Greetings!

I have been unemployed.   These are the things that I have done to keep me going.

 

1.  Created affirmations.  I said them daily and pumped myself up by exercising and saying affirmations.

2.  Planned a schedule every night and executed them the following day.   For example:   I was committed to visit and file applications with at least three agencies/companies per day.

3.  Did volunteer work to keep an active work history (minimum of 16 hours).  This also turned out to be excellent reference resources.

4.   I refused not to believe that I would not get a job.   I did a lot of visualization exercises - seeing myself working.

5.   Talk to family and extended family when I needed to.   (Try not to let your emotions crash before seeking emotional support and encouragement).

6.   For me this works...Believe that a BIG GOD does answer small as well as large requests.

7.   Attend as many free business seminars, social service seminars as possible.

8.   Don't be afraid to work outside of your profession such as temporary jobs in retail, temporary agencies, etc.

9.  Be creative in your financial needs, volunteer in rent office, baby-sit, etc.

10. Do not be ashamed to utilize food services for yourself.  (Perhaps these are services that you referred clients to in the past).

11.  Don't be afraid or ashamed to ask for help.

12.  I found out that self esteem building begins before a crisis, not necessarily after one.   Thank goodness I had a plenty of this.

 

These suggestions may not work for every one, however, they did work for me.

 

Mary E. Howard/Goodwill

 

This is a very important subject. I will use very often to try to help
our many unemployed customers. Thank you. Carmen  MI

 

Well, lets see,   My son in law lost his job in Feb and is still unemployed. (down sizing by his employer.)  My daughter works for the same employer and lost her job this month.  Since she was a Director in the company her "parachute" will give her 15 weeks of pay before she starts to feel the pinch, but never the less, she is already struggling with trying to get the right "head hunter" to market her skills.

My son in law is finishing up his schooling before he hits the job market again, but never the less, not having a lot to do has been tuff for him.

I'll chat with them and see if I can get some material for you. Gene UT

 

I don't know who it was you wrote about but it sure sounded a lot like me. I have been laid off for three months now. Like your other writer, money wise I am O.K, but time seems to go by either very slowly or super fast. I can now better see how our clients feel from day to day. However, I could always empathize with them be cause I got to know my clients very well while they were with me, That is one of the reasons why I had such a high employment placement rating when I worked in W2W. In my opinion Paul, the thing they need most is understanding and genuine caring from the folks they come to for help. Now as an outsider I sometimes go into a partner agencies and wish that some of them could only see how they sometimes talk to and treat their customers, God forbid that they are the next to be given pink slips  Ed - CA

 We are rapidly approaching the unemployment numbers that we faced in the early 90's. You never forget how it feels to be laid-off (or fired) from a job; especially when you liked it a lot or held it for a long time.

When someone has invested a lot of years in a job that they had for 10-15-20 years, to be let go is comparable to losing a spouse. An individual goes through the grieving process: denial, anger, regret, a feeling of profound loss until (hopefully) there is acceptance. It takes a while for some people to see their working future. I have seen people respond to losing a job by going on a drunk, an eating binge, a deep depression that are all their denial response to this loss.

Cures? The best cure I have observed is when the displaced worker can get into a group discussion that focuses on the steps to the future rather than an unending discussion of "the___ (company or boss)" who is seen as the person responsible for their situation. The group will bond when they have had an opportunity to share their personal experience and
when they see that they aren't alone. The group leader needs to keep the group on task--what steps do I need to take to present myself to an employer and not allow the group to wallow in self-pity. Turning the discussion from the anger about the job loss to the pride in the job done is a great step in moving past the grieving. These are the basic steps for the group leader:

1. Acknowledge the loss huts a lot.
2. Affirm that this loss doesn't end your contribution as a valuable
asset to an employer
3. Determine your strong working characteristics that are marketable to
other employers
4. Make a plan of attack on your personal job search strategy
Penny -CA

 

This is a great topic. I have been unemployed in my life time. The one overwhelming feeling I experienced is loss of structure to my everyday life.

