Combating Unemployment: Volunteering

Today is World AIDS Day.  Please make sure you wear a red ribbon and commit to knowing your status.

In my blog post last week, Getting Out of the House, I mentioned briefly volunteering.  You can never do enough community service and sometimes, and aside from feeling pretty good about yourself, you can get cool perks for a few hours of work.  In some places, it could impress someone enough for you to get noticed for employment.  It also is an item to list on your resume as what you were doing with your time in the transition stage.  Here are a couple areas you can consider volunteering:

Lunch and Dinner Serving - At this point, many of us are trying not to get up in the receiving line of the lunch and dinners.  That's more of a reason to volunteer. Not only is it a way to learn where resources are and the contacts for them.  Moreover, the company will allow you take a plate of food for your services.

Theaters and Museums - I mentioned before that I love theater and museums, but with my current lack of employment status and my mortgage, bills, credit cards, eating, I can't afford to really enjoy it like I used to.  Go on the websites and you will find there is a link for volunteers.  You will have to fill out an application time, but you make your own hours and can see shows and exhibits for nothing.  You can also get a discount if you want bring a guest during another time.

Cause Walks and Runs - Cause walks like the HIV/AIDS walk, Cancer Walks, 5K Walks, and Hunger Drives are always looking for volunteers to pass out water, decorate a table or just cheer participants on.  It is also good to have a cause that you are dedicated to personally because it helps you to think of others.  Imagine going into a company, wearing a ribbon for World HIV/AIDS Day, and that company ends up supporting that cause?  It could have a positive ripple effect.

Conferences - There is a conference for everything and they always need help.  If there's a skill you want to acquire, even if you just want to stay up on your industry, search for a conference in your area and request to be a volunteer.  Most conferences will waive the registration fee for the day that you work and give you a cool perk (t-shirts, snacks, and gift cards).  You can also attend at least one session for free.  Often times big named writers, artists, musicians, CEOs of companies (see where I'm going with this?) will be at the event. Just have your elevator pitch ready and plenty of business cards (Vista Print still does free ones).

Picture courtesy of http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/.  For more info on World AIDS Day, check out http://www.worldaidsday.org/

Combating Unemployment: Translatable Skills

Ordinary things we do and games we play can supply is with translatable skills for a job.  When I was younger, I used to play Tetris on the computer, where the controllers were numbers.  The best finger position to work with the numbers was by using the 10-digit keypad.  Even today, my brothers and I have no problems working our way around a calculator or a cash register, and it's all because of Tetris.  This is something I actually don't often advertise on my resume, but it is a skill that would be very helpful in certain job areas, including jobs that involve computers and data entry with numbers.  

So if you're looking for a job, even if it's a "tweener" consider what other skills you may have learned by playing a game or volunteering when you had to figure out a pattern.   There may also be smaller skills that you picked up for fun from picture editing, your child's leap frog games, and even social media.

Want to read up more on transition blogs?  Check out Vivian Banta's Transition Tip: Career Change - Translatable Skills.

Picture from http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/plush-tetris/

Combating Unemployment: Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

This week, we're going after unemployment as if we were David going after Goliath - small and clever enough to find that one spot that we can maneuver our stone into.  Today, let's consider CEU or Continuing Education Credits.

A popular option many people are looking at for this unemployment season is going back to school full time.  But what if you're financially unable to take that option or multidegreed and so tired of that life that you want a change of scenery?  Something to consider are low costs or free workshops in a skill area you are interested in. CEUs can be taken for credit or just for general knowledge.  You can get proof that you were there (certification at the end) and put it on your resume under "Other Experience" or "Certifications".

Now there are many types of workshops:
- Hands on workshops - places like Home Depot, Lowe's, and Michael's will often offer free localized workshops on any where from how to install a kitchen counter top to how to decorate a cake. You can also go online to YouTube, or Google search workshop to up your internet game.  I've recently learned how to conduct free webinars and make infographics, step by step, online.  It's often random knowledge but may spark an interest or hobby that you hadn't considered.  Hobbies are good to have whether you are working or unemployed.  (Hint: may be an option for a side business).

- Lecture style workshops - Places like The Foundation Center, and your Public Library will offer workshops on anything from forming a non-profit to music and art appreciation to learning Spanish, all for free.  They just ask that if you sign up for these, that you keep the appointment.

- Training Workshop - While each of these workshops are training you in a skill, these training workshops are ones that can actually be used to gain a license and advance your degree.  These typically come with a cost, but can be recognized also on your resume as a plus in your field.  I recently looked at Drama, Writing, and Arts Therapy and found places offer workshops and steps to take to be licensed in it. You can also take an acting class at a local theater, smaller ones may have free ones),  get CPR certified at local medical clinics, or learn how to do taxes (normally in the fall).

Try to keep you mind as active as possible.  Watching TV, searching the web, or sitting at home feeling sorry for yourself are easy activities to slip into while unemployed - combat this by creating your own productivity.

Good luck!

(Picture courtesy of http://spacecollective.org/Reckon/3837/Hold-on-a-sec)

Combating Unemployment: "Tweener" jobs

Congratulations!  You're up this morning and made it through the Thanksgiving holidays - time to do a little job shopping.

