Moral Compass, Ethics and The Truth

I was giving time to think about the recent re-instatement of the Federal Reserve Chairman and the swearing in of the Treasury Secretary, and watched enflamed arguments of both sides on Huffington Post's blog.  It made me reflect on the oaths I have taken in my life. The first oath I ever took was to uphold the Constitution of the United States, and swear to defend it with my life, against enemies both foreign and domestic. The latest oath I've taken was when I became a CISSP.

It states in the Code of Ethics Preamble:

Safety of the commonwealth, duty to our principals, and to each other requires that we adhere, and be seen to adhere, to the highest ethical standards of behavior.

Think that over for just a moment.  Think about the massive banking fraud that took place. Think about the bail outs. It is pretty clear in my mind that the bankers, the CEO’s, the trader's, the SEC, the FED and many others didn't have moral character. One of the tenants of a publicly traded company is to build shareholder's wealth, but not to do so at the expense of integrity. Yet Bernanke was re-affirmed by the Senate, and Geithner was sworn in, though he failed to pay outstanding taxes from 2001 to 2004, until he was nomination was affirmed.  In both cases there were at least 30 votes against it.

Wikipedia defines Moral character or character is an evaluation of a particular individual's moral qualities. The concept of character can imply a variety of attributes including the existence or lack of virtues such as integrity, courage, fortitude, honesty, and loyalty, or of good behaviors or habits.

If our leaders do not exhibit these qualities, will you stand up and be that leader? Will you be ethical, will you have moral courage? Will you exhibit the fortitude to continue to do the right thing? In business, in life, either way - you are judged by your honesty, your truthfulness and your character. Where has the moral compass of America turned and why? When did our leaders that we elect lose their integrity, their moral courage?  What is your definition of ethics?

One of my friends, a teacher of ISC2's CISSP course gives this small talk about ethics and doesn't ask for your answer, he just presents the following

scenario:

Suppose you are in a position to make a huge sale for your company. In fact your entire livelihood depends on this one sale. If you don't make the sale, you are going to be axed, and you know this.  It just so happens as you are commiserating over your final approach to the customer in three days, you happen by the local watering hole to contemplate. As fate would have it, your primary competitor is there, discussing the same account you are calling on. They are within earshot. Do you listen in, or do you ignore?

Then your competitor opens his briefcase, pulls out the file and opens it.

Leaves the table to hits the bathroom, then the appetizer buffet. Do you casually walk by, and look? Whip out your cell phone and take pictures, or do you ignore it entirely?

Your competitor eats his appetizers, finishes his drink and walks out the door. But he leaves his briefcase behind. It's been five minutes, ten minutes. Do you take the briefcase? Do you turn it in? Do you look inside to find out what's really there?

Now remember this is possibly your job. You don't make the sell you lose the position. What do you do? Don't answer.

Now, what do you do if you just found out that your daughter has medical issues and is going to need surgery and long term care for recovery, and if you lose your job, you lose your medical insurance; what do you do?

Your resume is the first thing a lot of human resources will see. Will your character show through? When you interview, will you be ethical? Will you tell the truth?  When you present yourself will it be in the best light with no flaws, or will you, when asked for your greatest weakness, give the morally correct answer? Everyone has flaws, everyone makes mistakes.  When you are in an interview, don’t hide the truth.  I had once made a mistake by deleting critical log files; it ended up with me working extensive hours and recovering log files but everything was made whole again.  When asked about it, I told the truth.  It was a lesson learned. My employer appreciated the truthfulness, and future employers did too.

Truthfulness will only benefit you when or if you are given a security clearance.  Your moral compass should be on the right path when you are interviewed. When you are asked by the investigator about incidents, tell the truth. If you hedge, they will know. They are experts at reading body language, and changes of inflection in your voice.

Wanting to land a position with a government contractor that may require a clearance? Take a look at www.govtcontractorjobs.com

We now have over 3,000 open direct hire positions listed.

The Steps to the Dance of Finding Employment

How do you look for employment if you haven't had to in years, have no idea what to expect, don't really know and aren't really sure how to begin?

First things first.  You have to measure your level of comfortability with your current position.  Are you irreplaceable? Do you add value to your corporation? Are you a team player?  On the other hand; have you committed years of your life to this corporation only to find out, loyalty doesn't always work both ways?

