I was at a safety awards banquet in Hickory, North Carolina last week. Cherie Berry, NC Commissioner of Labor, said, "We are all in the same storm, but we are not all in the same boat." How true.
A few people are in the Fancy Boat. They have good jobs and lots of savings. Most of us are in the Big Boat with a job and some savings. Some folks are in those TIppy Little boats. They have crappy jobs and no savings. Then there are some people, maybe you, certainly someone you know, who aren't even in a boat. They are in the water swimming because, through no fault of their own, they don't have a job and all their savings are gone. A few folks are drowning. Their unemployment has run out and they still can't find a job. Granted, I see a lot of people who don't know the first thing about finding a job, but lots of folks do, and there just isn't any work.
Why is this happening? I believe it is because we have a president who wants to rock the boats. He wants to make lots of changes. He's met a lot of resistance to those changes, but he's managed to push through huge health care reforms and huge government spending bills. Why is this bad? Because business people hate change. It scares them. It makes them hesitate. It makes them want to wait out the storm and stop spending or hiring until their darned boat stops rocking! In my humble opinion, all President Obama needs to do to fix the economy is stopping splashing around in the water. I'm expecting a call from the White House this morning (yeah--right).
So, what do you do? If you have a job, be thankful. In fact, it's not sucking up to privately thank your boss for keeping you on the payroll. Gushing is not necessary, but a quick thank you wouldn't hurt. If you don't have a job, be thankful you have at least some unemployment insurance--most people still do. If you don't have a job or unemployment payments, be thankful you have plenty of free time. You'll need it for implementing my number one tip.
Here is my number one tip for job hunters:
It is easier to find a job when you have a job, so, start working somewhere today--even if it has to be a volunteer position.
Volunteer at your church, at the local school, or at a nearby soup kitchen. Research a company you would like to work for, and volunteer for a cause they support. Volunteer to help the people in your community who will die (literally die) if someone doesn't help them (think about that for a minute). Or, volunteer in some aspect of the field you want to work in.
The important thing is to pick a direction and start walking.
Start doing something. You will have more energy and feel better about yourself if you are DOING something, especially if it is something important. You will have more to talk about at job interviews. You will be better dressed if you came from, or are going to, your volunteer job. You'll meet more people. You'll be of more service. You will rightfully feel better about yourself and your place in the world. You'll have a much larger network of friends and acquaintances when you get out of the house and do something vital.
I volunteered at the cable TV company before I became a TV producer. I volunteered at the YMCA and used those fitness and leadership skills to help me live with three chronic illnesses and get ahead in my job. I volunteered to help middle school kids at my wife's school and had a great time. What have you done? What could you do? What would you LOVE to try?
Don't blow this tip off because the payoff is subtle or the payoff may be delayed. If you are out of work and need a job, get yourself one today. You really can, by volunteering. Try it today. You have nothing to loose and everything to gain. You will be so much richer for the experience, and maybe just plain richer!