Develop new skills

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4 Ways To Take Advantage Of Being Unemployed



Unemployment: It's a situation that many fear that can lead to financial hardship and high levels of stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem. For anyone who has been laid off, had their employment terminated, or quit their job, facing down the barrel of unemployment is a scary prospect.

For whatever reason you are out of a job, being unemployed is no time to be complacent. Instead, look at your period of unemployment as an opportunity to reassess yourself as well as reinvent yourself. They say that as one door closes, another door opens. Use this period wisely and that other door may be a giant leap forward in your career path.

There are many strategies you can use to help you empower yourself, take control of your situation, and make the most of the time you have on your hands.

Here are four ways to take advantage of being unemployed.

1. Volunteer


Unemployed professionals take advantage of volunteer opportunities

Take an interest in what is happening in your community and get involved. Join one or more local community groups and volunteer some of your time and expertise. Volunteering always looks good on a resume and showing an active interest in your community will be positively viewed by employers.

In addition, volunteering gives you the opportunity to network with people from all walks of life, and this, in turn, could lead to your next job.

Good points of contact are your local Lions or Rotary clubs.

2. Learn New Skills


Unemployed young woman on laptop takes advantage of her free time by updating her resume and learning new skills

Keep your mind active by learning a new skill. Potential employers will look positively on the fact that you have been using your time wisely to keep up with industry changes or develop a new skill.

A great place to start is with free or low-cost online courses. If you find the courses you want to take cost a good amount of money, think of them as an investment in yourself.

In addition, pay attention to any industry developments in the news so that when it comes time to apply for that dream job, you are prepared to discuss not just your role but the industry at large and how the skills you've developed will help you succeed in that role.

3. Work Out


Unemployed man works out

At such a stressful time, you need to take extra care of yourself. There's no excuse now for putting off starting an exercise regimen because you don't have the time. You have plenty of it.

You don't have to join a gym or get a personal trainer. Take up running or cycling, go on expeditions to explore your local area, or simply create your own at-home daily exercise routine and stick to it. You'll look better, feel better, and feel less stressed—all of which will boost your confidence.

4. Rework Your Resume/CV


Now is definitely the time to update and polish your resume. If you've been in the same job for a long time, it might be a good idea to research the best way to optimize your resume so it gets past the ATS.

In addition, start improving your online presence by creating or updating your LinkedIn profile and joining professional industry groups. This is all a form of networking and a great way for you to find opportunities that may not be widely advertised.

Also, sign up for daily job alerts and make your interview bucket list. The more targeted your job search, the easier it will be to find a job.

So, are you feeling a bit better about being unemployed? We hope so! If you want to take advantage of being unemployed, you just have to follow the four tips above.

Remember: Don't view unemployment as a setback. Think of it as an opportunity to improve your career—because that's what it is!

Need more help with your job search?

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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5 Ways To Develop Your Skills On The Job



In today's competitive job market, it's so important that you keep learning and growing. But you know what? Time is scarce. It is hard enough to get the job done each day let alone plan for the next step in your career. But, if your career is a priority, it is critical to find ways to learn and grow so that you can continue to advance your career and develop your skills.

If you are looking for a promotion or raise, you're going to have to prove you can add more value. The best way to do this is to continually feed your career with skills and knowledge that show you are worth the raise and promotion.

Here are five ways to develop your skills at work and advance your career.

1. Get A Mentor & Be A Mentor


Two women mentoring each other at work

Having a mentor at work is crucial to attaining new skills and knowledge. A good mentor will help you solve some of the challenges and roadblocks you face. The best mentors will help you figure out the next steps that work for you and help guide you over hurdles that sit squarely in your blind spot.

Amazing mentors will be the people who tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear. They will give you the real feedback you need to fill in your blind spots that put you in a position to advance.

Mentors are important to advancing your career. They can expose you to new experiences and points of view.

In addition to finding a good mentor, consider finding a good protégé as well. In many cases, taking that next step in your career means you may have to manage people. The best way to practice is to become a mentor to someone else.

When you become a mentor, you pay your learnings forward to others to help them advance as well. You learn a lot about motivating people and teaching them new skills when you can also act as a mentor at work.

2. Raise Your Hand For New Challenges


Man takes on a challenge at work to develop new skills

When you see new opportunities to learn new skills, go for it. If there is something in the company you want to learn to do and you see an opportunity to learn those skills in a special project or a new assignment, make the grab.

Do a little extra when it's required to learn those new skills that you need to advance. Remember, it's not aggressive to reach for a new opportunity. It is helpful, useful, and valuable.

People who progress in their careers find ways to elegantly make grabs for new learning opportunities.

When a new project comes up and it aligns with the skills you're looking to obtain, raise that hand. Let your manager or HR team know that you want to learn some new skills or gain new, more advanced experience. Be clear on what you can offer to the project and get involved.

3. Read, Read, Read & Look For Problems To Solve


Professional man looks for problems to solve at his company

Sometimes there are not a lot of grabs to make. We understand that. We recommend that you start reading everything you can about your industry and your field.

Study everything there is to know about your company and its competitors. Know the company goals and unique selling points of your company like the back of your hand. Become an expert in these things and be able to talk about them. Think about some solutions to the company's chief challenges.

Honestly, when someone on my team comes to me with a solution, they stand out.

When there are not many special projects to make a grab for, you can develop and pitch your own special project by knowing what challenges you can solve for the company. This way, you learn new skills and stand out because you've taken the time to solve a company problem.

4. Make Friends (Network) In Other Departments


Group of professionals network to develop new skills

Many times, new skills are outside your department or area of influence and responsibility. To overcome this, think about networking internally.

Get to know people in other divisions, other offices, and on other teams. Be curious about their department. Learn everything you can about their job and their skills. Find out how they got those skills and see how you might be able to chip in over there in your spare time to develop those skills you want to use to grow your career.

5. Find The Learning Opportunities Internally


The last one is one I always forget about.

Many companies have some sort of internal learning system. Go talk to your benefits team. Find out about training opportunities available to you. Learn about any tuition reimbursement benefits you may have. Talk with your HR team about what you want to learn and how it can help the company.

Developing new skills doesn't have to mean going back to school in the evenings. Sometimes the skills you're looking for are right in front of you. It's a matter of knowing what you want to learn and finding ways to develop those skills while you are at work. After all, if you want to achieve career success, you have to work on your career just as much as you work in it!

If you're struggling to develop your skills and grow your career, we can help.

We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Acquiring Job Advance Your Career Career Changing Careers and Employment Education Internship

5 Ways To Develop Your Skills On …