No need to fret. It can be done. And if you haven't done this in a while, it's not painful, but it does take focus; a concerted effort, and follow up.  

Let's start with the basics:  When is the last time you updated your resume?  

If you aren't updating your resume quarterly you may be  doing yourself a great disservice. It could be updated monthly for that matter.  If you were asked to give your job description, right now, in writing, would it reflect what you do? What you were hired to do? Or has your job evolved since you were hired?  Honestly keeping monthly updates is not out of the question, nor would it be out of the question to keep a journal.  Why? When it's time for your annual review. It is a lot easier to summarize your accomplishments when you have them handy.  


The next thing you might want to do is begin your search: Does the company you work for offer upward mobility? Does it have a possible lateral move that has more responsibility?  In time those with greater responsibility are always paid for than those without responsibilities.  If current employer is out of the question; where to look next?
Competitors. Do your market research. Who does your company compete with? Does it manufacture widgets? Look at other manufacturers? Are you in Accounts Receivable or Accounts Payable? Chances are 99/100 that most every company has that.  Do you work in sales?  That field alone is the life blood of every business.  Information Technology. Depending on the size of the company it's either in house, or outsourced.  Can you transfer your skill set to your companies natural competitors?  If not competitors, what about different type of company all together?  In manufacturing? Why not Insurance?  In Insurance? Why not back-end outsourced IT support?  Boiling this down, it's find the type of company you want to work for and come up with the reasons why. I want to work at ACME Widget company for the following reasons: 1. Straight 40 2. Benefits 3. Possible Overtime 4. Lifestyle 5. The are in the top 100 employers for the state. You get the picture: Find your perceived perfect employer and execute the necessary steps to obtain employment with them.


In the interim, practice interview questions. Get a book at your library. Ask a local SCORE office to interview you. These are all retired executives, they'd probably be happy to help. Just make an appointment, and ask.


Now study the company, if they are publicly traded, get as much information as you can on them.  Google the company in Google News, setup a news filter that will get you information on the company.  Have they produced press releases? Read them in detail.  If the company you have chosen doesn't have that information readily. Find it. Whether it's through an acquaintance, a contact, the receptionist, or someone. Find out all the background on the company you want to work for.


Contact Human Resources, direct letter to the HR director or VP, write an excellent cover letter, introduce yourself. Enclose your resume. Let them know you will follow up in 7 business days.  In seven business days, follow up. With a phone call, with another note.  Fact is there may be a job coming open that hasn't made it to the company career site, nor to the newspapers.  You can pre-empt this by getting your well written cover letter which points out how you can help solve company problems that you may have read about in the local business daily in the hands of HR before the job hits the paper.  Personal notes, follow ups, thank you's they will set you apart from your competitor. If you have samples of your work, if applicable, attach it with the cover letter and resume. Been published? Have a book?  Let them know of your expertise in your letter to them.  Open the dialogue with the company. 


Everyone one needs a backup plan.  If Corporation A isn't the means to and end, pick up to seven, and be relentless, and be flexible.  You should be an expert on the outside of the company before you ever step foot or have a letter sent.  If seven is not enough, pick twenty-five, or whatever number. It is possible that whatever you set your mind to achieve with regards to employment, you can achieve.  It may take time, flexibilty, and relentlessness, but in the words of Prime Minister Churchill, "Never, never, never, never give up."


A quick recap:
1. Get your Resume updated
2. Identify your ideal position, and ideal company
3. Research, research, research.
4. Make contact, with a detailed letter, and a targeted resume written specifically to the job requirements. This takes time but it will set you apart
5. Follow up. Written and electronic.
6. Follow up. Written and electronic. (yes, twice, just in case you need to).
Wash, Rinse, Repeat.


and Never, Never, Never, Never give up!


Find out who is hiring direct right now: www.govtcontratorjobs.com

Omne ignotum pro magnifico

Everything unknown is taken for magnificent. - is how it translates from Latin. In this context, I just read about it in The Red Headed League, Chapter II, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. But what is interesting besides the quote is that in the paragraph following, one Mr. Jabez Wilson, who is a pawn broker, - the date is 1890.


The fascinating part, he is explaining how he runs a pawn shop, as the proprietor, he states, “I have a small pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It‟s not a very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the business.”


