What Options are There for You if You are Unemployed?

With hundreds of people chasing every job advertised, what hope is there for those who find themselves unemployed in the present economic climate?

Unemployment at 2.57 million or 8.1%, in the UK – the highest it’s been in 17 years – and although the trend in the US was up in October, it’s still at around 9% , making this is a major problem for a lot of individuals and a lot of families.

If you can’t get a job, what are the alternatives? For some, going freelance is an option and with more and more companies outsourcing to keep down costs, there is work available. If your job can be done on a freelance basis and there is a demand, this is definitely worth considering.

However, not all jobs lend themselves to freelance work and if you don’t have the right skills, what else is out there?

Retraining in a field where there are jobs is something to consider, but can be expensive. So it’s worth looking out for companies which will train you on the job, or for government schemes designed to get people back into work. Some of these are compulsory and many are short and don’t necessarily lead to a job. But it’s a starting point and you should go to the nearest job centre or equivalent government advice centre in your area. Local colleges are worth a try too, as you may e able to brush up on skills in areas like computing.

Get Creative

But sometimes you simply have to take matters into your own hands. Developing a creative approach to work is crucial these days if you want to get into the job market. This can mean learning new skills at an evening class, updating some of your old skills, setting up a small business, looking for ways to earn money online or even getting several sources of income from a variety of totally different jobs, both in the world of employment and self employment.

Assessing Your Skills and Skills in Demand

You are probably aware of the fact that there are now lots of jobs out there which didn’t even exist 10 years ago. Yes, things are moving really fast in the market place and you could end up doing something you’d never heard of when you left school or college.

If you can learn some of the skills used in these newer jobs, you could get a foot in the door. You don’t necessarily have to retrain and get a full-blown qualification, you might just need to learn about social media or mobile marketing or blogging. Add some of these skills to your existing office experience and abilities and you could become a much more attractive prospect as a secretary or admin assistant or even an office junior.

According to Martha Lane Fox, founder of lastminute.com: and UK Digital Champion , “Digital skills are now vital for education and employment: we know that you’re 25% more likely to get work when you have web skills, and, once in that job, you’ll earn 10% more.” source

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/jun/20/internet-first-education-digital-skills-gap

 Setting up Your Own Business

This is much easier than it used to be and not nearly as risky. It’s still hard work, you still have to have the same commitment and vision, but you don’t necessarily need a lot of start up cash. Your business can be run at home or on the internet, depending on your interests.

You can set up a business using your existing work-related skills, particularly if you reached a high level and would be in demand as a consultant.

Alternatively, you can pursue a hobby or interest and look at ways in which you can make that pay.

We’ll take a look at each of these different options for unemployed people in more detail over the next week or so.

In the meantime, you can read more about portfolio careers and get some small business ideas.

Top Paying Jobs

Who doesn’t want to be able to get one of the top paying jobs?

Check out this video to learn more

For more information go to top paying jobs without qualifications

If you want to find a job, seasonal work can be the first step on the way to a more permanent position. With the holiday season approaching, it’s time for this year’s batch of temp jobs to appear. This year, with so many job losses, it is likely that there will be competition for Christmas jobs. So, jobs which were once mainly student territory are likely to be attractive to more experienced but unemployed  workers looking for a foothold in the labour market or at least a temporary reprieve from the dole queue. Read More »

How to find a job if you are over 50

Finding the best jobs for over 50s is not always easy, especially as so many employers still tend to go for younger workers, despite laws against age discrimination. However, there are also companies which really value the fact that older people have so much experience, not only in the workplace but also in their day to day lives. These employers can see that as a result of their experience, older people can be ideal candidates for certain jobs. Read More »

Is it possible to recession proof your career? With so many negative stories about the credit crunch in the news, is it inevitable that we will all be affected? If we lose our jobs – a common effect of recession – will we be able to get another one?

There are a few steps you can take to improve your chances of getting a new and even better job – or even keeping the one you’ve got.

To be sure you are in the running for the few remaining jobs out there, you have to have a high quality resume or CV which is carefully targeted for the job you want. It has to show the employer that you are the best person for the job and so it has to address the specific job in question. This is even more important when there is a recession or downturn in the economy. Jobs are scarce and those seeking them are many. You have to make sure you stand out if you are to find a job in a recession.

To do this, you must show that you understand what the job is, the skills it requires and the direction in which the industry is moving. Then you need to be able to show that you will be an asset to the company because of your skills, knowledge and insight.

Tough job for a resume or CV! But that’s what you need to achieve if you are to get to the next stage, that is, the interview.

Find out exactly how to write a great resume and recession proof your career.

Hi Folks,

This weekend I finally managed to make my first video using Camtasia. (don’t think I’ll be winning any awards ) However, it is now online and gives you a “rough guide” or tour of the Jobseekers’ Success Kit and I’ve also included a few tips on resume writing, interview technique and how to find a job.  As my video-making skills improve, I’m sure I’ll come up with a much improved version

Here’s the link Video Tour