What To Do If You're Unemployed (2010)

Looking for some solid unemployment tips or wondering what to do if you're unemployed in 2010? You've come to the right place... I have been an unemployed person before. I'm not anymore, but I wish I had made better and more productive use of my time while unemployed. It can be a tremendous opportunity if you look at it the right way.

First off, I wouldn't recommend identifying yourself as an "unemployed person" -- that's not your true identity. And although you may feel desperate for a job that pays, what you truly want is not necessarily a job, but rather financial freedom, correct? 

Saying you want a job is sort of like going around complaining that you aren't married when you're single. Sure, you aren't married, but perhaps you should try to get a few phone numbers and go on a few dates before you even think about something like that.

Similarly, look to build your finances and grow your financial security before going around lamenting the fact that you don't have a job.

You want enough money to not be reliant on other people. Getting a job in some ways makes you more reliant on others: if the boss doesn't like you for some reason, he can take away your ability to put food on the table, by firing you. That lack of power sucks, doesn't it?

The key is to boost your income. Unless you are in a coma, you are not truly unemployed. You can employ yourself at a number of productive and profitable self-directed enterprises.

Offer to cut lawns, shovel driveways, tutor English or math at your local university, sell your old crap on eBay, babysit, design web sites, answer phones for an overwhelmed small business owner... there are literally thousands of "side gigs" you can pursue to boost your income.

None of these jobs is "beneath" you. As long as it pays, and it's legal, you should consider it.

Anything to boost your income and your cash reserves.

At the same time as you are boosting your cash reserve while unemployed, DRASTICALLY and RUTHLESSLY slash, cut and burn your current living expenses... Cancel cable, switch to a bank with less parasitic fees and higher interest rates (I recommend ING Direct), pay off your high-interest credit card debt, carpool, take public transportation.

The goal is to grow your wealth, so you won't need a stupid 9-5 office job anyway. The goal is to remain unemployed for the rest of your life, and be perfectly comfortable with that, if that's what you prefer.

Also, another thing to do if you're unemployed: take advantage of your time. Time is a tremendous resource. Here are some things I did while unemployed, and wish I had done even more of:

My tips for unemployed people...

Exercise. When you don't have a grueling 9-5 job, there is NO excuse for not exercising. Hit the gym every day until you have the body you want.

Eat right. Eating costs money. You want to reduce costs. So eat healthy, nutritious, light and simple meals. Keep your costs down. No huge steak dinners or $30 bottles of wine.

Improve your dating game. If you're single, unemployment is the perfect opportunity to pour some energy into your dating life. Go on more dates, join a dating site (a free one, of course) or read some books on how to attract and get along better with the opposite sex.

Rekindle old relationships. Unemployment is the perfect opportunity, as well, to visit family and friends. To catch up. To show loved ones you care now that you have the time to visit and enjoy their company.

Enlighten yourself. I read a tremendous, tremendous amount of great books on a number of topics while unemployed. I wish I still had the time to read so much. Don't waste money buying these books; go to the library or just read through them at Borders or Barnes & Noble.

I hope this gives you some perspective. Never look at being unemployed as a negative. It is what it is, and nothing more. You want financial freedom, not a job. Always remember that.

A job can be taken away at any time, for a number of reasons, but financial security is yours to keep. And remember that ALL of us are typically unemployed at least two days per week: it's called the weekend.

Comments

[Ed Kirwan]

This is valuable advice. It is hard to motivate yourself when you are unemployed and rejected but that is what you must do.

Learning new skills will stand you in good stead for your future. That is what I did after an injury forced me into unemployment.

[W. ANTHONY]

Very good advice. Unemployment is a time to boost the other aspects of your life that a regular job would prevent you from doing.