No BS Career Advice: December 21 2025
By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
“I have discovered in life that there are ways of getting almost anywhere you want to go if you really want to go.” ~ Langston Hughes
This is the last issue for the year. I will be back in early January.
In the meantime, i want to share that I acted on what a number of people have asked for–the ability to purchase my content without the monthly commitment. Quite a lot is set up that way so far. By the time I return in January, it will all be available that way. For now, of the 29 video courses, books and guides listed, 16 are currently available for individual purchase. As a reminder, you receive access to all of it by becoming a member at any Insider level, including coaching.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
Last week, I released a lot of new content including:
If You Reject A Job at A Big Company Are You Put on a List and Can’t Be Hired There? https://wp.me/p4a Ik1-mgx
LinkedIn Premium: Is It Worth It? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oyc
Try This Before Your Last Day https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oyh
Stop Networking at Home https://wp.me/p4aIk1-okZ
A Well-Respected Man/Woman–Branding Yourself to Stand Out https://wp.me/p4aIk1-fyn
The Unseen Reason You Didn’t Get the Job https://youtu.be/vTr1yX57PLs
#begreat #shorts https://wp.me/p4aIk1-iTr
The “Not One Single Person Gets Off” Brainteaser https://wp.me/p4aIk1-24f
Before and After You Are a Leader https://wp.me/p4aIk1-h8d
A Guide to Thriving https://wp.me/p4aIk1-olr
How Long Will it Take to Make a Significant Contribution? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-2Uf
Handling Job Search Rejection https://youtu.be/MlOVKYQUI2s
Whenever I’m About to Do Something https://wp.me/p4aIk1-h0J
No BS Career Advice: December 14 2025 https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oyF
When They Say, “It’s an Incredible Job!” https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oyr
How to Negotiate Salary Through a Recruiter https://wp.me/p4aIk1-5I
The Second Easiest Way to Negotiate a Higher Salary https://wp.me/p4aIk1-2z7
Handling Job Search Rejection https://youtu.be/MlOVKYQUI2s
What is Success? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oyQ
Interviewing is a Performance: Are You Failing the Script? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ozc
Don’t Settle When They Make The Offer https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ozh
How to Negotiate Salary Through a Recruiter https://wp.me/p4aIk1-5I
The Lazy Professional’s Guide to Success on LinkedIn https://wp.me/p4aIk1-olS
AI Can’t Make You Stand Out in Your Job Search https://wp.me/p4aIk1-opg
I Have the Skills & Experience for the Job But Not Getting The Interview https://youtu.be/7H40BJ0mX9w
Rudeness https://wp.me/p4aIk1-hap
The No BS Guide to Getting a Remote Job with No Experience https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oz8
What Recruiters Know That You Don’t: Hiding the Months Doesn’t Work https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ozn
Holiday Networking: Don’t Press Pause on Your Job Search https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oyB
Things You Must Remember in a Salary Negotiation https://wp.me/p4aIk1-dHj
Things You Must Remember in a Salary Negotiation https://wp.me/p4aIk1-dHj
I Have the Skills & Experience for the Job But Not Getting The Interview https://youtu.be/7H40BJ0mX9w
Work Search Buddies https://wp.me/p4aIk1-kqq
24 Hours: The Tiny Change That Quadruples Your Interview Rate https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ozE
Recruiter Wants to Refer You to a Resume Writer? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ozJ
The Headhunter Secret to Knowing You Did Well on An Interview https://wp.me/p4aIk1-2Zt
The Myth of the Passive Candidate https://wp.me/p4aIk1-k2w
What is a Leader? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-hfs
The “Too Experienced” Card is BS https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ozZ
Two Difference Makers on Video Interviews https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ozV
The Unseen Reason You Didn’t Get the Job https://wp.me/p4aIk1-om9
Getting on Their Radar https://wp.me/p4aIk1-9B7
Stop Applying, Start Planting: The Executive Job Paradox https://youtu.be/vSmmPFaIr5c
Schedule a free discovery call with me at www.TheBigGameHunter.us/schedule to discuss my coaching you during your job search and beyond. I tend to work with more senior-level talent than with individual contributors.
Subscribe to No BS Job Search Advice Radio in Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to or watch podcasts. Every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday I release new episodes.
#BeGreat
Jeff Altman, MSW, CCTC Author
People Hire Me for No BS Job Search Coaching and Career Advice Globally Because I Make Job Search and Succeeding in Your New Job Easier | 5x LinkedIn Top Voice | Career Coach | Former Recruiter | JobSearch.Community