Having recently obtained a little job that I'm actually overqualified for, won't be able to advance far in, and uses less than half my skills (not a complaint, it's just the realistic facts), I realized upon doing a little internet search that these are the types of jobs we should be turning our attention to.  No they are not the perfect job that makes our hearts go pitter-patter, but it is a good job to have as a stepping stone, an "in between job" if you will. 

"Tweener jobs" are jobs that you can brush up your basic skills and build your resume so that you're ready for the next big thing.  It's a good one to recover from being laid off, fired, forced out, or having-to-relocate-because-your-ex-changed-the-locks-and-sent-that-private-email-toy-your-boss. One blog post I read by Hannah Morgan, the Career Sherpa (http://careersherpa.net/is-it-a-tweener-job-you-need/ - Jan 20, 2011) suggests that a "tweener job" is like recovering from a breakup.  It's a good exercise to do, a great date to go on, but you're not expecting anything out of it.  The job should be looked at as a stepping stone, a rest stop on your career path.  In the meantime, you should be working that 5 year plan (see Friday's post) and seeing exactly where you want to go from there.

****Be careful though, when on your "tweener job" to act accordingly.  Don't tell everyone about your plans and still give this job the attention you would give to any other. ****

So, this morning, go find that season helper job (UPS, FedEx, Macy's, any retail), there are plenty! If you're on unemployment, you can still receive it with a part-time jobs as long as you're looking for a full time one.  It may not be what you want right now (or need), but you never know - it may be just the element to get you noticed by other companies.

Happy Monday!

Thanks http://blogs.usyd.edu.au/gradlife/honours/ for the image!

Post Holiday Greetings and Temp Job

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!  Hope it was a thankful one. 

In an interesting turn of events, after keeping this blog for almost a week, I obtained a temp job for the holiday season at UPS, which I start this coming Monday. I'm excited to be working, even overnight.  The blog will go on, as this job is not full time and doesn't satisfy the long term goals.  So today, when many people are out shopping for the holidays with money I don't have, I'm focusing on setting my goals for the next five years (and trying to finish my nanowrimo book!).

Having a temp job is a cool thing because buys me some time to work on a five year plan.  Most businesses have a strategic plan that describes what they want to do, where they want to go and how to implement it during a certain time. I think that we as individuals should also have one to manage certain goals.  They can include career, family, money, or spiritual - any goals you want to obtain.  When I was in college, I was religious about managing my college plan, outlining each class taken and what I would need to do to be finished in 4 years.  It definitely paid off.  

I noticed though, recently, since I've been unemployed, I've shied away from having a five year plan.  I know that I don't want to go into a job just to have one - I have to love it this time.  (Let me stop here and interject that this is a luxury to consider for some, for me it is mandatory that I don't end up 30 years down the line stuck not having really lived the way I want to.  The hits I take now, will pay off in the long run). 

Here are several five year plan resources:

The Path by Laurie Beth Jones
This book is a way to create the mission statement for your life.  It gives guided exercises that can help you along your journey.

Boxes and Arrows
This one is a list format for planning out the first 18 months of your plan.  It's good if you want to start slow.
http://www.boxesandarrows.com/view/planning_your_future

Jeff Hiatt
Geared toward companies, it is a way of accessing where you are and focusing on what its necessary to make your goals more closely align with your work.
http://www.prosci.com/vis1.htm

Personal Goals
This one I think is the most specific.  
http://www.mindtools.com/page6.html

Feel free to be creative with your five year plans - I think I'm going to make an infographic (http://mashable.com/2011/07/13/visually/).





Good luck with your plan today!

Working During Down Time

Yesterday, I didn't get to my writing because I've been so much on the grind.  Got a rejection from a place I applied to last week (add to my growing pile), so I've been inspired to get a little work done.

The way I see it, you work when everyone else is taking a break.  Remember when you had a full time job and sometimes you'd come in on that day most people were taking off just to finish up that last minute this or that?  I'm taking the same approach. It's also how big businesses do it stay ahead, by buying when no one else is and selling when things are going well.  If all the jobseekers are taking a day off, you and I, my friends, should be submitting a little something to them. 

Got up this morning and went to my office (I haven't gotten dressed just yet) but I opened up my CapsuleCRM (www.capsulecrm.com) account and set some goals.  CapsuleCRM is an awesome project management system that helps you keep track of what you're doing, which I love!  I can see the big list and I get a very satisfying check in it.  You can also add contacts and upload relevant emails to "file" the different subjects.

So plan for this afternoon, Tuesday, to do some work this afternoon - say from 1-4.  Then do the same tomorrow, Wednesday - get up by 8, be in your seat by 9 and get a few applications in by noon.  Don't forget about me - when you check back, I'll even have a few contacts for you.

Good luck and happy applying!

Casual Friday

 Today, I figured it'd be more fun to look at other blogs that deal with unemployment.  Here are some:

http://stuffunemployedpeoplelike.com/ - This blog just makes me crack up.

http://iget2work.com/ - This blog is more of a variety show of things to do to keep your mind off unemployment. 

http://www.surviveunemployment.com/ - You have to apply for this one, but it is a collective blogging experience.  Also provides job search information and blogging opportunities.

http://jobsearch.about.com/b/2011/11/09/unemployment-extension-2.htm - This gives unemployment benefits information which is helpful.

One of the things I'm finding is that unemployment blogs seem to be very last year and there aren't very many recent post, as their writers are getting jobs.  Soooo, maybe the next unemployment blog should also be yours.  More next week...Happy Friday!