Inspire Article

Out of Work? Spend Your Time Wisely!

02.07.2011
Posted by Liz Locke of YourPBC.org

So you’re out of work.  You are not alone; in fact, according to the most recent Palm Beach County Workforce Alliance statistics, unemployment in Palm Beach County for December, 2010, was 11.5%. Out of a labor force of 623,480, there were 71,861 unemployed Palm Beach County residents.  Finding another job can be discouraging, depressing, and usually takes much longer than you think it should.  But instead of letting your situation get you down, take your unwanted free time and do something positive with it. 

We’ve compiled a list of suggestions to get you started.  You don't have to do all of these things. Just choose something that makes sense for you. By spending your time in a productive way, you’ll have something interesting to talk about in those job interviews. 

  1. Keep yourself in good physical condition.  Make walking or other free exercise part of your daily routine. You’ll feel better about yourself and will look better.
  2. Volunteer.  Keep in mind that nonprofits need the extra help as the need for their services rises.  You’ll have the chance to develop new skills, meet people, and add the experience to your resume.
  3. Start a business. This may sound unrealistic, especially if your finances are dwindling, but you can start small.  A recent college graduate in my neighborhood started out painting mailboxes, and is now running a thriving home improvement/handyman business.
  4. Start a blog, and post every day.  This will help give you structure. If you write about the business that you would like to work in, you may make some connections in the industry.
  5. Trade services.  Are you an outstanding mechanic?  Help someone with their car in exchange for something that they can offer to you.
  6. Do freelance work, or work as a temp.  Online sites like Elance offer job listings for bid.  You’ll be enhancing your skills and staying in the workforce.
  7. Learn something new. Have you ever wanted to become fluent in another language?  Go to your public library and borrow the CDs that will help you. Or, find someone who is a native speaker, and “swap” language lessons.
  8. Reconnect with friends and acquaintances.  There is no doubt that networking is an important part of finding a job, but talking to old friends can lift you up whether you’re employed or not.  Call people, or find them on Facebook, and let them know what you’re up to and that you’re looking for work.
  9. De-clutter.  Clean out some of that junk that you’ve been hanging on to, and donate it to a charity or sell it online.
  10. Take a “staycation.”  While leisure activities may not be your number 1 priority right now, take advantage of the free activities available in Palm Beach County. Take a hike around the Wakodahatchee Wetlands.  In fact, you can even take a free photography workshop there.  Once you go back to work, you’ll wish that you had the time to spend hiking, biking, and visiting our museums.

Resources:

PBC Workforce Alliance
http://www.pbcalliance.com/

United Way of Palm Beach County Volunteer Center
http://www.unitedwaypbc.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=pages.Handsonpbc