Tips For The Long-Term Unemployed
Being unemployed for a short time is difficult enough, but if you have been out of work for six months or more, the effects this has on you may be intolerable. In general, some of these effects include:
Stress – including worries about coping with less money.
Depression – being unemployed can lead you into feelings of despair, with no focus in your life.
Envy – you can’t enjoy some of the luxuries your friends and neighbours take for granted.
Grief – if you enjoyed your last job, you may miss the social and working aspects of the position.
If you are currently unemployed, you can probably add a few more feelings and issues into the mix – you don’t need us to tell you how much of a toll it can take on your life. So, what can you do about it? You don’t want to sit back and let this become the norm in your life, after all. Here are some tips that may be useful to you.
Ask yourself why you’re unemployed
In some cases, you may be out of work through no fault of your own. You may have been made redundant, and thrown back out into the world of unemployment at very little notice. On the other hand, there may be prevailing issues. For example:
a) You may have landed yourself with a criminal record. Having to disclose your offence on your application form and at the interview may be a hindrance to you. However, if this is the case, you shouldn’t let it put you off applying for job roles. It’s your human right to work, and everybody needs a shot at redemption. Around ten million people in the UK have a criminal record, according to statistics, so you’re not the only one with a past. There is some excellent advice at Unlock that can help you get back on the road to employment.
b) You may have been fired from your last job role. This could be for any number of reasons. Future employers will want to know why, and you will need to be prepared to answer tough questions. But again, you are allowed a chance at redemption. Employment site Monster.com has some very good advice if you have found yourself in this position.
c) You may be somebody who doesn’t know what they want in a career. You may have tried and failed (or succeeded) at any number of jobs, but for whatever reason, you may not have enjoyed or felt comfortable in the roles you were given. Perhaps you’re just fussy, one of those people who is never easily satisfied. Or maybe you were the proverbial square peg in the round hole in the jobs you found yourself in. We have some advice on job roles for those of you who are indecisive about a career path. However, if you are have been a square peg, keep reading this article.*
* Keep reading regardless… you’ve got this far so you may as well continue 🙂
How to get out of unemployment
We’re not suggesting its easy to get a job. There is a lot of competition out there, and you are going to have to fight for a position. But it is possible, so don’t give in to defeat because the prospect of finding work seems insurmountable. It isn’t, though you may need to improve your employability. For example:
a) Go back to school. While this can fill a lot of people with dread, there are thousands of mature students up and down the country doing just this. You may be having difficulty finding work because you don’t have the necessary qualifications, so it is worth researching the jobs you want to do, and what courses you need to take to get those roles. In some cases, you can take a course online, so you don’t have to go back to the classroom at all if your years of school put you off. Alternatively, you could take an apprenticeship, learning key skills through on the job training.
b) Take voluntary work. We know people who turn their noses up at this because they don’t get paid. It’s to their detriment. By taking on a volunteer role, you can get valuable experience which can be highlighted on your c.v. Voluntary work also gets you out of the house and into doing something that will benefit both yourself and others. It also proves your employability, especially if you have had difficulty getting job roles because of issues with your past. With the skills and experiences you pick up, you will have more opportunities to find work, or find an avenue into the next point on this short list.
c) Set yourself up in business. A common solution for many, starting your own business may be just the answer if you’re struggling to secure employment elsewhere. Using your natural talents, or the skills and qualifications you have picked up from any courses or voluntary work you have taken, explore all the available avenues to you. Of course, you will need to budget for your business, as there are one-off costs and overheads to consider. Say you decided to set yourself up as a tattoo artist, for example, you would need to consider renting premises, as well as having a line of credit to buy any equipment you might need, such as a tattoo machine. You will also need to market your business, ensuring enough people hear about you to help turn your business into a success. However, with planning and a lot of hard work on your part, you may never look back once your business is up and running.
What else can you do?
As well as the above, there are other things you can do to improve your chances of getting a job. For example:
a) Improve your c.v. This goes beyond enhancing it with extra qualifications and experience. It also means improving the readability of it, making it eye-catching and interesting to read for the employer. Check out these CV. samples as examples of what you should be going for, though if you have any difficulty creating your own, perhaps because of weak I.T. or grammar skills, ask your job coach at the benefit office for help and advice.
b) Knock on employers doors. Not at their home address obviously, but you need to have a level of persistence to show your interest. This includes handing your c.v. in at workplaces and at job fairs, speaking to employers face-to-face at some of these places, and finding ways to network with others, on social media groups or at industry events. Push yourself forwards, and you may just meet the right people to take you into employment.
Finally
We hope our advice helped, but remember that there are other places you can turn to for help. Your job centre is one, but there may also be a careers office in your town where you can acquire further advice. We wish you luck. It’s tough out there, but you will succeed if you keep on trying.
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