Job Hunting Survival Tips

Whether you’re a new college graduate or an out of work seasoned worker, you have to figure out how to survive while you’re job hunting. When new college grads try to get jobs they’re often faced with the dilemma of a lack of experience while seasoned workers have to deal with competition for jobs. During the job search, you still have to pay the bills and .., well, you have to live. The trick for the unemployed is “How do you “live” when you’re not making a living?” Here are some job hunting survival tips.

Unemployment Benefits

A primary survival tip is to apply for and stay on top of your unemployment benefits to help make ends meet while you job hunt. Make sure all of your paperwork is completed accurately and submitted on time. Be on time for appointments and interviews. Take advantage of any resources the unemployment agency offers such as help with your resume and online job hunting.

Carpooling

Try asking friends and neighbors if they would like to form a carpool to take the neighborhood children to school. Families could take turns driving the neighborhood children to school on a weekly basis. This would save everyone gasoline and time. The time you save could be put toward job hunting.

Trade Services

Trading services whenever possible is another good job hunting survival tip. Ask the barber or hair stylist if there’s some work you could do in exchange for a haircut or a perm. This is just one example of an opportunity to trade services. Your skill set could open numerous doors for you to trade services but you have to ask consistently.

Odd Jobs

Look for odd jobs that will help you survive while you’re job hunting. Did you know that the actor Harrison Ford was working as a carpenter when he got his big break in Hollywood? He was about to give up on acting and was working as a carpenter to support himself. Look for opportunities to do jobs that you’re suited for. You may be able to do some typing or deliver pizzas or newspapers or a combination of these things. If you’re good with children, try to find babysitting or teacher substitute jobs. You may not be the next Harrison Ford but for now let’s just help you survive until you get a job.

Swallow Your Pride

Now comes the hard part. This is the part where you swallow your pride and ask for help. Government agencies, churches and other relief agencies provide food and housing assistance. Apply for housing and food if necessary. Remember that these are just temporary job hunting survival tips.