In the News
What Would You Do if You Lost Your Job?
Glamour
06.01.2004
By Kimberly Goad
You’d survive. Here’s how.
The only good news about unemployment? It’s happened to so many people recently, there’s no reason to feel the slightest bit embarrassed about it. If you get laid off, do the obvious: Send out resumes, use every connection you have, comb classifieds. Then take this smart, expert advice:
1.) Network...creatively. If you’re dying to work at a company, find out what charities it supports and then volunteer, suggests Brad Karsh, president of online job-search service JobBound. Chances are, a lot of the company’s employees volunteer there. And instead of paying to attend the conference that attracts all your industry’s heavy hitters, you could volunteer to help with registration in exchange for free admission.
2.) Sign up for a class toward your graduate degree, says Ned Barnett, a marketing pro in Las Vegas. “It not only places you a step closer to earning your master’s, but also lets you tell interviewers that you’ve been pursuing a degree - not just loafing - while you look for the right opportunity.”
3.) Know the law. Check your state employment commission. Several states allow you to work some hours during the week and still collect unemployment.
4.) Rethink expenses. One thing you have right now is time. Use it to find other ways to trim fat, like mowing your own lawn or cooking a nice dinner that will be good for two nights, says Business Week Online columnist Michael B. Laskoff. Other ways to save: “One afternoon I looked at my phone bills,” Laskoff says. “I changed plans and saved about $50 a month. Not bad for a half a day’s work.”
5.) Prioritize debt. Make mortgage and car bills a priority, says the National Consumer Law Center. These loans are backed by collateral; creditors can take away your home or car. And if you’re late paying credit-card bills, call. Companies might waive fees if you have a good payment history.
6.) Have a routine. To keep your mood up, structure your day like a workday, says psychologist Pamela Brill, the author of The Winner’s Way. Set your morning alarm, take an afternoon coffee break, go to the post office. And remember that you do have a job: It’s job hunting.