It wasn't so much the loss of wages, although that was a worry, it was the sense of confusion and disruption of the day to day existence that was most disconcerting.

What to do with the day and the days to follow, when everyone else I knew was working! I relied on my faith and the hope that better days would come...and they did. Take care, Ruth

 

Great topic!  When I was unemployed (12 years ago), it was of my own choosing since I had quit to relocate to another city with my husband. (He was being transferred).  Before we even moved, I started doing research on the local job market so that I could get an idea of the wages and positions available.

    Once we moved and had to set-up our household (gas, electricity, phone, cable), I remember feeling like a loser because at each place, we would be asked "who is your employer"?  My husband would state who he worked for and I would say "not employed."  I was surprised at how those two little words made me feel worthless. I felt like without a job title, I was no one.  I can remember it like it was yesterday.

    Since I did not have any friends, I talked with my husband and attended lots of support groups where I would talk about my feelings.  I did my best to keep a positive outlook and thought about what kind of job I wanted.  Then I made a concerted effort to apply for those I felt qualified for.  After four months I landed a job but kept looking for something better.  Eventually I got this job and love what I do.  But the story does not end here.

    Based on the dismal budget outlook for service agencies, I need to be aware that I could get layed-off at any time.  As a Career Counselor, I have become even more diligent about what the job market is doing and have kept in closer contact with my networking circle.  My resume is up-to-date and I review jobs that are outside of my current field.  I would like to say that I will "never again become my job title" but that would be a lie.  The difference between now and then, is that since I facilitate a job search seminar, I know what my options are when it comes to keeping a positive outlook. I must always remember "teacher, teach thyself."

Cinthia , California  

 

   

Yes...I deal with the emotional issues...depression, self image, self esteem...how men and women differ in their points of view about unemployment......how to have hope....how the skills of motherhood translate to the workplace...support group...barriers to employment....proper clothing for the workplace...job retention....authority figures, constructive criticism, work culture....these are a few of my favorite things....Len Ohio

 

I worked very successfully for a period of 20 years, 16 of which were in the offshore oilfield industry. I worked very hard and was extremely lucky to be allowed to attend a 4 year college devoted to the art of drilling oil wells, while working in the days. I was about to graduate from this school, in fact I had been given a rig assignment, and was set for the rest of my life working for a major oil company. Then I started having seizures, and the oil company's insurance said sorry, but no way can he be within miles of a drilling rig. So I started trying to find out what had caused the seizures, In the mean time I went to an electronics school and got a degree there. After 6 months of being unemployed, my wife divorced me, and I found myself living in a ghetto in Oklahoma City, being the only white person in 4 city block area, that is all I could afford.

        Then something peculiar started happening, for the first time in my life I lost a job, not due to work, but personality. Then I lost another, and another, and so on. I could not keep the most menial job for more than 2 weeks or a month. This was very hard on the ego, and very bewildering. I remember the despair I felt, and it was definitely the lowest point in my life up to that point. I decided to go back home, since it occurred to me that I had no reason to be in Oklahoma . Soon I had lost so many jobs, I was forced to live with my parents at the age of 34. Many of my long time friends would have nothing to do with me, and I surely did not understand why that was. Still, I kept getting jobs and losing them. I might mention that in 1984 I had quit drinking or doing any form of drugs, and I thought to myself: "This is what you get for quitting drinking, I was more successful when I drank." Finally my parents told me that they no longer recognized me, and I would have to leave home. I ended up in a homeless shelter, I felt totally adrift and powerless over my situation.

