A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A JOB SEEKER Written by Member Paula Oxner based on her experiences and additional information from Judy Nelson NHCC
Basic Routine
Continue to get up and manage your morning routine just as you did when you were working.
Instead of heading out to the office, park yourself in front of the computer for a couple of hours for networking, answering e-mails, filing applications, follow up, searching job boards, phone calls etc. Do 1 thing at a time. Then move on to the next category. (See below for an activities list and description)
After a couple of hours take a stretch break. Leave the computer area. Have a snack/coffee. Just because you are sitting does not mean you do not need to keep up your energy levels and sitting in front of a computer for hours is tiring on eyes, and body.
Most people work better in the am. Return to the tasks of networking, answering e-mails, filing application, follow up, searching job boards, phone calls etc until noon.
Make yourself a lunch. Eat it away from the computer. Try to change your scenery. Take the same amount of time you would have had at your job.
Back to job seeking or one of the things that would change your routine as listed below.
Take an afternoon break if possible or set an earlier stop time if you plan to return to the search for a time in the early evening. Set a "quitting" time for the day. Try not to return to the job seeking search until the next morning
Things that will change your daily routine but work them in:
Fulfilling all requirements of your unemployment benefits
Attending unemployment support groups
Attending Training-check your unemployment office for classes, seminar or workshops. Most are free. Also check out your town's high school adult education schedule.
Attending Job Fairs-Keep a watch for job fairs, do your homework and find out what companies are represented. If appropriate to your job search, take the time to attend. Dress as if you are going to an interview, take an updated resume, practice your elevator speech, bring your business cards.
Reading motivational books (suggested by POxner)
Who Moved My Cheese, Spencer Johnson MD
The Present: The gift that Makes you Happy and Successful at Work and in Life
Peaks and Valleys: Making Good and Bad Times Work for You-At Work and in Life
Keeping on top of the bills. This includes having conversations with landlords, mortgage companies, utility suppliers, credit card companies. Explain your situation, ask for a different payment plan, be an advocate for yourself.
Networking
There is both formal and informal networking.
Informal Networking
Stay in touch with family, friends, and former co-workers through Facebook, Linkedin, e-mail and face to face. This reminds them that you are still job searching. Pick their brains for info that may help in your search (available positions coming up, job fairs they heard about, where people have found jobs or transfers etc)
Monday Afternoons, 1-3:30 pm, Lawrence Unemployment Office, 439 South Union Street, Bldg 2, Suite 6 (at the back of the property) Lawrence, MA. Hosted by Valley Works Career Center
Every other week, 7 pm, St Anne Unemployment Support Group, 26 Emerson Ave, Hampstead. Call 603-329-5886 or 603-893-1971 for meeting dates or e-mail bmullen@stannechurchnh.org or jnelson@nh-cc.org
Other suggestions?
E-Mail can consume a good part of your day. Limit your activity. A good rule of thumb is to check it in the morning, mid-afternoon and perhaps again in the early evening. Respond to what is important and job related. The rest can wait for your 'free time'-getting back to family and friends who are not sending job related info is not a priority.
Filing Applications-Most application filing is online today. Make sure you have an updated resume, a cover letter that is specific to the job you are applying for and that you follow all the instructions the company lists for making application. It is always a good idea to do some research on the company so your application, resume, and/or cover letter can be appropriate to that company.
Follow up can be difficult with an online application process. If you know who has received your application, follow up directly with that individual about 1 week after applying.
Other suggestions?
Phone Calls ???
Coping Routine This is not a good time to ignore your health.
Eat as well as you can.
Get in some exercise even if it is new to you.
Go to bed at your usual time. Not sleeping-call the doctor if you do not want to try one of the over-the counter sleep remedies.
Make time for quiet, prayer, something to feed your spirituality
Be gentle with yourself emotionally. Joblessness is not your fault, not your choice. Be as accepting as you can of your circumstances.
Find a way to laugh at something every day.
If you become anxious or depressed, seek counseling. No health insurance-ask for reduced fee, a 3 session package on a payment plan or find a support group that focuses on emotions/mental health
This is not a good time to pull away from family and friends
Keep the lines of communication with family as open as you can. This is a time to come together as a unit. Everyone needs to understand that this is temporary, perhaps difficult, but temporary.
Everyone will need to understand where you choose to make financial changes. Help children understand what the priorities really are (Place to sleep, food, warmth, lights). Encourage them to volunteer ideas for cost saving.
Let friends know you are unemployed. Embarrassed? Let it go. You need their support right now.
Try to keep children's schedules as routine as possible.
This is a good time to reconsider your strengths and skills
Explore your strengths, skills, values and your purpose in life. It may lead to new job seeking directions
Have a conversation with a trusted individual and ask them to name your strengths, skills. Others tend to see us differently than we see ourselves.
Volunteer at least a couple hours a week either for fun or to try out a field you may be interested in exploring. Some reasons to add volunteer work to your schedule (POxner)
"I volunteer for two organizations, approximately 15 hours per week total. This is a Win/Win all around. I find volunteering…
Provides me with additional networking opportunities, meeting people I wouldn’t otherwise meet
Enables me to work in an office/professional setting again, which I miss
Allows me to feel as though I’m contributing to something worthwhile
Allows me to feel a sense of accomplishment and/or completion, which I also miss
Enables me to keep my skill set current
Has given me the opportunity to learn new applications/software
Fills that “gap” on my resume between my last full-time position and now
Check out the courses offered at the unemployment office, at your town adult education department. Again, looking for something fun or something to move you in a job direction.
This is a good time to review expenses and make wiser spending choices
Make a budget if you do not have one.
Apply for any federal, state aid you may qualify for. That means calling your town hall, your local CAP agency, locating area food pantries- get informed.
Have conversations with landlords, mortgage companies, utility companies etc to explore payment options