4 Ways To Take Advantage Of Being Unemployed - Work It Daily

4 Ways To Take Advantage Of Being Unemployed - Work It Daily 4 Ways To Take Advantage Of Being Unemployed Unemployment: it’s a situation that many fear and that can lead to financial hardship, high levels of stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem. For anyone who has been made redundant, had their employment terminated or quit their job, facing down the barrel of unemployment is a scary prospect. Related: 5 Things You Should Be Doing If You’re Unemployed For whatever reason you are out of a job, being unemployed is no time to be complacent. Instead, look at your period of unemployment as an opportunity to reassess yourself as well as reinvent yourself. They say that as one door closes, another door opens. Use this period wisely and that other door may be a giant leap forward in your career path. 4 Ways To Take Advantage Of Being Unemployed There are many strategies you can use to help you empower yourself, take control of your situation and make the most of the time you have on your hands. Here are top five ways to take advantage of being unemployed: 1. Volunteer Take an interest in what is happening in your community and get involved. Join one or more local community groups and volunteer some of your time and expertise. Volunteering always looks good a resume and showing an active interest in your community will be positively viewed by employers. In addition, volunteering gives you the opportunity to network with people from all walks of life and this in turn could lead to your next job. Good points of contact are your local Lions or Rotary clubs. 2. Learn New Skills Keep your mind active by learning a new skill. Potential employers will look positively on the fact that you have been using your time wisely to keep up with industry changes or develop a new skill. A great place to start look is at your local university, it might be worth considering taking a MBA. Of course, these courses cost money but consider them as an investment in yourself. In addition, keep abreast of any industry developments in the news so that when it comes time to apply for that dream job, you are prepared to discuss not just your role but the industry at large. 3. Work Out At such a stressful time, you need to take extra good care of yourself. There’s no excuse now for putting off starting an exercise regime because you don’t have the time. You have plenty of it. You don’t have to join a gym â€" get a personal trainer, take up cycling, go on expeditions to explore your local area, or simply create your own at-home daily exercise regime and stick to it. You’ll look better, feel better, and feel less stressed â€" all of which will boost your confidence. 4. Rework Your Resume/CV Now is definitely the time to update and polish your resume. If you’ve been in the same job for a long time, it might be a good idea to engage the services of a professional resume writer or get a recruiter to take a look. In addition, start improving your online presence by creating or updating your profiles on LinkedIn and Google+ and start by joining professional industry groups. This is all a form of networking and is a great way for you to find opportunities that may not be widely advertised. Also, sign up for daily job alerts and submit your resume to employment agencies that specialize. The wider you spread your net the sooner you will find suitable new employment. Related Posts 3 Great Activities To Keep Your Job Search Moving 3 Techniques To Fight Unemployment Stigma How Long Can I Stay Unemployed?   Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join For Free!