Author: Lavie Margolin, Career Coach
Difficult times can call for drastic measures. Unemployment benefits have been extended to unprecedented levels. Some people in serious need are lucky to have the safety net of just covering their essential needs because of this help. Every time I read about unemployment benefits being extended, I become concerned. Why? I know many professionals who are hurting their career by not proactively looking for work. Why are they not looking for work now? Because they have qualified for extended unemployment. The thinking goes, I paid into my unemployment when I was working, so why shouldn’t I benefit? Why should I consider a job that barely pays above what I receive when I am not working? Here are three reasons why that thinking is flawed and why one should look to obtain employment in their field as soon as possible:
1) The longer one is out of work; the harder it will be to find that next job. For those that are doing the best that they can to obtain employment, this is a fact many are already aware. If you are not proactively looking for work now, it will be harder to do so later. Do not put yourself into a more difficult situation if you can avoid it.
2) You have to be in it to win it. By voluntarily removing yourself from the job market, you are missing the opportunity to connect with other professionals. Yes, you may take a transitional job that barely pays above what you are making in unemployment benefits but there are many reasons to do so. The old saying that it is easier to find work when you are working is true. Why? It is natural for companies to want someone that is more in demand. When a company is able to recruit you away from another company, they feel that they have won. The opportunity may start small but the possibility may exist to get promoted or get a raise. We often enter situations which seem stable but things can change very quickly and you want to be there to capitalize on the opportunity when it does.
3) By working, you can make additional contacts for your career, demonstrate and learn new skills and gain renewed confidence that you will not get by sitting at home and receiving an unemployment check. Finding a job is like being a farmer. You plant many seeds but you do not know which will grow. It can be a long process so it is important to get on that road as soon as possible.
About the Author: Lavie Margolin is a New York-based Career Coach and the author of Lion Cub Job Search: Practical Job Search Assistance for Practical Job Seekers. To learn more, go to Lavie’s website, Lion Cub Job Search:www.Lioncubjobsearch.com