Staying positive during long-term unemployment

According to the BLS, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate for April 2010 stood at 10.0%. This again places Pennsylvania in the Federal Emergency Unemployment category. After months of unemployment it is natural to feel frustrated and overwhelmed. The important issue is not to remain in a position of negativity and although you may not have control over your employment situation, you do have power toward your emotional well-being. While job seeking is an obvious part of your daily routine, incorporating time for other interests is vital. How many times, while you were employed, did you say, “I wish that I had time for…?” View this period of unemployment as an opportunity.

Take time to volunteer. Agencies are in need of volunteers, it is rewarding for you and the recipient of service. Realizing that looking for a job can be a full-time job in itself, making an effort to volunteer somewhere with in our community is multipurpose. You’re helping our community but you’re also receiving the benefit of sharing your skills and keeping those skills sharp. In regard to benefiting your employment, employers do look at your volunteer work and the availability to network through volunteering is huge.

You now have the time to learn a new skill or brush up on your current ones. There are free online courses available such as GFC Learn Free, as well as, low or no cost courses available through HACC. Take the time to make face-to-face connections. You’ll probably find a section that lists all sorts of groups in our local newspaper. Quite a few of them are business oriented. Meetup.com lists every type of group that you can imagine and do not limit your networking solely to business-focused groups. If you have a hobby, join a group. You may just meet someone who can lead to your next job.