Find Community Resources for Unemployment
Where to Learn New Skills and Help Others
First steps to take when you’ve been laid-off from your job include: telling your family or partner, laying out a simple plan for getting back on your feet, and finding resources that can help you with all of the above.
Here is a solid first step to regaining your control and confidence: locate all your community resources–those right in your backyard, many of which you pay for with your tax dollars—that can offer you an advantage or provide support while you’re laid off.
Community Colleges and Technical Colleges
You can locate community and technical/vocational colleges online or in your local phone book. When you’ve been laid off you might consider going back to school for additional career training in your job specialty, branching out into a related field of study or pursuing a completely new career.
- IT professionals and technicians certification courses and “boot camps.”
- Healthcare related certificates, such as surgical tech, certified nurse assistant, phlebotomy specialist, medical coding, healthcare informatics and more, may leverage a well-paying job in the healthcare field. These career fields are quite insulated from economic turbulence.
Local Unemployment Support Groups
Believe it or not support groups for unemployed or under-employed persons have popped up all over the country. Try searching MeetUp.com for one near you. Groups like these not only provide emotional support, but you’ll find opportunities to network with productive adults, share ideas on job hunting, resume building, and just have an opportunity to socialize with people in your area that share common goals.
Community Education Classes
Community education classes may inspire you to imagine knitting or basket-weaving. That was “then.” But today’s community education programs offer a surprising array of very low-cost classes ($10-$100) that can teach you marketable skills:
- Web and graphic design skills
- Digital photography
- How to sell real estate and study for your real estate license
- Money management and mastery of basic investment strategies
- How to write grants, business proposals, business reports, and business letters
- How to draft a professional resume and cover letter that gets you an interview
- Welding
- New computer skills and various software applications
Volunteer Organizations
Volunteering with a local organization while you’re in an unemployment holding pattern may allow you to use your career skills and experience to help others, as well as network, socialize, meet new people, and even learn new skills. It will get you out of the house and help you organize your life along more routine lines. You’ll feel more productive and worthwhile, guaranteed.
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