And Sherlock Holmes says to him ..."You seem most fortunate in having an employé who comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is not as remarkable as your advertisement.”  [emphasis mine]


Now I wonder at this juncture, how common that the reduction of wages are. I know of cases where the employers have cut payroll, and salaries so that they keep everyone employed.  As an employer that's going to be a tremendously tough call to make.  If you lay off personnel, the morale starts to plummet.  If you don't lay off you risk going out of business.  A temporary solution: reduce salaries, to the point where you are still maintaining a profit, spread across the board. Is that a 10% wage cut, 20% wage cut?  What percentage? If you are hemorrhaging cash, you have to staunch the flow somehow.  


While wage cuts aren't a very popular option, they certainly fare better than being cut and having no wage whatsoever. As an employee you may not have input, on the other hand you may.


Let's theorize here:  You work at a medium size business, there are 50 employees.  You are one of those employees. The boss says, "I have to cut 10 people, or we can reduce everyone's pay 10%". 


Well this isn't a socialist society, so if your employer made you choose, what would you do?  Would you risk being one of the ten? Do you provide value to the business? Or would you rather not have to be made to make that choice? Such that, Everything unknown is taken for magnificent.  


 In a crunch?  Want to know who is doing the hiring? Click here and search on over 1000 direct hire positions: www.govtcontractorjobs.com

Whether you think you can....

Henry Ford, made this statement once, "Whether you think you can or can't, you're probably right."  There is a lot of truth in that simple statement.

Sometimes it's hard to be positive. Sometimes, no matter how much you shine, no matter how bright your idea, it gets shot down.  However, I am a firm believer in being my own worst critic.  When I've been knocked down, I use it as a time of reflection.  It's a great time to look back and re-think through why an idea did not pan out. Why I overlooked something that I obviously missed.

For instance I thought why hasn't someone used the Netflix Model or the RedBox model for books, I mean look at Amazon, it's selling millions of books a year.  And I bounced the idea off of a friend.  He shot back immediately: Nook and Kindle.  And in kind I responded; "But they are electronic, and you have to go buy one first".  Then there is the whole cost involved with that.

But I immediately identified some obvious flaws in the system.  Stock of books on hand; each time someone reads a book it gets worn a bit; how many reads till it wears out the book? Two, ten?  What about spills and other things?  Long story short, I decided, I have no idea why this wouldn't work, but a list of reasons why it wasn't something I'd pursue.

As it turns out, there is such a site/service: http://www.bookswim.com/value.html

And they have over 200,000 titles available.  And a model based on single to multiple books....This may be perfect for the person who is an avid reader, and normally spends anywhere from $100-$300 per year on books from the local bookstore.

In this case I decided I can't do this.  And H. Ford was right. Although I chose not to do it. I realized almost immediately and hours before I found the aforementioned bookswim site, it certainly wasn't going to work for me. Fact is I had realized that within a few moments.   Someone else though, has figured it out and made a viable business. They had the thought and the 'can'.

However, I had no idea they have been out there since 2006.  No one, has ever turned me onto them, no one has said, "Hey check out this site!"  And I have a lot of friends and family who are voracious readers. Chances are they don't know of bookswim.com either - or I might have heard of them already.

But whether you can or you can't is telling.  I decided I can't, and I won't eventually be a competitor to them. That's not a business I'm willing to pursue.  I will and I am a competitor to large organizations in the job board field. I will grow govtcontractorjobs.com  but I will only be for the niche of government contractors listed on the CCR.

I may have setbacks, I may have a bad day, we all do; but the I CAN will defeat the I can't every time.   If you have had a setback, or you are looking for other employment. If you feel defeated, don't give up. You can get through this, you can bounce back. You can create your own destiny. You can look at the companies who are hiring, direct, today. www.govtcontractorjobs.com

Time to Give...

There is always room for volunteering, giving blood, giving to those less fortunate. Our Neighbors to the South in Haiti, experienced  a devastating earthquake.  There are possibly thousands that were killed.  Please consider a donation to the Red Cross  by sending a donation of $10 by Texting 'Haiti' to 90999 or making a donation to 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish).

It's easy to forget how bad you think you have it when you look to those who have it worse than you do.

 

Be like Buck.

