Six More Weeks of Winter Weather and Unemployment!

 Say it isn't so Punxsutawney Phil!

 

We're just under a month away from Groundhog Day.  But if you are un-employed, you might find yourself waking up every single day for the next six weeks, just like it was for Phil Connors, Bill Murray's character, in Groundhog Day. Doing the same old thing, but what Phil learned was that he could improve himself (after a while). If you are un-employed you can too.  

 

Un-employment sucks! There are no if, ands, nor buts. It sucks, and it can be emotionally draining. You've applied to every Dice, Monster, and Career Builder job in the great 150 Mile area.  And for the last six weeks they still have the same job posted! Doh! You are a perfect fit for the "name title/position at company"! And that recent e-mail from the recruiter from Dice who has a $14.70 per hour helpdesk position part time, third shift in Philadelphia is starting to look good!

 

Now you are thinking, maybe a move isn't a bad thing, but for pity sake, all you begin to want is a freaking job!  

How's your resume? 

How are your contacts?

What are you doing with your day?

 

Have you found yourself by the third week of un-employment sitting on the couch, and becoming tuned into Days of our Lives?  It can happen! (Well, that hasn't happened to me, but it could happen).

 A few suggestions.

1. Go to the Library - get out of your house, make it an active routine.  (and it'll be a money saver tip below)

2. Write down the focus of your job search - What do you really want?

 Quick Pop Quiz - which of these is considered to be the correct way one should write down their focus?

     A. - A career that allows room for growth and pays me really well

    B. - A career as a (name your title here) which gives the following:

           1. - 100% matching 401k up to 6% or 3% 

           2.-Flexible work hours (if that is important to you)

            3. -Employer paid health care 

4. - A career which empowers me by providing $X in income as my base salary.

     C.  I don't care I just want a freaking job! My bills are killing me. I'm going to  

           be late on my cable.

     D.  Thank you for stopping in ma’am, would you like some gum today to go with your gasoline purchase?

 

Okay, which one fits? 

 Now, let's make the assertion that you have NOT managed to squirrel away that six months of living expenses so you can continue on about your life like a retired millionaire in Costa Rica.   And you find after three weeks that the outlook isn't so cheery.

Believe it or not, while you’re un-employed, your debtors continue to need their income from you. They extended you credit, they expect payment.  You are obligated to pay these debts. 

Now let's talk about a couple of things before we go off and give the answer away.  If you are laid off, quit, get fired, downsized, outsized, outsourced, or just have no income coming in, here a few helpful tips to get you through your temporary situation.

 1. Cancel Cable/Dish (it's not a necessity) - or call them and ask them to suspend service as you are now un-employed

2. Cancel your internet (what? no freaking way! Are you insane how can I check my email? It's called the library, and it's free.-And it get's you out of the house.) Call your internet service provider and ask them to suspend your service as you are now un-employed.

 3. Call your cell phone company and find out what the most economical plan is.  If texting costs, drop it, if you are paying for data, drop it.  go to a basic service.  If you have a land line home phone, ask the cell provider to suspend your service, if they won't ask them to lower it to the most basic rate? What are you paying now $100 or more per month?  The base rate is emergency type call status, probably the most expensive minutes, but stop using it for anything but that or job contacts.

4. Call all your creditors and tell them you'd like to pay only the interest while you are in this situation.  Mortgage/Bank/Credit Cards.

So, that's the first move.

Second move.  This came as advice to me long ago.  If you find you are ever out of a job, go get a night job at a convenience store.  There is always a need for them and you can continue to bring in some type of income.  And it's income while you don't have any. 

Now back to the Quiz; I see two right answers: D. While you focus on B.

Un-employment can last six weeks. Or it can last six months.  However, with the right résumé, the right contact, and when you KNOW what companies are really hiring, it's easier. Find your career on http://www.govtcontractorjobs.com