Originally Published: February 5th, 2023
Updated: August 20th, 2023
This article is all about the shame of unemployment.
![shame of unemployment](https://thrivingindependently.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/shame-of-unemployment-1024x683.jpg)
I’m not going to lie, the discussion around unemployment makes me sad.
There is talk about the unemployed being freeloaders who want to receive the fruits that resulted from the hard labor of others.
![](https://thrivingindependently.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/not-having-a-job-683x1024.png)
While there are some who may, it has not been my experience finding that people are unemployed simply because they do not want to work.
This point of view is not productive at all in encouraging unemployed people to work, if that’s the goal anyways. It only stigmatizes a group of people who have been subject to what life has to offer. Everyone needs a little help sometimes.
I also can’t blame the people for not working when unfavorable working conditions and a minimum wage that does not cover the cost of living is what are largely available.
Congratulations
Anyways, for those who are currently unemployed right now, please realize that you have been presented with a special opportunity.
You likely have more of your time available to you.
The average work day is from 9 to 5, which does not include the commute to and from work or the preparation each day that is required to get ready for work.
Congratulations! You have just received your time back.
How To Deal With the Shame of Unemployment
Get a Job
Not saying this to be facetious, but if you don’t want to say that you are unemployed, this is how you become employed. The type of job is not essential, as it is only a temporary situation that you are in.
If you are temporarily unemployed and looking for opportunities to work, I would recommend that you begin with your resume. Your resume is the first introduction that a complete stranger has to you, that is if you have no prior connections to the company. Click here to learn useful tips and things that are important to include in your resume.
Now for my people who need a little more guidance in trying to build an effective resume, here is a website that has examples of resumes created for a multitude of professions. The options are endless and creating a resume doesn’t need to be a daunting task. I would recommend that you focus on the impact that you have had in your past experiences.
Don’t be deterred by a lack of experience
One thing that I would encourage you to consider is that you have experience. In your however many years of living, you have contributed to something, whether it be your family functions, weekly dinners, tutoring, etc, and have played a role that could be useful to a company. The magic is all in how you can relate your experience to the company and explain how you would be beneficial.
Out of college, you are encouraged to include your involvement in student organizations, greek life, sports, etc. as your experience. These are some common examples but please do not feel inadequate if you do not have any of these things to add to your resume. If you worked a part-time job as a cashier in a fast-food restaurant during college, include it! Here you will find examples of how fast-food workers may write their resumes.
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Reflect on your past experiences in the workplace
Were you fired?
You could try evaluating how your situation escalated and change it in the future.
Usually, getting fired sucks. No one wants to feel that sort of rejection; however, this is only a temporary setback. Getting fired will not prevent you from getting another job in the future. It may just require you to do a bit of explaining in the interview process.
Regardless of the situation, if you are fired, there is almost always something that you can learn from the situation.
It may be a scenario where your weaknesses are highlighted, such as communication skills, time management, or organization. If you are given a reason for your termination, you can make a plan to improve on them in the future.
Were you laid off?
This situation is unfortunate of course, but were there any warning signs that you missed beforehand? Did you save enough money to hold you over until you figure things out?
Financial troubles are difficult for the company and certainly for the workers. It is hard to be laid off as you usually don’t expect it. You can avoid some of the trauma of being laid off by following these steps.
Life can be an excellent teacher, especially when you are in a tough situation. If there were any red flags that your company showed before this event, it could be good to note them so that you can act accordingly if you ever saw these signs again.
Preparation is key
Being laid off is especially difficult for people who are unprepared. One of the main ways that people can be unprepared is financially, but they can also be unprepared if they lack a plan.
This stresses the importance of saving money to be prepared for rainy days. Unfortunately, it is more a matter of when rainy days will come rather than if the rainy days will come.
Did you quit your job? What were the things that made the work environment unbearable?
If you quit, at least you can say that you chose to be unemployed, even if it was with the encouragement of unfortunate circumstances.
Trying jobs that aren’t the right fit for you is part of the process of learning what you really need out of work. Whether it is support from management, active communication, or interest in the job, it is hard to figure out your priorities in the workplace if you have never worked in an environment where they were severely lacking.
When you do find your next opportunity to work, you will have a better sense of the questions to ask or the negotiations that you can make in order to have a better relationship with work and create a better experience.
Did you resign? If so, what opportunities are you seeking next?
I definitely subscribe to the idea of having a plan or a next step before you quit your job. If you choose to resign and give notice, you can preserve the relationships that you have at your previous job and the connections that you made. You may have found an opportunity that is better for you and better suits your goals.
![](https://thrivingindependently.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/THE-ONLY-WAY-TO-BE-TRULY-SATISFIED-IS-TO-DO-WHAT-YOU-BELIEVE-IS-GREAT-WORK-683x1024.png)
Realize that life happens
Everyone can relate to struggles of some sort. Do not be ashamed, you have the right to grow and figure things out.
Everything may not work out the way that you thought it should, but that shouldn’t make life any less glorious.
I encourage you to take this time and listen. When you are actively involved in something, you may not get as much time to be quiet and observe. The gold is in the details, so take this time to find what you may have been missing.
This is not the end, please don’t count yourself out.
How many stories have we heard of someone’s life turning around after an unexpected event? There is no reason that this can be you.
This is your opportunity to figure it out as you go. Somehow things always seem to work themselves out.
If you are having trouble, try building a circle around you of supportive and honest people around you who find joy in your success.
You’d be amazed by the opportunities that you’d find if you just utilized the people already around you.
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This doesn’t have to be forever
This period in your life can very well be temporary.
Money is a necessity to live in modern-day society, so having a source of income is very important. With that being said, the time that you have to take a break from working largely depends on you.
It can be for a week or a year that you are unemployed. Either way, your circumstances will largely affect the time that you are able to spend.
There is no need to be ashamed of unemployment, you know what your dreams and aspirations are and you could be using this as an opportunity to work toward them.
Unsolicited advice and questions from others regarding what you are choosing to do with your life are inevitable. You know your process best and hopefully know what is best for you, so don’t let these questions discourage you.
You are not married to unemployment, it does not define you. It is only a description of your current work status.
Focus on the benefits!
When was the last time that you had this much free time? Explore! Learn! Try new things!
Responsibilities build up quickly as you go through life, so if you are in a space that allows you to take time and reevaluate yourself and your situation, these opportunities are golden.
You may never get the chance to not work again or to have this much free time, so I encourage you to take advantage of it.
Now or never, if there was something that you have always wanted to try, do it.
Some people have a larger capacity to recover from mistakes than others, and this idea trends toward younger people.
Once you realize that you have found yourself with a unique opportunity, it can change your whole perspective on how you view your joblessness.
You no longer have work as an excuse for your occupied time
This can be a great thing, You have a reason to have genuine connections and interactions with people. Work can be time-consuming and a reason that you don’t get the opportunity to do many things.
We hear many stories of when successful individuals had to “grind” and forfeit sleep in order to make their dreams come true. Now, this may work for some, but for someone who is currently unemployed, you may have more time to spend in your day. You may also have a different motivating factor, which is the depletion of your bank account which may give you a different sense of encouragement.
Conclusion
If you have learned anything today, it is that not being employed should not be something that is inherently shameful, despite how others or society might want you to feel.
You have to go through your own journey in life and you owe it to yourself to take steps that will make you a better human. If dropping the job is what it takes, you are well within reason to do so.
I encourage you to not waste this time either, you still have value that you can provide. Taking this time to better yourself and get more clear about what you want out of life may pay you well in the future.
If you have found value in this article, feel free to share. If you have anything that you want to add to this discussion, feel free to comment!
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