on unemployment

We've all heard the saying that young people have got it pretty bad nowadays and my generation is the first generation since the Great Depression when children have it worse than their parents. The recession is hitting everyone pretty hard regardless of age, even creating competition between old and young workers. I've seen it on many levels over the last few years, but I haven't seen it as bad as I have recently.

Over the last couple of weeks I've seen more of my unemployed friends coming into my office looking for help crafting a compelling resume, needing to borrow the printer for cover letters, references or strong contacts, or any job leads in general. Some of the more common barriers I've heard is that businesses aren't hiring and temp agencies aren't returning calls. What's a survivor to this economic recession to do? Taking a lead from Ron Leiber's New York Times article on survivor's guilt, it's difficult to not have some contribution on this topic.

I have much sympathy for those currently unemployed and on the job hunt. It's one of my least favorite things to do. A little over a year ago I had been on the unemployed job search front for three long months before having something emerge. What did I do in the meantime? I picked up extra shifts at a local coffee shop I used to work at, relied on savings that I had because I worked since I was 16. But with all the free time I had, I volunteered extensively for a few local organizations, or go to meetings I wasn't able to attend when I was working on an election. I kept myself engaged and occupied. I began to get involved on boards I sat on, taking on projects that others didn't have time to manage. I also cut corners to help defray my costs.

The important thing I did when I was looking for work was advised to me by my mother: go learn something new. And learn I did. I visited the library and read books on career development and listened to tapes on Russian language. I learned how to drive and at the age of 23, I got my license. I hung out with friends and learned how to brew beer. And most importantly, I learned that a job doesn't give your life meaning. No one can find meaning on that but yourself. Blogger Penelope Trunk gives some other cool advice on some things to do when you unemployed (and it's not job hunting)!

How fellow Gen-Y'ers and people across the US cope with the recession makes are my top reads on NY Times. And with the lack jobs available in the current market, people are turning to creative measures to create their own.