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How to Deal When You're Out of Work |
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How to Deal When You’re Out of Work
After years of expensive schooling, finding yourself unemployed is uncomfortable at best. The range of emotions experienced run the gamut from shock, anger, and despair to eventual acceptance and the need to take control. Once you get past the initial feelings of worry and frustration, you should maintain a positive attitude and think of your present situation as a perfect opportunity to reevaluate your goals and find a more fulfilling position.
Accepting your change in employment status is an important step for yourself. However, you will also face others (friends, family, colleagues, potential employers) during this time who will request an explanation for why you are without work. Expect this, and work to come up with an honest response that will serve you and your prospective employers well. Like an answer to any tough interview question, a good rule of thumb is to keep it short. Being succinct will prevent you from sounding defensive or dishonest – if they need more explanation, they’ll ask for it. Furthermore, you should try to be as positive as possible. Speaking negatively about your former employer gives the impression that you are immature and a malcontent. Finally, because you want to make the best impression possible on a potential employer, carefully consider which reasons for your leaving you disclose. It is likely that there several, but clearly some are easier to explain and spin positively than others.
Now that you have a clear response to the public’s inquiries about your unemployment, it is time to return to your plan of action. As we’ve encouraged before, you should first take time to reflect about your experiences, strengths, interests, and accomplishments. Next, you should reevaluate your career goals and adjust them if necessary. Being clear about what you seek to accomplish is an important step in achieving success. The next step to take is to polish and tailor your resume appropriately, and to refine your interviewing skills with the help of your recruiter. Your recruiter will also assist you in selecting the potential firms that will most meet your needs; he or she will then work with you to develop a marketing strategy so you may effectively “sell” yourself to those firms. Finally, remember to be persistent. Most likely you won’t find a new job overnight, so be prepared to be looking for at least a month (probably two). If you maintain your efforts though, you are bound to be rewarded in time. |
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We all know that first impressions matter, so when dealing with something as important as a job interview, it is crucial not to take any chances. If you are uncertain about any piece of clothing, accessory, or hairstyle, it is best to avoid it. You want to feel as confident and comfortable as possible during an interview (staying within the confines of business professional attire, that is).
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On a Resume, Appearance Matters |
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As much as we may hate to admit it, appearances matter. They matter when dating, when interviewing, and they matter in regards to your resume as well. It is a well known fact that people often base final judgments on first impressions, and so it goes with your resume; it is judged immediately – before an employer even reads its carefully crafted content. Whether it is delivered via snail mail, email, or your hands, your resume is most likely the first form of contact your potential employer has with you. Sure, the 20-weight ecru paper isn’t really you, but until you get an interview, you are what is reflected by that paper. Subsequently, your resume should not reflect your whimsical/edgy/artsy/etc. side, but rather your professionalism and serious interest in the position at hand.
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