Confront Long-Term Unemployment in 8 Ways

Confront Long-Term Unemployment Have you been out of work for more than six months? If so, it’s probably time to change your job-hunting strategy.

If you’ve been out of work for more than six months, consider yourself as having reached the demarcation line between short and long-term unemployment. Crossing this mark is a sign that your process and focus need to change.

Thankfully, there are steps you can take to get througha rough patch.

Counseling or therapy. Being out of work for more than six months can be particularly difficult. Spousal/partner and other family relationships can suffer. To avoid depleting your emotional reserves, it is important to recognize signs of depression, anxiety or other mental health issues.

Peer groups. Join different networking and support groups for job hunters. You can find them in several places, including public libraries, houses of worship and other venues.

Career One Stop. This is a website sponsored by the US Department of Labor that helps job hunters explore their career options, learn about educational and training opportunities, resume building and more.

Coaching.One-to-one focused resume, networking, interview preparation and LinkedIn profile coaching pays off — they can help you convey knowledge of the latest trends, and provide support and perspective throughout your job hunt.

Networking. Knowing someone from the inside can make a real difference when it comes to looking for a job. Grow your connections through networking. Keep in mind that networking is not about asking favors. It’s all about building long-term relationships.

Skill building.Make sure to keep up with developments in your field by building more skills associated with the latest trends. You can take courses and gain certifications to make better use of your free time.

Midternships. Midternships are a chance for you to show companies that you are able to do the job they require. Though they may only last a month, they are an opportunity not to be missed — you can learn about new, exciting things in your field.

Volunteering.Make use of your free time by volunteering. It helps maintain ties to your community and can support a cause close to your heart. You can also gain added skills and experience that are relevant to new employment opportunities.

Break the cycle of search and rejection by maintaining hope with your new, recharged daily and weekly efforts.

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Alan Carniol

Alan is the creator of Interview Success Formula, a training program that has helped more than 80,000 job seekers to ace their interviews and land the jobs they deserve. Interviewers love asking curveball questions to weed out job seekers. But the truth is, most of these questions are asking about a few key areas. Learn more about how to outsmart tough interviewers by watching this video.