Do you ever remember reading Call of the Wild, by Jack London? Buck was a sheltered dog who when faced with the realities and harshness of the real world returned to his instincts. He became quite savage when the time required. It was set in the Yukon territory. If you don't have a copy or haven't read it in some time, I invite you to get it free: Call of the Wild

Buck was the protagonist in this story, and overcomes the difficulties thrown at him, including nearly starving, and savage attacks. Buck overcomes. It's a dog's story yes, but I ask you to draw a corollary.  Could you equally gain as much, if you were to be like Buck? Persistence was the key to Buck pulling a sled that only ten other dogs could pull.

If you are looking for a position that betters your life, are you persistent? Are you diligently seeking what it is you want? Have you defined what exactly you want?  I pose these questions to the reader, often.  Consider this, practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.

I know personally the effects of being laid off. I know personally the effect it can have on self esteem. However, no matter what happens, it is up to you to be like Buck.  You are the only person who can give yourself a fighting chance.

Here's a short checklist of things to consider:

1. Have I decided what position I am going to pursue?

If you haven't I urge you to read go here and read this column.

2. Have I written out the plans I need to take me there?

It doesn't matter if you want to go to Hamburger University at McDonald's or if you want to go to Harvard, this is your plan and your dream.

3. Am I doing everything possible I can to make my plans happen?

Are you following up with employers? Are you studying employers facts and figures? Are you prepping yourself for the interview?

Be like Buck. Give yourself a fighting chance. Be determined.  Feeling the call of the wild? Feel like Alaska may be in your future? Here is a list of jobs in Alaska who are hiring right now: Jobs in Alaska listed at www.govtcontractorjobs.com

What will you accept? What will you do?

Let's say that for the sake of the current time, you accepted a position.  It certainly wasn't your first choice. It pays half as much as the job you had before you were laid off.  So in desperation, you jump at it.  And they accept. And everything is just ok.  You realize it is not a challenge to work here,  you don't feel anymore productive, in fact the work is probably far beneath your skill level.  But, on the other hand you have a job.  And incidentally, you've been slogging through this job day-after-day.  You realize it every time you force yourself to put on a happy face before you go to work.

Does this sound like you?  I have read reports of persons who are itching to jump out of their current jobs as soon as the markets pick up.  We are living through a long recession right now, and every day, I still get emails from places that are laying off employees.  And employers, are being rather choosy right now, whether they hire in anticipation of expansion.  Our own government has fallen behind on it's hiring of individuals. There are some 250,000 possible temporary positions that need to be filled.  And in a lot of cases temporary seems to be the thing.

Some people wouldn't stake my hopes on permanent employment through a temporary position, but the fact remains there are a significant number of individuals who end up in their long term career that way.  I've met persons who started as interns, later become employed at the location, and have been know to climb the corporate ladder all the way to the board of directors.

So how do you do your best? How do you continue to thrive in an less-than-challenging environment?  My friends, attitude goes a long long way.  It's hard to be grateful when you feel underwhelmed.  I understand that. However I submit to you my friends, that positive thinking is in order here.  This goes back to the core root of what drives you.  If you can't be happy doing a job that you feel is less than your skill set, and do it gladly, how will you handle a job that will be pushing the boundaries of your skill set?  Will you do it gladly or will you become overwhelmed with stress?

Here are a few ideas for handling underwhelming positions:

1. Master everything about the position.

Become the expert that everyone looks to. Are you on a running a production line? Take  the time to deduce the nuances of the position, what everyone does and how it all fits together, become the puzzle solver.   Employed at a position doing something that 'you could do in your sleep'? Don't rest on your laurels.  Refresh everything you know, can you streamline a process, can you code something that can be re-used, can you automate tasks that may save your company money and time?  Look at all angles, and take action

2. Face each day knowing that what you are doing improves the lives of those around you.

Believe it or not,  your co-workers and your boss become dependent on  you. If you slack off, you are only putting more work on others. If you can finish your task, and help ease the load of others, you show leadership potential. You become the expert. While just knowing that you help others may not be enough motivation for you. Making yourself outstanding will.

