy.

I am by no means a licensed therapist, counselor or HR professional. What I am is a person who has struggled with unemployment and still deal with the effects of that unemployment. I am a person that understands the thoughts, self-doubt and larger than life questions that can plague you during this difficult time. I am a person that wants to share what helped me make it through. I am a person...