“Our funding has dried up and we are going to have to shut our doors.” Those were the words I had been dreading. Newly married, one mortgage, and a dog that took pride in forcing unforeseen visits to the local vet and now I was jobless!
That was over a year ago and here I am, still looking for that elusive job. Every morning I get up and turn my computer on with the unbridled enthusiasm of a seven year old walking down the stairs on Christmas knowing that today is the day. The two minutes it takes my computer to boot up is quite possibly the highlight of my day because in those two precious minutes hope reigns supreme.
The initial shock of unemployment was devastating, but what made it even worse was the feeling of complete uncertainty. I had never been unemployed before and had no idea of where or who to turn too. People around me started to point me in differing directions. Some advised me on where they thought the jobs were, while others tried to explain what I needed to do to file for unemployment insurance. Even though all of those people had good intentions they all had one thing in common, they had jobs!
I have now been unemployed for over a year. I have gone through all the varying emotions and trials that accompany being unemployed. Through this blog in the coming weeks I will lay out the fundamentals of surviving the rigors of unemployment. I like to think of it as a 12-step program to surviving unemployment!
Step 1: Don’t walk, run to the Employment Development Department
When I first became unemployed the idea of unemployment insurance was ridiculous to me. I associated it with those that pretend they hurt their back while lifting a pillow, or those that just wanted to ride off the backs of the working. Absolutely wrong! Unemployment insurance is something that you have been paying for. It is a life-saver that can make the immediate transition from having a steady income to being laid up on your couch (or in most cases, in front of the computer) much easier to transition too.
Even though any government process might seem daunting, trust me, this one is not. It is as simple as going online to your states Employment department and filing a form. So again, don’t walk, run to your Employment Development Department!
Now I know this first step might seem a bit obvious, but that doesn’t take away from its importance. In the coming weeks I will delve into some more tips on surviving unemployment that will hopefully make your life a little easier during these trying times. In the meantime, try turning your skills sets into currency on BiddingBar.com!
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