Economic Duress: Finding a Job

So, you’ve lost your job. Unfortunately given the state of today economy, it’s much more common than anyone would really like. Everyone from top to bottom are making cut backs, and sometimes when employed, it’s hard to realize what everyone else is going through until you’ve personally been affected. Things are getting worse by the day and finding a job can be one of the hardest things to do right now.

The first thing you should do, even if you are sure that you do not qualify, is to apply for unemployment. Many states allow citizens to do this online without much hassle, and it’s recommended that you do this if not on the day your unemployment begins, then within the first five days afterward. If you are unsure of how, I suggest googling the terms “Filing unemployment (your state here)”, which should bring you to your state’s official website (I.E. Maine.gov) where it will either direct you to the nearest unemployment office or assist you in filing online. Remember to print everything if you e-file, or get copies of your application if done in your local office; this will provide proof later on if your job search is unsuccessful and you need to file for various government assistances.

To begin your search, it may generally be a good idea to start at the bottom. For many, this means going around your local area’s retail establishments (shops & restaurants) and gathering as many applications as you can. Do not fill out these applications on the spot, instead gather as many as you can, whether the business is hiring or not, and complete them at home and attach a copy of your resume to all of them. Be sure to return these applications to the proper business within 24 hours of the initial pick-up. This will help convey the urgency you most likely feel at the sudden lack of funds coming in.

After this portion, I recommend using the internet to locate further open positions. Sites such as craigslist.com, jobsinUs.com, Monster.com and even Myspace are user friendly options to assist you in this. Other resources to consider might be the websites of local newspapers, as well as internet classified databases local to your area. Apply for all jobs that you qualify for as well as those that offer training for the position. Now is not the time to picky, and hold old grudges against certain terms of employment. Even per diem positions, although generally to be avoided due to the negatively competitive spirit that tends to accompany them in regards to fellow per diem co-workers can provide you some form of income to help you get by.

Remember that throughout your job search it is important to keep a concrete record of every place you apply to complete with a number to someone you can contact to follow up on these applications. Follow-up calls can easily mark the difference between employment and unemployment and should be done often in order to again, convey your interest in employment.

Remember however, to give the establishment time to review your application before calling, usually about 5 business days, or sometimes less, depending on the size of the business or facility. For advice on what to do in the meantime, please see the article Economic Duress: Surviving Unemployment.