        My parents suggested I go to the local mental health clinic to be evaluated, I did so and they told me I had the classic symptoms of a Bi-Polar person. They could not prescribe the usual medication due to the drugs I was taking for the seizures. I got even more discouraged, and quit going to mental health. Then I found out I had Hepatitis "C", and had to take Interferon for a year, which was quite debilitating. I still kept working, finally my doctors convinced me after 12 years of this losing jobs situation to apply for disability, I did, and got it the first time. I had many things health wise wrong with me and had to have the disability to get Medicaid to cover the cost of the drugs, which was up to about 2500 a month. This was my lowest point. I felt totally abandoned by all the friends and relatives in my life, no support system whatsoever.

      Today, I realize I was put in this position to be humbled, and get back to the roots of the real person that I was.  For me, success is not about how much money you can accumulate or the position you hold. It is about being in touch with your nature, and using your talents to benefit in some way the world around you, to better yourself and others. I have a job as a case manager in a homeless shelter, and feel good about my lot in life. Its not what happens to us, it is the perspective we take in dealing with these things.  Damian

 

Being unemployed you go through a range of emotions first of all.  You have anger because you are unemployed especially if you were laid off.  Then you feel sorry for yourself because you can't believe that this happened to you.  Then you have some stages of depression which can last for awhile if you allow it to and hang around those who are in the same position you are in.  I went through this myself when I was unemployed and in talking with my clients I find that many go through the same thing.  Now on the other hand you have those who are unemployed who wish to remain in that state.  Their mindset is not on finding employment because of the network of people around them.  They seem to have a sense of entitlement about them, that they are owed something.  For the most part though people who are actively seeking employment are more frustrated than anything because of the current job market.  Some are reluctant to relocate or can't relocate which leads to more frustration.  I would have to say that the biggest obstacle they face is frustration from a very tight job market.  Michael   OH

 

Great subject, we should have started here 1st, when TANF started. We kind of got the cart before the horse. MT AR

 

This one hits close to home, me actually. Back in March we had heard that some of us at our agency maybe losing our jobs due to the Governor's budget cuts. We are both state and federally funded.

So with that one would think that they should start a job search, financial plan. Plus I'm in the Workforce Development arena,  I should be able to help myself, I help others prepare for their job search.

But on the other hand there is that hope that maybe there will be enough funding to save some of us and hoping that you would be the one to be saved. Being in this business for over twelve years, I did sit down with my finances and put together worst case scenarios. I did update my resume to reflect my most recent skills and experience. All the while still handling my present job functions and responsibilities. Part of which was preparing field staff for their certification in the Professional Association of Resume Writers.

Then the final word came in May, we were given only a 30 day notice that lay offs would come in June of 2003. Reality really set in then and I felt I was not prepared financially nor job search wise for this. I was still hoping to be saved.

Our WIA funding went to another agency. Some staff were picked up by that agency and I also had that option, but the job was not really what I wanted to be doing and it would have been just a job, a resting place. I did send out my resume to a couple of other agencies. Our agency does have other funding streams and a couple of positions were opened.

I applied for one and spent the entire month of June playing the waiting game. I did get an interview at one of the agencies I applied at and they were very interested in me as was I in them, until it came down to money, it just wasn't what I was making at my agency.

Another waiting game, will I get the position available at my agency, should I take the position with the other agency receiving the WIA funding, should I take the low paying job, or can I survive on unemployment and see what else is out there. Not believing the horror stories of there is nothing out there and if there is, it just doesn't pay.

Well the long and short of it, the position at my agency was offered to me. I did accept it. Could I be in the same position again, absolutely, will I be better prepared? Maybe. I do have an updated resume, I am still keeping my job search eyes opened. I am keeping tighten reigns on spending, since doing my financials. So it was an eye opener. I've never been laid off in my 30 years of employment.  Anonymous  
 

I have a son that was unemployed for approximately 5 months.  He was out job hunting and not receiving any call backs.  He sent out many resumes....his feelings:

• optimism
• depression
• resentment
• anger
• hopelessness
• overwhelmed with the bills
• little money for groceries
• loss of self confidence
• began positive self talk

Finally got a job with a plumbing company, he is working in the office earning 7.00 an hour (he was earning $14.00 before).  He will continue to work there until he has another job. He did have a couple of plumbing companies that stated if you had your driver's license we could put you into a company truck.  He got his fines paid off, he bought a vehicle banking on these promises...and so far nothing.  He is thankful that he has the 7.00 job.

