Joel Cheesman posted a link on Facebook pointing to the increasingly depressing unemployment figures (and how they may actually be worse than the numbers show). Here in Oregon, unemployment went from 12.4% to 12.2%. Which I guess is… good? It may be a little too early to be giving each other high fives. People are losing confidence in the stimulus plan. Unless you’re in construction, “green” jobs or a pet project your congressperson set aside for you, you probably didn’t feel much of anything. Now some are calling for a second stimulus package while President Obama urges patience.
If you are unemployed, you don’t care about all of this, right? In my limited experience, unemployment numbers, government job programs, flowery speeches and hand wringing over projects and cost don’t mean much to the unemployed. They care about getting a decent job for themselves, providing for their family and getting their kids to college.
I have seen a few resources that can actually help people deal with their current state of unemployment and also prepare for the future.
- If you’re an out of work HR person… SHRM is offering to waive membership fees for one year for existing members if you are an out of work HR person at the time of your membership renewal. Why is that good? Well, if you have a PHR or SPHR, it can help you maintain those credentials. It can help you stay plugged in to the HR community as well. SHRM is also the organization that offered free career coaching through noted outplacement provider Lee Hecht Harrison during their annual conference.
- If you need to take care of yourself and your family… Apply for unemployment, get yourself covered by health insurance, get food stamps and other financial assistance if needed. If you have a mortgage, call your bank immediately to tell them about your situation. If you have medications, Pfizer has launched a program specifically aimed at helping the unemployed. If you have student loans, call your lender and tell them about your situation. There are local non-profits that are out there that can help you with clothes and household items.
- If you need help finding a job… Use CareerOneStop’s ReEmployment Portal to get some help. Don’t stop at your state office though. There are hundreds of online resources that can assist you from everything from resume advice to job seeking tips but my favorite is Vault.com (full disclosure, I have a business relationship with them but I am not getting paid for the link or traffic). And if you are investigating a career change or training dollars from the government, the ReEmployment Portal can also help you find resources for that.
- If you need to network… Go to local association meetings for the field you are a part of. If they require paid membership, talk to the chapter president to see if you can get it waived like SHRM offers. The least expensive option is getting online. That means creating a LinkedIn profile and using industry blogs as a starting off point for other resources that might help you in your job field. Start reaching out to people via Facebook or Twitter or through niche social networking sites.
- If you need some humor or advice… Blogs like Unemploymentality, Careerealism and The 405 Club mix humor with advice targeted toward folks who are currently unemployed or are considering a transition. They may never help you out in any concrete way but good humor and snarky websites can help calm your nerves and realize that not only are you not alone but that unemployment is a temporary state.
Pheww! Talking about unemployment is a tough thing because I know first hand how difficult it can be on people and families but I think it is time to start talking about solutions that can actually help people out.
What do you think? Anything that I missed? Drop me a line in the comment section.
July 14, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Hello-
Thanks for the Great article! I am here to tell you after becoming Displaced worker in Dec 08 It is really the worst I have seen in a long time. Any leads in the HR field in Central Pa area, drop me a note!
July 15, 2009 at 4:58 am
Hi Lance,
Thanks so much for the mention. We’re happy to help keep the collective unemployed chin up, share tips and stories, all while saving a buck or 2 along the way.
One of our newest features is a Jobr J ob Board, a free job posting service connecting recruiters, hr managers and anyone who’s hiring with our network of downsized New Yorkers. Check it out and if you have any jobs contact us: [email protected]! http://www.the405club.com/post/141620293/new-jobr-job.
Thanks again Lance – hope to hear from you and everyone here soon!
-Garrett
The 405 Club: New York’s Official (Un)Employment Network, on $405/day, but rich in talent!
July 15, 2009 at 5:55 am
Very helpful. Thanks for pulling all this together in one place.
July 15, 2009 at 6:07 am
And don’t be ashamed or afraid to ask for help. Look for support groups for the unemployed in your area. As much as our loved ones want to help, no one understands your emotions better than those going thru them as well. And it is normal to have anxiety and fear once you do start another position as well. Stay strong!
July 15, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Great support, good job! I am sure you are right…the unemployment numbers are a LOT worse than we think. And…the retraining or training programs and providers through the OneStops are completely out of touch, unrealistic… especially for unemployed professionals and older workers. Answer…breath some fresh air daily…take some breaks….focus on what you can do to stay connected to the workforce. Reinventing ourselves is key today along with being grateful for the blessing we do have. LinkedIn is a great place to start!
July 15, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Lots of great suggestions. has lots of links and articles to help people dealing with layoffs.
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July 15, 2009 at 2:53 pm
If you’re looking for work try out Hired On The Spot http://www.hiredonthespot – free to join and post for now. They’re new with a really fresh, cool attitude.
David
http://www.supercoolcreative
July 15, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Hi,
I just wanted to let you know that Pfizer has specifically targeted the unemployed but other pharmaceutical companies have existing programs too with income limits. But if you’re unemployed, you’ll probably qualify for those income limits.
