Basic HTML Version
HELP
WANTED!
Make aJob Out ofGetting aJob
D
EALING
wit b unem–
ployment is a job in
and of itself.
Jf
you are unemployed, the
first step you m ust take is not to
allow your confidence to be seri–
ously eroded.
When the Shock Wears Off
Confidence is the key to getting
yourself back into the working sec–
tor.
Typically, those who have just
been laid off or dismissed find it
difficult to believe that they no lon–
ger have work to do. Then, as the
shock wears off, a certain compla–
cent numbness sets in.
Sorne few see their new state as a
temporary "extended holiday"
from work. Most others experience
the helplessness and frustration of
standing in long lines at govern–
ment employment offices. Many
begin to despair that they may nev–
er find work again. Others turn to
destruct ive behavior-drunkenness
or verbal, even pbysical abuse of
thcir spouses or cbil–
dren.
In one U.S. study
covering a 34-year peri–
od,
Johns Hopkins Uni–
versity sociologist M.
Harvey Brenner ob–
served that for every 1
percent increase in the
national unemployment
rate, across the country
there was a 4.1 percent
increase in suicide, a 3.4
percent increase in state
prison admissions and a
5.7 percent increase in the
homicide rate.
Sorne societies are less
sympathetic to the prob-
September 1983
by
Dan C. Taylor
lem of unemployment than others.
In Italy, for instance, someone who
is unemployed is viewed as simply
wait ing for the right economic
oppor tunity. In J apan unemploy–
ment is a disgrace.
If
you are recently unemployed,
here are sorne steps you can take to
avoid many of the pitfalls being
jobless can cause.
Eight Step s to Tak e
• lmmediately assess your financia!
situation. Work out a new budget
that is painfully realistic. Talk with
a public cred it counseling service if
you can't work out a budget for
yourself. Notify your creditors and
see if arrangements can be made to
lower sorne pay–
ments.
• Prepare for at least six months
of unemployment. In many nations
it isn't unusual to be unemployed
for more than ayear. This has been
the case with nearly one out of
every four members of the French
work force.
• Make a job of getting ajob. Set
goals and objectives. Know what
kind of job you want. This will nar–
row your job search. Public librar–
ies or government employment
agencies can help you out with
pamphlets or other information
detailing job descriptions and
requirements.
• Get out of the house at the
appropriate times. Keep in a rou–
tine of getting up early. Don't sit
around watching television all day.
Meet people. Make it known thai
you
want
a job. Expand
your informal connections
to various job sectors
through friends and ac–
quaintances.
If
these
people can' t offer you a
job, ask them for leads or
introductions to those who
might be able to help.
Don't be afraid to ask.
In many cases, prívate
recommendat ions go fur–
ther than those from gov–
ernment employment
agencies. And many busi–
nesses would rather turn
to a bit of nepotism than
be swamped by the
masses of individuals
answering a job adver–
tisement for a single
posit ion. Often, it is
"who you know" that
counts.
• Knock on sorne
doors. Bypass the com–
mon first step-Personnel
29