How to Make the Most of Your Time While Unemployed

The longer any period of joblessness lasts, the more difficult it is to get a job or even a job interview. That’s the thought of many people who’ve been out of work for extensive periods.

For many hiring managers, that perception is also a reality. Many hiring personnel admit they’re more likely to pass up job seekers with substantial gaps in their work histories.

Those hiring personnel see the stigma connected to lengthy unemployment as less harmful during an economic downturn, because the experience is more standard. However, long stretches without work will still be seen as a negative if you don’t handle the situation properly.

Convincing hiring professionals to give you a shot requires you to take charge during your period of unemployment. This could mean staying busy with volunteer activities, taking classes, gaining experience, earning certifications or networking.

Pick up meaningful part-time or volunteer work

The most common suggestion from hiring personnel and experts is to pick up part-time or volunteer work related to your career. If you participate in a pursuit that fits your career path, it can be considered valuable experience to fill the gap in your work history.

Even if you pick up volunteer work, it is an opportunity to network and find out about openings in your field.

Create your own opportunity

If you can’t find a part-time or volunteer opportunity, you can always use the internet to create your own opportunity. For instance, you could perform freelance work, start a blog or engage in an online community. These activities show hiring personnel you are a passionate self-starter who is willing to think outside the box in order to stay relevant during your period of unemployment.

Work on you

Being unemployed isn’t just a chance to update your skills or expand your network, it’s also an opportunity to work on your mental, physical and social health.

Now that you have a lot of free time, you can dedicate yourself to reading all those biographies, self-help and non-fiction books you’ve always wanted to read. Good books can make you a wiser person and give you a different perspective on the world around you. Being unemployed is also a chance to learn a musical instrument, a new language, or even get into shape. It also a chance to make new friends and grow your emotional support network. Joining clubs or sports teams are great ways to make new friends and keep your spirits up in the process.

Ideally, you should do something you would be proud to tell an interviewer. For instance, if you spent several months learning Spanish, you’ll impress the person sitting across the table from you in an interview.

At Career Concepts, we work hard to keep their period of unemployment as short as possible. If you’re having trouble finding that next career opportunity, please contact us today to get a personalized solution!