Popular 5 Things To Do If You're Unemployed ZipRecruiter Kelly Kuehn Jenna Arcand April 08, 2022

Know the saying, “Applying to jobs is a full-time job"? Don't listen to it.

Applying to jobs you're not qualified for is counterproductive to your job search. Competition is too fierce. Even qualified applicants aren't getting callbacks. So, stop applying to so many jobs and allocate time each week to becoming more hirable. Here's how:

1. Volunteer

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Volunteering can increase your chances of being hired if you're strategic about it. Unemployed teacher? Help out with after-school programs or volunteer to be a coach's assistant. Web designer? Find a local non-profit in desperate need of a redesign and offer your services pro bono. By volunteering somewhere relevant, you'll keep your skills fresh while enhancing your resume.

2. Keep Your Skills Current

If you lack a skill commonly required for jobs you're seeking, spend time each day developing that skill. Take advantage of numerous free resources online, including tutorials, eBooks, and how-to videos. If you'd rather have more of a class setup, then look for free or affordable classes in your area. Alternatively, if you already possess the necessary skills but haven't been practicing, then do so. Skill atrophy is a huge concern for hiring managers, so practice and get yourself ready for pre-employment skills tests.

3. Network, Network, Network

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There are two parts to networking: reconnecting with your old contacts and forming new ones.

Depending on where you are in your career, reconnecting might mean contacting professors, college advisers, and internship supervisors, or it might mean getting in touch with old colleagues, bosses, and business acquaintances. Find them, email them, call them. Ask them if they would like to grab a coffee. Ask how they are (networking is social, after all) and let them know the specifics of your job search (industry, location, etc.). See if they know of anything or anyone. Most importantly, follow up!

At a temporary dead-end with your current contacts? Make new ones. Go to networking events sponsored by your university, industry, city, and so on. And look beyond traditional networking events. Consider going to lectures, neighborhood council meetings, and even community bar crawls (go easy on the sauce).

Each of these provides an opportunity to meet people with similar interests, and you can have fun in the process. Again, follow up!

4. Freelance

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Some job seekers are opposed to anything that's not a full-time job. If this sounds like you, it's time to change your mindset. Freelancing is a great way to boost your skills, resume, portfolio, professional network, income, and confidence.

5. Build An Online Presence

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Get found online. Start a blog, spruce up your social media profiles, and/or create an online portfolio to showcase your work. Find companies you're interested in working for, subscribe to their blogs, and follow them on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Find decision-makers at those companies and follow them as well. Learn what they're talking about, do a little research, and then engage with them online. Impress them with your interest and insights.

Worst-case scenario: You'll learn what's important to them and use this information to customize your application when a job opens up.

Better-case scenario: You'll establish a rapport with someone who will recommend you for a position and/or tell you about hidden job openings.

Best-case scenario: You'll impress someone so much over time that they'll create a job for you or bring you in for an exploratory interview.

So, what are you doing to become more hirable? If you aren't doing anything, then consider doing one (or more!) of these things, starting today.

The job search process can be incredibly frustrating and stressful, especially if you're feeling lost, trapped, or burned out in your career. If you're struggling to find a job that's right for you, 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.

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Anything we value and wish to maintain in life requires the use of good habits. Yet, most people who are unhappy with their careers are dissatisfied because they haven’t been taught the secrets to creating the most beneficial career habits. That's where Awakening Your Inner Workplace Renegade can help.

In this book, J.T. O’Donnell, founder and CEO of Work It Daily, shares her teachings as well as some stories of her clients to help you find career satisfaction on your own terms.

"It’s time to stop following the misguided and outdated approaches to career success that society has been touting for too long. Each of us is a unique individual that should pursue work on our own terms. Learning how to break free of the old rules and replace them with the new rules I’ve outlined in this book is the best way to get started on the journey to awakening your inner Workplace Renegade." —J.T. O'Donnell

In this book, you’ll learn:

• The seven new rules for career success
• Why the old rules for career success are outdated
• How to awaken your inner Workplace Renegade so you can finally find the career success you want and deserve

Buy the book and start awakening your inner Workplace Renegade today! Buy J.T.'s New Book Today!

Available for purchase as an eBook or paperback on Amazon.com.

Read more Show less j.t. o'donnell {"customDimensions": {"1":"Jenna Arcand","2":"cover-letter","3":"j.t. o'donnell, new book, ebook, book, awakening your inner workplace renegade, new book release, career happiness, career satisfaction, career purpose, new rules, career growth, career success, career help, career change, career development, career advice, career, workplace revolution, workplace renegade, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29651955, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29651561","4":"04/07/2022"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 0, "sections": [0, 376490081, 370480899, 376550212, 376490053, 376536198, 376491143, 473310812, 376489962, 376489574, 404327439, 474863171, 376514019, 376489624, 473333499, 479660731, 473310813, 543270555], "buckets": [], "authors": [19836096]} } Featured 5 Things To Do If You're Unemployed {"customDimensions": {"1":"ZipRecruiter, Kelly Kuehn, Jenna Arcand","2":"popular","3":"career advice, job search, unemployed, what to do when you're unemployed, job search advice, how to get a job when you're unemployed, unemployment, ~popular_source-pageview, job search tips, career, career tips, career help, job search help, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29656430, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:22080957, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29656418, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29656518, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:29656573, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:22080981","4":"04/08/2022"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 14, "sections": [0, 370480899, 543270555, 473333499, 404327439, 479660731], "buckets": [], "authors": [19549333, 19836094, 19836096]} } Now Hiring: Remote SysOps Engineer {"customDimensions": {"1":"Work It Daily, Kinsta \u00ae","2":"popular","3":"kinsta, hiring, remote jobs, remote work, remote workforce, remote companies hiring, remote companies 2021, sysops engineer, sysops engineer jobs, ~popular_source-pageview","4":"05/18/2021"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 0, "sections": [370480899, 545998439, 545998440, 376489962, 473333499, 526353713, 545658354, 548352055, 548352058, 543270555, 473310812, 473310813], "buckets": [], "authors": [19548593, 21891195]} } 3 Important Career Lessons Learned On And Off The Field {"customDimensions": {"1":"Executive Community, J.T. O'Donnell","2":"popular","3":"career change, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, career, career challenges, overcoming career challenges, personal branding, personal development, professional development, professional growth, success, career success, pro athletes, tom brady, chris gronkowski, nfl, tiktok, social media strategy, social media, career growth","4":"02/10/2021"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 0, "sections": [0, 370480899, 479660731, 376489962, 526353713, 376489624, 473333499], "buckets": [], "authors": [21030904, 19549412]} } How Ex-NFL Player, Chris Gronkowski, Is Using Social Media To Change Careers {"customDimensions": {"1":"Executive Community, J.T. O'Donnell","2":"popular","3":"2010, Barstool, camera phone, career growth and development, career growth opportunities, chrisgronkowski, cowboys, dallascowboys, dinner, football, free, gronkspike, iceshaker, investor, nfl, nflfootball, nflplayer, nflplayers, nflworkout, payday, rookie, salary, sharing, sharktank, tic toc, tic tok, tick tock, ticktock, tictok, tik tok, tiktok, tiktok.com, trade, trainingcamp, upload, video, video phone, weighin, youtube.com, ~popular_source-pageview, \u0442\u0438\u043a \u0442\u043e\u043a, \u30c6\u30a3\u30c3\u30af\u30c8\u30c3\u30af, chris gronkowski","4":"01/29/2021"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 0, "sections": [0, 370480899, 473333499, 526353713, 376489624, 479660731], "buckets": [], "authors": [21030904, 19549412]} }