Lulu

 

There are two types of unemployed people. The short-term and the long-term unemployed. The short-term person starts out by feeling anxiety. They panic, feel like they will not be able to get another job that paid as well as the last one they had. I have worked with both types of unemployed people. The short-term person is least difficult,  but yet I tend to feel like I must help them get something quick. They tend to put that sort of pressure on me, or that is how I take it. They start with, I cannot, will not take a job that pays less than what I last earned. They become easily irritable at the "system" as they find
that they have to file a claim for unemployment, the red tape they feel they must go through, etc. After a couple of months of unemployment, they are ready to take less pay, they are willing to talk to anyone that could possibly help them, etc., etc. They are people that you know are going to get another job, it is just a matter of time. You must help them get over the panic state of mind.

The long-term person is more difficult in the sense that they have already been suffering depression for a while longer. They have a lower self-esteem, they are willing to take jobs that pay minimum wages, although they have skills that pay higher wages. Some have non-supportive significant others that are degrading them, etc. We have to work much more with this person. And....you work with them, their self esteem and motivation only to have them get home and hear the same
old degrading comments from family. When you get them back, you feel like you have to start all over again. You have to teach them how to smile again, how to dress, and conduct themselves in an interview. Most important them the importance of exuding energy at interviews. I give them examples of a good interview vs. a bad interview. I like to use comical examples to get them to loosen up and laugh. Lydia

 

Having been in similar situations over the years, I can really relate to the different stages of unemployment. Also, now working in the Employment Connection here in Visalia , CA , where we have experienced along with so many local residents the closure of huge companies that no ever thought would close...like Perilli Tires and Montgomery Wards. We have worked with so many people who were notified the very morning that they came to work only to find out that the company was in bankruptcy.

After you have worked in this field long enough, you have probably witnessed firsthand so many people lose their jobs through company closure, downsizing, bankruptcy, etc. that you become (rather unwillingly) an expert on "what happens to people who are unemployed".  Living in the Central Valley of California, we see so much unemployment on a regular basis that we have learned to be very sensitive to what these people are going through. The office that I work in, the Business
Resource Center , is the agency responsible for being the "first responders" when there is a layoff, major downsizing, or closure. This puts us on the "front lines" when it comes to this situation. We usually respond by notifying the company (assuming we find out the information before they close the doors for good) and offer to come out to their facility with our "red team" to speak to their employees. When we make the presentation, we will have with us several people from local
agencies that will be available to help these "now dislocated workers" through all the steps that will hopefully take them back to full employment. We have put together special packets that we take out with us to give to them during the presentation that contain all the initial paperwork that they will need to file both their Unemployment Insurance
claim through our EDD and also will have on our team employees from the EDD to fully explain how all of that works and what they can expect to receive and when. After they have been assured that there will be some kind of money coming in soon...then we try to address the alternatives available to them and the help that is available through our resource
centers. We talk to them about the possibility of going back to school and maybe starting a new career and then we make sure we offer to sit down and talk to them as soon as possible in our offices so that they have someplace to go to immediately. Included in our packets is a wonderful resource book that is titled "Surviving a Layoff, Downsizing,
Plant Closing, or Reengineering". This book addresses managing stress, family problems, and finances. Also, how to package, market, and sell yourself...along with some valuable tips for starting over. It is published by Dahlstrom & Company and is such an outstanding example of the type of materials that can be used to help people get through these
tough times. The chapters in this book are titled in such a realistic way that they are literally just the type of statements that a person might make in this kind of situation.