How To Turn Unemployment Into An Opportunity

The question we are gonna answer today is how to turn unemployment into an opportunity?

We already know that unemployment is often associated with negative feelings of fear, unworthiness, and stress. After being unemployed for a while, you feel like you have lost all the purpose and control of your life. However, if you find yourself without a 9-5 daily routine, you will soon realize the one advantage that you have over your behind-the-cubicle friends, and that is time.

So, here are some things you can do to make better use of it.

Keep A Routine

Going from a steady job to being unemployed can quickly remove much of the structure built into your typical day-to-day life. Keeping some sort of daily routine that allows you to both rest and focus on your long-term goals can help you stay motivated and productive.

For example, if your routine before was to get up at 6 am, go for a jog, and then take a shower before heading to work, stick to that. Your afternoon should consist of at least one to two hours of focused work, whether that’s updating your CV, writing a cover letter, applying for jobs, or sending emails and arranging interviews. Create a chore schedule and tick off tasks as you go. By the time 5 pm rolls around, you’ll feel like you’ve accomplished plenty! 

Turn Unemployment Into An Opportunity By Improving Your Skills

Lifelong learning is something I will always recommend for personal and professional development, but when out of work, it’s even more relevant! Whether you want to enter a completely different industry and need the relevant qualifications, or you need higher-level certificates in order to progress to a more advanced position, investing in a course or training is invaluable.

Turn your unemployment into an opportunity by using your time to learn a new skill, whether through a seminar, an online class, or a community college. Maybe you always wanted to learn how to code? How about SEO, speechwriting, or the mechanics of launching a startup? This is how you turn your unemployment into an opportunity, all while reinventing yourself. Browsing job descriptions can help you narrow down your options by learning the skills, qualifications, and working knowledge employers are looking for. Consider which new skills you can add to your resume that might be compelling to employers in your industry.

Put Effort into Developing a Great Portfolio

Your online portfolio should be the showcase of all the things you can do better and differently than others in your line of work. It should pose as a display of your best works, all your skills, and all that potential you can offer to your future employers.

If you already have one, then turn unemployment into an opportunity by making it better! If not, now is the perfect time to create it.

But pay attention to this. Although this seems like a reasonably simple task, people tend to overthink things and overdo these pages by going over the top, only to topple over like a fragile and tenuous house of cards. In order to make a kick-ass showcase of your work without any pitfalls and backfiring, you will need to:

• Select your best work for this particular job
• Avoid the TMI situation (too much information)
• Shift the focus to your work by keeping the page simple
• Come off as unique by expressing your own point of view

Read More: How To Write Case Studies For Your Portfolio

Stay Connected

Unemployment can be difficult if your social circle overlaps with your old workgroup. You might be wondering what to do for social connections when unemployed, and thus find yourself feeling lonely and disconnected. Make an effort to remain connected with the people who matter most, whether that’s by scheduling dinner with friends or going to a movie.

Even better would be remaining social by connecting with your professional network, as these people can help move your job search along. Stay active on LinkedIn and reach out to those professionals who you’ve connected within the past, particularly if they work in your industry. Attend networking events as well, where you’ll be able to meet new professionals who could potentially open doors for you, either for your immediate job search or later down the road.

By cultivating these professional relationships, you’ll hit two birds with one stone; you’ll have social interaction while also moving your job search in the right direction.

Consider Temporary Work Or Freelancing

Don’t like that resume gap? Make it disappear by adding temporary projects or becoming a freelancer to your work record. It’s a great way to make money while unemployed, which can go a long way toward making you feel better.

When looking at temporary opportunities while unemployed, choose something that makes good use of your existing professional skills. You will find yourself more in demand, as hiring managers want to minimize the learning curve on short-term assignments. The projects that are a good fit for your skillset will also make logical sense on your career timeline.

Read More: How To Start A Freelancing Career

Don’t Forget To Exercise

Get active! Whether you walk, run, spin, lift weights, or do yoga, do something active and physical every day. Exercise will help boost your spirits and improve your energy levels. This is really important for many reasons.

Exercise can help provide sharper memory and thinking. The same endorphins that make you feel better also help you concentrate and feel mentally sharp for tasks at hand. You will also feel more energetic throughout the day, sleep better at night, and feel more relaxed and positive about yourself and your life while you’re working on how to turn unemployment into an opportunity.

One thing’s sure: you don’t have to be a fitness fanatic to reap the benefits. 

Bottom Line

There’s nothing easy about being unemployed. However, there are opportunities around us. While it takes work to be positive when faced with unemployment, it is possible. Change your mindset so that you focus more on the opportunities that come with having a little more time.

You might be able to re-prioritize your life, start something new, or even develop the skills you need to get a job that you really want. With a little creative planning, you can really turn unemployment into an opportunity. After all, unemployment is temporary, though how you make the most of it is what counts.