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Are you a jobseeker at the moment and up at six in the morning determined to make the best of this day and your free time?
Sadly, probably not......
‘Being unemployed looks really appealing, doesn't it? When you're a 'Dole Mole' you can sleep all day, partake in marathon sessions of daytime television, get in cheaper at the movies, and you have time, precious time, to do all the things you'd do if you weren't working. The only obligation you have would be once a fortnight, when you'd have to drag yourself away from Oprah and down to the dole office to sign on for another two weeks of mindless freedom. Sounds like paradise, the only real drawback being the giving up of two or three of the five major food groups, and existing on Pot Noodles and Porridge.' ( BBC h2g2 14th May 2008)
This suggests that many people who are supposed to be looking for work actually prefer to watch TV, lie in bed in the mornings and go to the cinema and socialise rather than look for work.
This may be true of some but is of course, not true of everyone, so don't email me saying that I am being totally unfair.
However, ‘Early to bed and early to rise' might just be a good idea after all to get you out into the community doing something positive to help others, which is actually not a bad networking tool.
There is plenty to do if you look for it, and some tasks will help you improve your skills and possibly your job prospects as well.
Below is a list of activities that you could become involved in that will certainly have a positive effect on any prospective employers if added to your CV.
- Spend at least 24 hours per week helping a local charit
- Teach yourself JAVA, HTML, Flash, or PLP
- Do volunteer work at a local care home
- Learn a foreign language - fluently if possible
- Update your basic skills in maths, English and ICT if you don't already have good qualifications - most courses are free for jobseekers (like the courses we provide)
- Write a detailed business plan for a project in the industry you care about
- Self publish a book, or at least start writing a book
- Publish your own local magazine
*Not only is volunteering rewarding, in the right circumstances it can lead to other opportunities that may be more financially rewarding, as well. Volunteering with an organisation that is in line with your practical experience can put you in a good location to network. As I said, at the very least, volunteer work undertaken looks good on your CV.
The following may not be as impressive on your CV, but will help your state of mind
- Train for a marathon
- Start a band or learn to play a musical instrument
- Take up Yoga, or Tai Chi
- Take a painting class
- Do some gardening for yourself if you have a garden, or for a neighbour, preferably an elderly person
- Decorate your house or flat (cheap paint can be found at car boot sales - trust me)
So there you have it, you can learn a lot whilst unemployed, and it's a great opportunity for transition and personal development. It's a chance to escape the rut of unemployment, to make new friends, to give your brain a work out, and to celebrate the diversity of life.
Winston Churchill once said, ‘...a pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty'.
Allow your creative flair for living that often comes with reduced income to inspire you and help free you of your money worries and a closeted lifestyle.
And if all that fails, you can always look for a new job.
Call: 01793 610710 for information on the learning courses we currently offer.
Written by: Mo Jones - Solomon Training Ltd.
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