You Just Became Unemployed. What Now?

[tamo42]

My family recently went through a stretch that involved some unemployment.  I thought I would share some of the lessons that I learned here since there are millions of unemployed in America with thousands more each week.

Before you go any further, here's the #1 most important, super secret thing you need to know: You need to face reality as it is.

This is really true for all aspects of life, but it matters very critically in these first days of unemployment.  The reality that you need to face is this: millions of Americans are unemployed.  It may be that you were doing the wrong thing.  It may have nothing to do with your individual job performance.  There are relatively few openings compared to the number of job seekers.  Accept that the odds are not in your favor for finding a job super quickly if you haven't built a network before now (hint: you should have).

OK, you say, you know all this.  What does that have to do with the price of bread?  I'm glad you asked...

Task #1 is getting some income.  Any income.  For most, this means filing for unemployment.

"But that's for poor people."

"I don't need a handout."

I can hear all of those objections you are screaming in your mind, because I hear them too.  But again, let's face reality.

Previous employers have paid you less than they could have because they had to pay the government(s) unemployment insurance.  In other words, this is your money that has been preemptively taken from you for exactly this situation!  So go get your money!  Anything that makes you want to do otherwise is either pride or anger, self-destructive emotions.

If you need to go through the 5 stages of grieving to get over yourself and get your money, so be it.  Just do it.  The faster the better.

Once you have started receiving your weekly cash (a month later - thanks gov't efficiency!), you will have accepted what just happened to you. 

I'll repeat it because it deserves repeating: Let's face reality.  You are not your job.  You are not your income.  These things help (or hurt) you to become the person you want to be.  Use whatever resources you have available to you. 

Get some cash flowing in.

Once you have that established, you can move on to step 2...

[badon]

I'm on the edge of my seat. What's step 2? Great post by the way! And I'm not just saying that because I've recently become unemployed and I'm hoping you'll give me a job. I swear! :)

[tamo42]

You'll have to tune in later to find out! :)

[kenzy]

Getting low class income is bad for the pride but it gets you back on your feet. I work any job I can get sometimes.

[tamo42]

Exactly right, kenzy.  If losing your job is like falling off a cliff, the first step is to stop falling.  Worry about getting back up to where you were is secondary.