Thoughts on Unemployment

I often say free advice is worth what you pay for it, but after extensive experience in a brutal job market during the Great Recession, I found a few tips that helped me get through it. A lot of those in my age cohort are going through joblessness right now, or are underemployed, or feel trapped in their current career because of the lack of movement right now in the broader job market. Although I am currently employed, I wanted to sit down and think about some advice I would give to others who may need it at this time.

1. Assess your skills – sit down and look at what you are good at and what you need to work on. Now is a great time to pad out your skills and even consider a certification. If you are in tech, how about a certification from AWS or Microsoft? If you are Accounting, now might be a good time to study for that CMA or CPA license. If you are into project management, perhaps a PMP? HR – how about a SHRM? There are plenty of them, and splitting time between job searching and studying for a certification will make you feel productive. It may even give you that edge to land an interview you may not have been selected for previously. When I was out of work I poured a lot of time into learning cost accounting and analysis, which eventually helped me land a role working for a home services company.
2. Consider a job change – if you are in a field that is shrinking, perhaps it is time to move on. The best way to do this is to take the skills you assessed in step one and see if they apply to other fields. You may have to swallow your pride and take a step back, but it will pay off with security and additional runway at some point. I decided to leave pure accounting roles when I was out of work and go after finance and data roles. That is actually how I ended up doing what I do now.
3. Guard your health – it is really tempting to let your health slip during tough times. People may sleep less, eat more, smoke more, drink more, etc. This is a great time to improve your health. You should also know that interviewing is without a doubt a visual experience if you are interviewing in person, and having a healthy body plays into the interviewer’s implicit bias, especially as it relates to “lookism”, which is very real. You will present better as your healthiest self and even help alleviate some of that stress building up from the job hunting process.
4. Build your confidence – one of my favorite jobs I had ever was during the Great Recession. I took a part time job that quickly turned into a full time job at a large destination grocery store as a beer and wine consultant. That job was one of the most fun experiences I had working, and if it paid better I would probably still be doing it. I spent my entire day talking to people or lifting heavy boxes, and I got in pretty good shape. Most importantly, it gave me a chance to build up my confidence. When you are out of work your confidence slips hard. You start to doubt yourself. But, if you take a job and absolutely smash it, no matter what it is, you will be doing yourself a massive favor. I outworked everyone there, I always came on time, I cleaned and organized and learned. I needed that then and I am glad I took the chance.