Is anyone reading this unemployed? In my previous blog entries, I’ve discussed what to do before resigning and the art of a graceful exit from your job. I have also discussed applying for jobs, common job scams, and what to do when you’re between jobs. In this latest post for my career series, I decided to go one step further. I want to talk about the common fears and worries that people have while they are waiting for their next job. These fears are something I know many people in this situation think about but never admit to. Are you one of those people? Allow me to share with you what those fears are. I’ll also give some tips on what to do in the meantime to help ease those concerns. If you think this is something that will help you, read on. I hope I can help you with what I share here!
 |
| Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com |
Common Fears and Concerns and What to Do About them
Concern: Financial
When you’re unemployed and not earning any money, it means you would either be living on what savings you have. For others, it could mean depending on someone else for your expenses. For those of you who have been working for a long time, you're most likely used to being independent. This makes your unemployed status and not having any regular income feel challenging. I know it has been for me.
Solution #1: Budget
In my case, the unemployment stage meant learning how to manage my finances better. I had to ensure that I would have enough until the next job so I had to make a conscious effort to do this. It meant budgeting my money and controlling my expenses. It also meant crossing out all debt to ensure that it would not hurt me in the long run.
Being confident that I have enough to tide me over for a certain period gives me a sense of security. Having that financial security helps a lot. It means you can job hunt without rushing into anything because you need the money.
Solution #2: Freelance/Part-Time Work
Getting freelance or part-time work means having money coming in. It may not be as big as you would expect from a regular job, but it could be enough to get by. At least you have something while you wait for the right job for you to come along, right?
This could also mean taking time for other income streams. Some examples are starting your own business or investing some of your savings in stocks.
Freelance or part-time work also gives you a sense of career stability. For me, it has helped to ensure that I do not have a gap in my resume. It also helps if your part-time or freelance work is in an industry you want to enter. It becomes a learning experience that you can add to your resume.
Concern #2: Self-Esteem Issues
The job market is very competitive. Getting a job is not easy. You can have a good resume but still not get the jobs you are applying for. The constant rejections can affect one’s self-esteem. This makes it difficult for you to apply for other jobs in the future. It can affect your confidence level as well. You might lose your motivation to apply for other jobs if you let this affect you.
Solution: Maintaining Self-Confidence in Your Abilities
Rejection does not always reflect on your lack of capability or qualifications for a job. Always remember that you are not only looking for a job that you would be a good fit for. You are also looking for a workplace that would be a right fit for you. Any company that rejected you might have deemed you are not the best person for the job. But you have to remember it does not mean you would not be able to find a company that would think you are the best person. You only need to keep going until you find the right one for you.
Freelance or part-time work can also help. It can give you self-confidence because it gives you the chance to prove your worth in other ways. It also helps you to learn some skills that will help you with your professional development. If your career change involves a change in industry, this would also help. Having your foot in the door can help you to develop contacts in the industry. I have done this, and it is a learning experience and an extra source of income).
Solution #3: Networking
Talk to friends and family in the industry that you want to work in. Ask about new skills you need to learn and advice on how to land the job you want. Sometimes it is through these people that you can find your next job so do not be afraid to ask!
Concern #3: Healthcare
The healthcare benefits you enjoyed when you still had a job will become nonexistent. This becomes a big concern unless you decide to include a health card in your budget.
Solution: Taking Care of Your Health
This is the time for you to make more conscious decisions health-wise. If you can include a health card in your budget that is good. If not, the best advice I can give is to stay healthy. Eat the right food. Exercise. Get enough sleep. Take care of yourself during this time. You need it and you deserve it.
Concern #4 Mental Health
Being part of the unemployed can cause a lot of anxiety. I know that it has happened to me because I have been working for so long. Being jobless can cause emotional stress or depression. I went through this, and it was not pretty.
Solution: Counseling/Support
It helps to have a support system with you when you feel depressed or anxious about not having a job. You need to know the friends and family who can be there for you. Make it a point to talk things out with them when you need to. Do not keep your fears to yourself. Talk it out with someone who cares and will support you. Trust me, it helps!
Solution: Managing Stress
Practice yoga. Try meditation. Take a long walk. Do what you can to keep yourself mentally healthy. This is very important. If you present yourself as stressed during interviews, that would not be good. Take care of yourself first.
Concern #4 Being Unproductive
When you’re used to working daily, finding yourself without a job can feel uncomfortable. The lack of productivity can feel weird. It could make you feel that you are not being useful.
Solution: Have goals and Maintain a schedule
One thing that I did was to have a structure to my day. That meant having a schedule as if I were working. I take that schedule and keep it. It also helps to have goals for the day or the week to push you during the day. It could mean some time doing a hobby, working on a part-time job, or working out. It could also be taking time for an online class or reading up on industry news and trends. These things can give you the extra skills and knowledge that will help you further.
While you should also make sure that job-hunting is part of your schedule, I’d say not to be too consumed by it. I decided to only scan through vacancies and apply to jobs once a week and took it from there. Obsessing with it daily was not good for my mental health. Having a schedule for it also meant I was able to focus on it. This is because it has become part of my goals for the day.
Remember: do not burn yourself out with the whole process. That would only make your life more difficult than it should be. It’s not good for your mental health!
Having a productive mindset can help you prepare for that new job. It would help so that you won’t feel frazzled with how busy you might get when you finally have that job.
At the end of the day, the fears and concerns people have while unemployed are things we need to pay attention to. You need to recognize and deal with them to be ready for your next career path.
You must remember that it is important to take this opportunity to enjoy your free time. Use it to take care of and refresh yourself before moving on to a new career journey.
You need to remember that every person’s career journey is different. You should not compare your life with others. You need to be patient and understand that finding the right job is not easy and it can take time. You need to be patient. Take the time to explore other avenues that you haven’t considered before. Try and see where that path would lead. You need to have faith in your abilities and trust that everything will work out in the need.
I hope that this post was able to help or at least comfort anyone who is currently waiting for their next job. If this has been useful to you, please leave a message in the comments. If you have experienced the same situation, share what you did to help feel better. I’m sure the people reading would appreciate more advice!
No comments
Post a Comment