Losing a job is something we’ve all had to face at one time or another. Whether you’ve been working for 30 years, 3 years, or 3 months, we have all found ourselves without work. The worst thing that you can do is give in to depression and/or panic when starting your job search. We have a list of things that you can do starting today that will keep you occupied and job-ready while you wait for your ship to come in.
Volunteer: I know that it seems counterintuitive to help others while you feel you are the one who needs help. But helping others
does a few things for you. #1, it allows you to network. Someone you are either helping or working with may know of a position that you are suitably qualified for, and this puts you in the spotlight because they can see how hard you are working. #2, it will take your mind off of your present problems. Sometimes seeing the other side of a situation and knowing that it could be a lot worst puts your life into perspective. #3, it will give you that warm fuzzy feeling…and skills that you can put on your resume. Hey, we said volunteer, not to get anything out of it!
Organization: Now would be a perfect time for you to start organizing your home. Not only will you feel better about yourself, you will have everything you need to get your job of job searching done right 
there at your fingertips. Doing two to three household chores a day will lighten your mood and give you a sense of accomplishment. One of the things you will miss the most about your job is having that reason to get up and get out of bed in the morning. By giving yourself things to do, you are supplying that need while getting a lot done.
Organize Your Job Search: You know that your first order of business is to find a job as soon as possible. Know what would make that easier? A plan! Do you know what kind of job you’re seeking? Have you had your resume worked on or looked over? Do you have all of the addresses and phone numbers you need to fill out any important forms? A lot of times, we miss job opportunities because we are not diligent with the things that we need to have done. It behooves all of us to have those things ready at a moment’s notice. Do you have business cards? Well, maybe it’s time you have some done. Most office supply stores offer really affordable business cards or look online for some great deals. Do you have a cover letter? No time like the present for creating one. You’re applying to that company… do you know anything about it? Well, maybe it’s about time you read up on it! These are all things that you can do to help yourself prepare to get the job of your dreams!
Networking: You may not be outgoing, but putting the word out to your family and friends is an absolute must! Maybe they know
someone who is hiring, or maybe they know someone who is having a party that you can attend. Oh, look! while at the party, you meet a guy who is looking for good people like yourself to hire! You didn’t want to be the parent that took your child to the birthday party, but since you’re there, you might as well have a chat with Bethany’s mom. She knows a lot of people and she may know your next employer! There are so many people who have gotten jobs due to word of mouth. It is the fastest way of getting anything done. By the time anything is published in a newspaper, magazine or even online, you can bet that people who work there are already telling their family and friends about the open positions at this awesome place where they work.
The biggest thing that we can tell you to do when you are job searching is to keep your head up. Cry if you need to, but once you’re done, it’s time to get down to business. Easier said than done, right? But sometimes, you have responsibilities to take care of that require you to give your job search your full attention. Just keep yourself distracted from the bad and keep heading toward the good. △