3. Strive harder.

If you mop a floor, or run a board. Use the Bobcat Scout Credo: "Do Your Best".  It's a rather simple statement, that is taught to bobcats, those youngest of scouts, just out of kindergarten. Do Your Best.  If you aren't doing your best, only you know. Don't cheat yourself of opportunities to rise to the occasion. Don't cheat others from seeing your leadership potential. Don't cheat the team, or the boss. Do Your Best

While the current position you may be in may offer potential for upward mobility, it may also hinder you from upward mobility.  If you find yourself becoming stuck in a quagmire of  sorts.  Make time, communicate with your boss, let them know you'd like more challenges. Keep a score card, sometimes bosses forget. If you've shown your worth, tell them you'd like more, and show them how and where you excelled.  If you decide you are ready to take your skills further and to other places; find your next career here: www.govtcontractorjobs.com

Simple. Employment. Solutions.

Make No Small Plans...get the how!

“Make no small plans; they have no magic to stir your blood to action. Make big plans, aim high in work and hope.” - Daniel Burnham

What are your plan? What are your dreams? What are your expectations?  How are you going to plan your expectations to fulfill your dreams. Set your goals lofty, my friends. And write them down. Check them daily.  Write them, down, don't just type them.  Go, get a piece of paper, scrap, notebook, ledger, journal, edge of a newspaper, a brown paper bag.  Write down your goal.  Then every day, write down your goal.  That's right, every day. As you realize your writings you will find the steps you need to succeed daily.  It -the results; becomes self fulfilling prophecy.  You can do, you can achieve, you can venture forth.

You can land a new job, you can find the perfect position. Create it. Write it down, be specific, make that a part of your goal.  HOW you get there. How is the fuel for the fire which ignites you to do the things that make all things possible. How is actionable.

How are you going to differentiate yourself from other candidates? How are you going to show your knowledge of the company when you go into an interview? How are you going to make certain that you are the candidate they select? How are you going to follow up? How are you going to be specific in the interview questions.  How are you going to answer.

Make big plans, and make them detailed. Aim high, in work and hope.  For hope is not lost on those with the how. Hope is not wishing. Hope is preparing and executing with staccato like emphasis. Make your goals actionable. Find yourself getting to the next rung.

Wondering who's hiring and how your going to execute those plans at the new company? www.govtcontractorjobs.com

What two years would bring....

On January 4th, 2008 The government reported that the nation's jobless rate hit 5 percent in December 2007, a two-year high, fanning recession fears.  Well my friends, that number of jobless is doubled, in two years, it currently stands at 10%.  Fifteen Million, Four Hundred Thousand people without jobs.

Although Wall Street and Big Banks were bailed out there were still a great many number laid off.  Bankers, analysts, IT, administrative, right down to the cleaners.  It's tough to keep your chin up when you have been smacked over the head with a proverbial shovel. To add insult to injury, particularly if you've been laid off, there is at times a stigma associated with that moniker. And I'll be frank, if you've have been laid off, it can be a blow to your self esteem.

Here are some suggestions on getting back up on that horse and riding again;

1. Stop Procrastinating.  It is a waste of your valuable time. You are a worthy person who has a lot of experience, you are responsible and in control. Things happen for those who are at the crossroads of preparation and opportunity.- Some refer to that as luck.

2. Take a half hour to yourself each day. Reflect on positive thoughts. Read uplifting messages. Whether it's Guideposts or Reader's Digest or positive quotations found on the Internet, read something, because when it all boils down, only YOU can motivate yourself.

3. Excercise. You are never too old to start something. Stretch, Yoga, Pilates, Walking. Wondering where to get started? www.sparkpeople.com is a great place that's free. So is www.fitness.gov.

4.Make a plan. This goes into conjunction with #1. I wrote the other day about  making a list of possibilities. My friends, your possibilities are limited only by your imagination.  Set goals, write them down. Take the steps toward those goals and plans.

5. Find out who is hiring right now. Chances are, it's a government contractor who has won a contract to provide valuable services to the government.  Check out some of them hiring today.  No recruiters, no hopefully I'll get to talk to someone, it's the direct red line to those who are hiring. Some are small businesses others are International Conglomerates.  www.govtcontractorjobs.com

Have a fantastic week, because, my friends, it's Monday. Friday is a short 40 hour work week away. Simple. Employment. Solutions.  Find them here: www.govtcontractorjobs.com

Today in History

Today, in the history of our nation, in 1959 Alaska, became the 49th state. So hat's off to you Alaska.  I've been to Alaska, once or twice, but never made it out of the airport. I will forever remember the polar bear that is in the airport though.   I was able to go outside and view Mt. McKinley though.  And it was quite frigid.  There was little humidity in the air, but the bite that nature took when you breathed, whew!

