Staying Positive while Job Hunting

The difficulty you have to face upon losing your job is one thing, the struggle of applying for a job is another.  Gong through one job application after another amidst a competitive job market not only consumes your savings, but also your self-esteem as well. 

Of course, those negative feelings will dissipate once you are hired, but for how long can you remain jobless?  Here are some suggestions to staying on a positive side even while you are suffering from a long, jobless drought.

Prepare yourself financially

We hope you have kept a small amount of your earnings every payday.  Those small amounts now accumulate and can be enough to sustain you through these troublesome times.  You can also get financial sustenance from your severance package, as well as your unemployment insurance.

Keep yourself covered

You can still receive health insurance benefits even if you are unemployed with a little help of COBRA (The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act).  It allows you to continue to participate in your former employer's group health insurance plan simply by paying your policy on your own. 

Call the United States Department of Labor, (866)444-3272, for more information.  If your insurance from your employer expired before you could find a new job, let the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) take care of that.

Take your time away from your job search

Although you should still spend a considerable amount of time searching for a new job, whether online or even on foot, you should also take time away from the stresses that comes with finding a job.  Do something that you enjoy doing and spend a few hours a week doing it.

Take time doing things you did not have the time before

You may have some hobbies or recreations that you did not have time to do while you were working, such as spending quality time with your children during the week or even the simplest chores like cooking.

Occupy yourself with something new

Aside from reuniting with your old hobbies or making up for lost quality time, try finding something new to do such as volunteering or learning new skills.  Find a project where your skills and talents can be a great help to your community. 

 Just make sure you are not going to abandon it completely when you find a new job.  Meanwhile, there are a lot of free online courses available in learning new skills, as well as low cost courses which you can access through continuing education in your community.

Find ways to de-stress

Relax, see a movie as they say.  Go to a matinee, when the crowds are much smaller and the prices are usually lower.  You could also take some long walks and or reading a good book borrowed at the public library.

Join a support group

Several online job hunting support groups are listed on the Internet such as the Riley Guide, wherein you can share your experiences with others who are in the same situation as you are.

Meet friends for lunch

You may have long been apart from your good friends during the days when you were employed.  Why not get in touch with them?  Meet your friends over lunch, update yourselves about your lives, and reconnect with each other.