Not working can be like a job, too
By Ellen McCarthy
Washington Post
When you're not working, a lazy, indulgent morning can easily lead to a lazy, indulgent day. And a lazy, indulgent week can easily lead to debt and depression.
Some ways to reduce the emotional and financial trauma of being without a job: • Turn off the television at a scheduled time each morning. • Do some of your job searching away from home, such as at a library or coffee shop. • Consider taking temp work to stay in the loop and earn some cash. • Read industry news so you're up on the latest developments. • Exercise regularly. • Lay out a schedule for each day, dress professionally and keep in contact with former associates. • Join civic and professional organizations to make new contacts. — Washington Post
No one ever intends to fall into these funks, of course, but it can be hard to avoid them when you have more time to kill than you have urgent to-dos.
Jobless tips
Those who have been through such times — or who make their living guiding others out of them — say there are practical guidelines that all jobless people should keep in mind, no matter what the reasons for the sabbatical.
First, and maybe most important: Get out of bed and out of the house. Every day.
It sounds simplistic, but daytime television can become a powerful vortex of inertia. While Oprah and Dr. Phil are full of good advice, they're probably not going to introduce you to your next employer or enrich your life with fulfilling experiences.
"I think it's very important that they treat it like a work day. They should dress professionally and have a plan for the whole day," said Mary Ann Blackwell, a career coach with Blackwell Career Management. "If they decide to work on their careers three or four hours a day, it should be uninterrupted."
Blackwell recommends going to the career section of the local library, rather than staying at home, to research job options. She also says that anyone who is out of work should join one or two civic organizations and at least one professional organization. Volunteering in the community, taking a couple of classes or showing up at industry seminars can be good ways to meet people who may be able to offer job leads, she said.
"If you're busy, it's easier to deal with the fact that you don't have your job situation in order," said Robyn Melzig, a 26-year-old District of Columbia resident who has been looking for an international economics research position since graduating from a master's program in June. To stay involved, she started writing for her high-school alumni magazine and joined the board of her condo association.
Melzig has submitted résumés to several head-hunting agencies and says she spends a lot of time networking. After six weeks of dedicated job hunting, she started taking sales and temporary administrative jobs to earn some cash.
Taking temp work may seem like an impediment to searching for full-time placement, but it can speed the process along and put some money in your pocket, said Polly Frye, president of Nancy Allen Associates Inc., an Arlington, Va., placement agency.
Her agency helps people look for permanent positions, but she often recommends that clients take temp jobs in their industry. It may be a lower rung on the ladder than their last job, but keeping a normal routine, making money and meeting new people is worth the trade-off, she said.
"You need to be up and be in the loop and get dressed. ... Keep your mind active," Frye said. But to avoid getting stuck in a bad situation, "you need to choose (a temp agency) that understands that you're looking for a full-time job."
Even waiting tables or selling shoes can increase the quality of life for a jobless person, according to Ardell Fleeson, who runs monthly support groups for out-of-work technology and telecom professionals.
"Sometimes you take a lower-level job just to save your sanity. It's just a way to keep money coming in," said Fleeson, who is also membership director at the Tower Club in Tysons Corner, Va.
Fleeson has a specific prescription for how members of her support groups should structure their days.
According to her plan, one hour should be spent in quiet reflection and another hour should be devoted to reading the latest industry news. Fleeson suggests four hours of "administrative work" — making phone calls and sending out résumés — and two hours of networking with old associates and professional organizations.
She also recommends adopting a "this-too-shall-pass" attitude and says that daily exercise should be a given.