Additionally, the federal government recently launched (July 1, 2009) a program for those with outstanding student loans. Details can be accessed at http://www.ibrinfo.org/faq.vp.html#_How_does_loan
July 16, 2009 at 9:06 am
Lance,
This is really a public service and a reflection of your own HR focus. Am going to pass this link along…
July 16, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Being unemployed can be a great opportunity to assess what you REALLY want out of life – what’s your purpose, what matters to you – and emerge empowered to create the life and career you want. While I know how hard it can be to justify spending any more than you have to during this tough period, investing in a personal coach or workshop can really help get you unstuck and moving powerfully toward what you want in your life. Most importantly, shifting your perspective on being unemployed from a setback to an opportunity will give you a renewed sense of focus and energy to get what you want – a job you LOVE, starting your own business, taking the rare opportunity to travel (on a shoestring budget if need be), etc.
As a personal coach, I’ve seen firsthand what a difference your perspective can make. In many ways, it comes down to that very simple glass half full / glass half empty issue -but that simple example seems to oversimplify the power of getting clear about the perspectives you have about different areas of your life. You can look at unemployment as a setback and wish it wasn’t so. Or you can look at it as a shakeup, a clearing for new possibilities. I invite you to choose whichever perspective empowers YOU!
July 16, 2009 at 10:06 pm
@Shennee – Good luck. We know it is tough out there.
@Garrett – Glad to share the resource. I love the content on your site.
@Mary Ellen – Not a problem. Thanks for the feature!
@Jessica – That’s why I think the 405 club is pretty cool. Regionally focused and gives advice and humor to the people around them.
@Judith – It is tough to get money through the government for retraining but if you can work it and get it done, more power to you. LinkedIn is a great resource and Jason Alba has a great book about working with LinkedIn.
@Nancy – Thanks for the link.
@David – Y0ur link is broken man.
@Wendy – That’s tough to say. If you are married, you often can have a hard time qualifying for a program like that. That’s why I like the unemployment related program for the unemployed.
@Steve – I appreciate you spreading the word. Great to add you on twitter too!
@Dave – I have to admit it is tough to see that, especially in the midst of unemployment. That being said, it seems most people end up alright once they find a position. Let’s hope the same thing happens this time around.
July 17, 2009 at 4:38 am
Thanks for the tips for help if you are unemployed. I worked for a company for 5 years and was let go last May. Iam a single mother and did very well income wise in sales. I have applied for all the things you mentioned but seem to fall through the cracks. I had a eighty thousand dollar salary and now my unemployment checks run $290.00 a week and I get $400.00 a month for child support. I was denied food stamps and medicade because I make too much money with unemployment and childsupport. The only help I got that wasn’t through family and friends was the Salvation Army helped pay half of my electric bill and since I got that I am not able to recieve any more finicial help through any community program. Iam now homeless and my daughter and I are living with a friend that just told me that her husband is not happy with the arrangment. What Iam suppose to do? I look at the money I made the past 5 years that paid for food stamps and medical care for people who were labled poverty. Yet somehow I am not able to recieve these benefits that I helped pay for. What makes me soo mad is my daughter is effected by this and does not understand why we can not go home!
July 17, 2009 at 8:43 am
Thanks again for the kind words Lance and everyone else. We returned the favor over at The 405 Club: http://www.the405club.com/post/143503485/pink-slip-lemonade.
-Garrett
July 17, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Get exercise. With summer weather, there’s no excuse not to go for a walk, jog or major workout, before you start “Smiling and Dialing, “during the lunch break (12-2) when no one answers the phone, and after 4 or 5 pm. Some gyms have special rates/hours to support the unemployed.
Volunteer. You can use your skills and network with the staff and other volunteers. I got a consulting project through a contact. See: http://www.idealist.org and http://www.smartvolunteer.org
July 17, 2009 at 4:14 pm
To CD,
I’m sorry the programs you applied for didn’t work for you. One of my pet peeve is that the Federal Poverty Level isn’t reflective of what is truly necessary for cost of living. A lot (all, most) of these programs are income dependent on FPL (Federal Poverty Level) which for a family of 2 in the 48 states is $14,570, Hawaii ($16,760), Alaska ($18,210). If you live in a high cost of living state like I do in CA, that is about half of what I need to cover basic expenses per year. Your previous salary for instance, $80,000 is what the median income is needed in my region.
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July 24, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Changing jobs is often seen as a stressful and daunting task; however properly executed it can be an exciting and challenging experience.
July 27, 2009 at 12:45 am
Nice list – sorry to say that in the UK too, “initiative fever” has taken hold amongst government and local quangos (presumably you have plenty of those too in the US) and self help really is the best option.
August 5, 2009 at 12:31 pm
You can also check out our website. Instead of just networking we’re a social recruiting site that’s more professional than Facebook, but more personal than LinkedIn.
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