Financially Survive Unemployment

If you’re worried you may lose your job, it’s essential you start preparing for this possibility. The steps taken now can help reduce your stress and help you survive financially. Loss of income or just reduction in hours an be thoughtfully approached.

Pay attention to the company undercurrents. Most of the time, people don’t know in advance they’re going to lose their job. Being aware and prepared can get you through tough times.There are practical steps you can take to prepare for the possibility of layoffs.

See 9 tips to prepare and survive here.

Approach the Hiring Manager About a Job

Contacting a hiring manager about an open position is an excellent way to stand out from a crowd of applicants. But connecting with someone you’ve never met can prove tricky, especially when in-person events have been significantly curtailed.

Consider commenting on a hiring manager’s post on a professional networking site, or follow them on their company site. Find a way to interact virtually before sending an initial email, you’ll have a  chance of getting their attention.

See four distinct steps to the hiring manager here.

LinkedIn Profile Summary - Do's and Don'ts

Many employers will call on LinkedIn to see you, Be There.

A focused, well-written summary can make a great first impression and set the tone for the rest of your profile. Showcase what problems you enjoy solving and how you solve them. It can be a golden branding opportunity that you don’t want to skip out on. Keep it brief, focused and highly targeted to the types of roles you want to be considered for. It should feel a bit more conversational than your resume

See 3 Do's and 3 Don'ts here

Get Noticed While Working Remotely

Stay visible and grow in your career. Showing your worth can benefit during good times, for advancement, and bad times, like downsizings. You need to continuously demonstrate value to your team and organization.

It’s harder for remote workers to stand out. You have less face-to-face time with your team and leadership. As a remote worker, you need to know when it’s the right time to advance.

See 5 steps to stand out as a remote worker here.

The Active Job Search Program

Interested in an active job search group that provides support while you look for a new job?  As part of an active job search group, you will receive job-search skills training from experts, support from other people engaged in a job search, daily check-ins, and job lead sharing.  It is close to FaceBook for job searching sponsored by LatterDaySaintJobs.org.

Outside of meetings, you will follow up on job leads and reach out to networking contacts. Join in The daily check-ins provide guidance and support from peers, much of the work needed for a job search occurs between meetings. 

See the live link to the interactive site here.

Staying May Not Be Good

Consider the stress level at work, and not having the proper balance in life. Once someone is burned out, there is no turning back. A vacation or even a sabbatical may not fix the problem. You may have to quit.

Burnout sneaks up, it is not easy to measure. There are other more specific situations. Not getting paid the market rate is fairly easy. Lack of supervisor support, a changing role and lack of upward mobility are others.

See a more complete discussion here.

Unemployment Money Management

Losing your job is always stressful. The American Journal of Public Health says people who are unemployed have higher rates of depression and anxiety. But there are ways you can take control of your finances, manage your budget and ultimately land on your feet, even during long periods of unemployment.

Maintaining your financial health during a period of unemployment is key to managing your physical and emotional wellness. 

See steps to take stock of your situation and manage your money here.