One common thing about people who are out of work

This post is a little different from the last few. It’s not about resume writing or networking. It’s about what I have seen talking to people over the last few weeks.

I have spoken to many folks who are out of work. The spectrum of different situations out there is vast. I have talked to people in the following situations:

1. Laid Off: People who were part of a company-wide layoff. Most of them were granted severance and resources to help them with their job search.
2. Retired – Forced back into the workforce: People who retired and were counting on 401K savings for support. That plan changed in the fall when their savings got shot. Now they are looking for work.
3. Quit: People who left their jobs. Often they left because layoffs in other parts of their company put so much demand on them that they couldn’t handle the stress anymore.
4. Let go/fired: People who were not specifically part of a “layoff” but asked to leave a company. These people most often did not have severance.
5. Recent Grad: People who have recently graduated and have not been able to find a job.
6. Freelance – out of work: People who do freelance work and can’t find new gigs.

   Some of these people received severance, some people have savings, some people are running out of savings, and some people are doing their best to live day to day.

   So every situation I have come across has been different – from out of work circumstances to current financial situation.

   However, there is one common thing I have realized from speaking with everyone. People are very supportive of each other. Between local job groups and community sites like this one, people are reaching out to each other and finding support. It’s a great thing to witness.

   And what’s also great is the support from people who are not unemployed. There is more support than ever from people who will offer free advice to help job seekers. Not to make money, just because they want to help others.

   I will make one suggestion. If you don’t have any type of support network, find someone. It’s important to be able to share your ups/downs with someone else (and there are lots of ups/downs in the job search). If you don’t have someone in person to talk to (a friend/neighbor/family member), find a JoblessJoe user and shoot them an email. (Someone who’s made an interesting post or someone in the same industry as you)

   Like I said, this post is not about some new skill I picked up or how to make your cover letter stand out. It’s more of an observation about the current state of unemployment. I welcome your feedback.