Success!

I finally secured a job after 13 months of unemployment!  I will be taking a break from blogging during the duration of my employment (it's a 9-month contract).  Good luck in finding a job!

Don't Stop Applying For Jobs

It's easy to fall into the trap of getting complacent with your job hunt once you start getting interviews.  You may decide to focus your energy on upcoming interviews and stop actively looking for other opportunities.  This is not the right move!  If you put a hold on your job hunt you could miss out on the job of your dreams!  Keep searching and keep applying.  Be relentless.  You can't have too many interviews because if you are successful, you get the job, but if you aren't successful you still gain valuable interview experience.  

I have a second interview lined up this week, another next week, and recruiters continuously contacting me.  Yet I'm continuing my job search with vigor on a daily basis.  If you follow this approach it will increase the probability of receiving job offers, in fact, you might even end up with multiple offers.  This will put you in a strong negotiating position with your potential employers.  And in this market, where the supply of labor exceeds demand, we need every advantage we can get!

Positive Quote Of The Week

This short quote from the great Benjamin Franklin seems very relevant for unemployed people

"Energy and persistence conquer all things."

So stay energized this week and don't ever give up!

Job Search Site Of The Week: Job.com

The internet is a great way to access literally millions of job postings.  But with so many job websites out there, which ones should you use?  I am a big fan of the Job.com website.

When you perform a job search on Job.com, you have the option to select "jobs from across the web".  This option which will return jobs matching your search criteria from many different job posting websites including careerbuilder.com, monster.com, indeed.com, recruiter websites, and your local online newspaper. It is a great way to perform a wide-reaching job search in just a few minutes.

Click any of the links in this post to start searching for your new job on Job.com for free!

Hosting Guests During Unemployment

One of the reasons that I took a break from blogging over the holiday season was that I had family in town.  It is a really good idea to host guests at your home during unemployment for the following reasons:

1.  Save money
You'll definitely save money compared to traveling to visit family and friends.  By staying home you eliminate travel, accommodation, and other associated expenses.

2.  You have time to be a great host
Because you don't have a job, you'll have more to be a great host.  You can plan an itinerary and spend time taking your guests out sightseeing, shopping, eating, drinking, etc.  If you're lucky (like I was) your guests may even pick up the tab for the eating and drinking part!

3.  Reconnect with friends and family
The time you spend with your guests is a to focus on what's really important in your life (i.e. positive personal relationships) and get your mind off your unemployed status.

4.  Advice
Friends and family may be able to provide some fresh ideas to help improve your situation.  They may be able to suggest business ideas, prospective employers, or simply provide you encouragement.

Back From Hiatus

Fellow unemployees... I would like to announce my return to blogging after a month-long hiatus.  I took a brief break as I had family in town for the holiday season, followed by a very arduous exam.  I will resume blogging every weekday and have plenty of exciting tips, experiences, offers, and anecdotes to share.

Stay tuned to Prosperous Unemployment!