Have you been unemployed for a year or longer? Losing a job is painful, but you’re not alone. Many people have found themselves unemployed at some point in their life. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of unemployed persons in the US is 6.3 million. It’s not the end— your attitude is everything if you want to bounce back after being jobless.
In this guide, we offer you tips on how to get back on your feet after being unemployed for some time.
Mental Health Professional
Young professionals are often the first target during layoffs because they generally lack skills and experience.
Losing a job means losing a sense of purpose, losing colleagues who were friends, loss of income, and low self-esteem. Eventually, young people end up spiraling and possibly experience mental health illnesses.
It’s Not Totally your Fault
It’s not entirely your fault you’re unemployed for a year. Some causes of unemployment are external. Here are some of the common causes of unemployment.
Cyclical Unemployment
This type of unemployment happens when there is less demand for workers. An example of cyclical unemployment is what happened when Covid-19 hit the world. Most companies had to shut down while others had to size down to lower expenses.
Frictional Unemployment
Frictional unemployment happens when employees are transitioning from one job to another. The transition may lead to being unemployed for a year. This long period is part of the transition. Workers may shift jobs because they want better pay, were unsatisfied with their previous job, or because they want to move to a different location.
Structural Unemployment
This type of unemployment happens when a particular region has more workers than jobs. It can also occur if there are jobs, but the workers lack the necessary skills. A good example of structural unemployment is what happened to newspaper publishing companies. They had to lay off most workers because people rarely buy newspapers these days. Layoffs like this can lead some professionals to be unemployed for a year or even more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to the long-term unemployed?
You are eligible for unemployment benefits
for 26 weeks if you’re unemployed. In the future, Congress also plans to offer financial aid to those who remain unemployed for more than 26 weeks.
How do you get a job when you’ve been unemployed for a year or more?
Even though unemployment can take a toll on you, it pays not to submit to negative thoughts. Take time to volunteer as it will help you network and add skills to your resume. Taking a short course is also a great way to help you bounce back after unemployment. If you’re entrepr
eneurial, there are many side hustles for women, men, and young people. Just make sure you get busy.
How many people are unemployed in the US?
Currently, there are over 6 million people who don’t have jobs in the US. The number may change from time to time depending on the state of the economy.
Who is counted as unemployed?
An unemployed person is anyone
who has had no job for more than 4 weeks. It also includes those who have been laid off but look forward to getting their jobs back.
How long is too long for the employment gap?
If you’ve been unemployed for about three months, a potential employer may not consider this as an employment gap. However, if your period of unemployment goes beyond 6-12 months, then an employer may consider this a gap.
Steps to Bounce Back After a Year of Unemployment
You’ve indeed been unemployed for a year or more. But, you cannot continue dwelling in the past. Now that you’ve landed another job after a year of searching, how will you get back on your feet?
- Adjust your budget: Adjusting your budget will help you sort your basic needs, pay debts if any, and save what’s left.
- Embark on a savings plan: With the economic uncertainties, nobody knows what tomorrow brings. But, there is something you can do about it today –save. Save at least 10 to 20 percent of your paycheck, no matter how little it is. If you make it a habit, you’ll develop discipline in saving.
If your company has a 401(K) savings plan, start contributing toward it so that you secure your retirement as well.
- Give your best at work: Being unemployed for a long time can affect your confidence and mental health. You want to make sure that you avoid carrying all this negative energy to your new job. Otherwise, you’ll end up losing it due to poor performance. Of course, you don’t want that to happen to you again, right?
You need to give your all to this new job regardless if it’s temporary or long-term. By doing so, you’ll gain recognition from your boss and probably attract a promotion or pay raise.
- Continue networking: Talk to everyone, everywhere. Use LinkedIn or any other social media, and put yourself out there. Tell everyone around you that you’re looking for a job (sometimes just mention it casually, so you don’t seem desperate). Your network is your net worth at the end of the day.
In a Nutshell
Losing a job is painful, and it’s not anything anyone would wish on themselves. It’s possible to bounce back after a year of unemployment. Use this guide to help you get back on track again.
Please take a look at other related articles on our blog.
- Tips to Get a Job Offer during an Interview
- I Don’t Want to Work
- How to Adapt to a New Work Environment
You know how the saying goes, when you’ve hit rock bottom the only way is up! Learn how to bounce back up by heading over to our candidate services page!