When I was in the service, the Army sold their fleet of hovercraft to the state of Alaska.  One of my colleagues asked me if I would like to move up and do maintenance on the craft.  I thought about it, but I just don't like cold weather too much.  Now mind you, I loved the idea of going up there. Fact is I have friends who live there now, and have had friends who worked on the boats, and made a lot of money. I've had an uncle by marriage that worked on 'the slope' back in the seventies, and made a bit of money.  I've had friends that moved up there specifically so they could become residents and share in the annual oil wealth tax rebate thingamabob the state does each year.

All this leads me to the conclusion of employment. Yes, there are canneries, and fisheries, and retail, and guess what else, that's right government contractors. In fact if you would like, if you request it, personally by emailing me, clint.s.miller@govtcontractorjobs.com  I will email you the entire list of government contractors for the state of Alaska.

Want to know where else they are hiring: www.govtcontractorjobs.com

Career Crumbles.wmv

Feeling like career building has collapsed? We know how to help you overcome this situation. Build rock solid footing with employment as a government contractor. Visit us at www.govtcontractorjobs.com

Simple. Employment. Solutions.

Its 2010 Make a List of Possibilities

It is now Twenty-ten.  What are you doing right now to improve your life? I made a conscientious decision late last year to eat in moderation, exercise at least five days a week, and lose 2 pounds per week. It' working!  I can tell you that I have made one resolution on New Years, over than 10 years ago, and it's the only that has stuck.  I had resolved, to never make another resolution on New Years.  -It's worked.

Speaking of working, have you found yourself in the crunch last year?  Are you one of the of the 15.4 million persons whom is getting a  chance to view their lives from another angle? I don't say that as a slight to those who are unemployed. Every single thing in our lives, I believe, happens for a reason. Not all reasons are good, that I know, however they are not all bad either. Lay-Offs drain you. Mentally, emotionally, financially.  They deprive a working man or woman of that feeling of security endorsed by a paycheck.

If you find yourself with that time on you hands; may I suggest a solution?  Take a full 40 hours, in solitude.  I want you to evaluate yourself. I want you to think about for the first ten hours, how you felt the last full year of employment.  Were you elated, did you enjoy your position? Did you absolutely love what you were doing? In contrast were you dis-satisfied? Take that ten hours and write down the longest pro/con list about the job you were doing the last full year. List it all. From the coffee to the benefits.

Now for the second ten hours, I want you to focus on things that you've always wanted to do:  accountant, cowboy, scientist, astronaut, chef, whatever. Wanted to always run a burger joint? Wanted the stress-less job of being a people greeter at Wal-Mart?  Wanted to hike the Appalachian trail ? Visit all fifty states? Whatever it is is I want you to make of list of things in those then hours that you have ALWAYS wanted to do. Make it as outlandish as you want.

Now for the third ten hour set, I want you to take two hours of that ten to pick your top four favorite items. If a genie appeared and said, "Pick four wishes, and they have to be on that list." ; those are the four I want you to pick.

Focus on four items from the list you made in the second ten hours.  Now for the next eight hours, I want you to spend two hours researching everything you can about those possible options. Do you have the education? Is there a commiserate level of income? Is it a new skill? Do you possess current skills be transferred to these new possibilities?

You have a final ten hours, if you've broken this up like a normal work week, this would be toward the end of your fourth day, your Thursday, at three. This is your opportunity moment.

I want you to focus on those four positions, and weigh the possibilities. I want you to spend 5 hours focusing on the number one item, reading, researching, finding whether you really want to change what you are doing.  Can you put this plan in motion?  It depends.  Can you learn that new 'skill' while working another job? Can you find a part-time position working in the new position.  Do you want to stay in the same field you were?  Can you make any improvements on your knowledge level?

This should give you some idea, of what  to do next.  And it should leave you feeling hopeful, as well.  The next thing I'd suggest if you have time on your hands.  Volunteer.  Find a school, library, soup kitchen, rotary club, or something. Give back to your community.  Volunteer in the line of work which you want to enter. If it is the occupation you left and you have skills, offer those skills to the community. Offer your services in your expertise field, for free to the local museum.  Offer to work for free at the new occupation, so you learn how.

This is the time to engage your mind, and learn.  Want to learn whose hiring now: www.govtcontractorjobs.com