Unemployment is reaching all new highs as the pandemic rages on. Businesses from small independent stores to multinational chains are being forced to close their doors, and staff in many different sectors are being made redundant. Unfortunately, it could well get worse before it gets better, and on the employment front, the challenges are set to continue, for perhaps years to come. While some industries and companies are thriving, and people are undoubtedly hiring, with so many unemployed, the competition for every job advertised is immense.
The bad news is, many people that are currently unemployed could be for quite some time. There’s no easy answer right now, the world is terrifyingly uncertain, and we don’t know how long it could all last.
This can be a hard pill to swallow, especially if long-term unemployment isn’t something that you’ve ever had to face before. After a long job hunt, filled with knockbacks, rejection and upset, it’s easy to find that your confidence is slowly dripping away.
This lack of confidence can affect your mood, your relationships, your quality of life and even your chances of getting a new job. So, let’s take a look at some of the things that you can do to boost your confidence, increasing your chances of securing employment in the not too distant future.
Write a List of Skills
When you are unemployed, it can be so easy to doubt yourself. You may start to wonder if you are really good at anything. You are. Chances are you’ve got more skills than you think. Write a list, and leave it somewhere you can see, so you don’t forget. Include skills from hobbies, work experience and things that you’ve always been good at or enjoyed.
Practice Your Skills
Your skills and experience could help you to get a job. But they can also help you to feel better. Spend time practicing them, improving, learning and bettering yourself. This could be an advantage when you do get back to work, or it could help you to move into a new career. Of course, it could just make you happier, which is never a bad thing.
Get Help with Your CV
All those skills, or at least the relevant ones, need to be on your CV. If you need help selling yourself, ask a friend to look it over and give you some tips
Get Networking
Finding a job isn’t always about what you know; it can be about who you know. Get in touch with old employers or people that you have met through work. They might give you a lead on a job, or they might offer you a reference or even a compliment.
Get to Know Yourself
It’s easy to lose yourself without a job. You might be spending a lot more time at home, trying to save money, or searching for jobs. You might have lost focus, and you might be spending a lot of time alone if your friends and family work. These feelings can make it hard to be confident or to know what you want.
So, take some time for you. Consult your Ask Astrology horoscope, spend time practicing hobbies, find ways to clear your mind, and stay in touch with friends and old colleagues. By all means, check jobs every day, and spend a little time working on skills and networking, but don’t let it take over your life.
Start a Side Hustle
A side hustle can be a great way to make a little extra cash. But it’s more than that. Being able to make money from a hobby or something that you enjoy (even if it’s a small amount) will boost your confidence and give you purpose. It could help you to meet new people and make connections or friends. Who knows, one day, your side hustle could even turn into a full-time job. Spend some time thinking about your hobbies and researching ways that you might be able to make money from them.
Do Some Volunteer Work
A gap on your CV isn’t just bad for your confidence. It can be a red flag to potential employers. So, don’t let yourself have one. Spend your time volunteering. At the moment, hospitals, charities, community centers and other services are begging for help. It will help you to gain skills and experience and build connections, which could help to facilitate a career change and avoid a CV gap. Volunteering will also make you feel great about yourself, which is always good for your confidence.
Remember to keep an open mind. There are jobs available, but not always in the areas that you might have experience. Don’t be scared to try new things, or to take some risks, what have you got to lose?
