7 Steps to Take If You Are Out of Work

By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter

If you are like most people, you probably think that being unemployed is a bad thing. You’re probably beginning to worry about not being able to make ends meet, losing your house or apartment, or worse.

If you’re between jobs, however, you’ve been presented with an opportunity  most people never take advantage of because they’re too busy.

Yes, you should start thinking about your finances and making plans for the near future, but we recommend that you keep an open mind and remain optimistic.

Here are a few things you can do to move the needle forward

 

1. Maintain a positive attitude

Staying positive is one of the most important things to do after losing a job. Even if you were fired for unfair reasons, don’t panic or let your emotions run wild.

Whether your dismissal was justified or not, you have to maintain your composure. If you made a mistake and were fired for good reasons, you must still plan for the future while maintaining a positive attitude.

If you were wrongfully dismissed, you can file a lawsuit. Slandering the business online, on the other hand, will not help you. It might potentially work against you.

 

2. Begin Cutting Back

Learning what to do in between jobs is just as important as preparing your next career in terms of financial survival. You can’t tell for sure how long you’ll be jobless because you already have something lined up. 

We advise you to immediately reduce your personal expenses. It won’t be fun  to tighten your belt for the next few months, but it might be necessary for your financial well-being. The last thing you need is to fall behind on your rent, mortgage, or car payments right now.

But don’t worry; a closer examination of your bank and credit card statements will reveal how much money you may be able to save. Here are some easy steps you can take:

Stop eating out.  Coffee and snacks from Starbucks and others should be avoided.

Multiple streaming channels (Hulu, Netflix, Prime and Prime video etc.) should be cancelled 

Make a shopping budget for yourself.

The majority of people are unaware of how much money they waste on needless (and often unused) luxuries.

 

3. Take a fresh look at your life’s journey.

If you’re like the majority of people, you probably didn’t enjoy your previous role. In reality, nearly 85% of people say they despise their work. Nobody enjoys working and being away from home, but going to work does not have to be a chore.

Take advantage of the time between jobs to change the course of your life. Are you satisfied with your current job? What would you rather be doing if you weren’t working?

Our work does not actually fulfill our life goals, but they should help us meet some of our basic needs. People who care for animals, for example, will be happier in an animal sanctuary than in a slaughterhouse.  

 

4. Come up with a short-term solution to make ends meet.

It might be best to find a temporary job to help pay the bills as you figure out your next step. You might, for example, drive for Uber or Lyft  Deliver food for Door Dash if that’s what you need to do.

Remember, it’ll only be for a short time. Even if you think the work is beneath you, every dollar counts when you’re looking for work.

You might also sell your unwanted items online, do favors for neighbors, rent out a spare bedroom, or find other fast cash opportunities.

 

5. Make a decision on health insurance.

Most people don’t consider what they’ll do for their health care if they’re between jobs. The majority of people have health insurance from their employers.

If you lose your job and your insurance policy lapses, you’ll need to know what to do. Healthcare.gov can offer basic inexpensive coverage through Bronze level plans. Medicaid may be a necessary option. You could go bankrupt if you were ill or disabled right now.

Most insurance plans will not be cancelled without a grace period, but you won’t have much time.

 

6. Make changes to your resume

You may have a lot to add to your resume depending on how long you worked at your previous job. And if you were laid off, your experience there might be useful in choosing a new career.

Regardless, you have to update your resume if you want to be taken seriously by any prospective employers. If you haven’t revised your resume in five years, it may seem suspicious.

You should also be frank and upfront on why you’re looking for a new career during the job interview. Employers will still inquire as to why you quit your former role.

If you were fired, you need to be forthright about it. They’ll almost certainly find out the truth in the end, and they may be able to ignore it. However, they will not forgive you if you begin your professional relationship with them by lying

7. Keep Productive

Remaining busy and productive in between jobs is important for your mental health and morale. Although it might be tempting to use this time to sleep in until noon and binge watch a lot of new Netflix series, you have more important things to do.

You can also use this opportunity to complete any unfinished household tasks or chores that you haven’t had time to complete.

To remain optimistic, be effective. Here are a few recommendations:

Take care of any unfinished household tasks or chores.

Take care of your diet and start a new workout routine.

Spend time doing things you like (writing, drawing, knitting, etc.)

Put your old car on the market.

To make money, declutter your home and sell items online.

You can use the extra time to enhance other aspects of your life.

Don’t lose your focus on finding a new job.

If you’re between jobs, I understand how overwhelming it can be. It’s important to maintain a good outlook and believe that things will work out well for you in the end. That’s called resilience—the ability to bounce back from adversity

Don’t hide. Stay connected to people.

Learn how to win at job search..

Ⓒ The Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2021, 2025  

The Big Career Management Lessons from The Shawshank Redemption