money matters by sylvester clemente
Today we wake to a California whose unemploy-
ment rate exceeds 10 percent. In some neighbor-
Don’t Let a Friend Go It Alone
hoods of Los Angeles that rate exceeds 20 percent,
(ONe OF A TWO-PART SeRIeS)
once you consider those who have been out of work
so long that they no longer receive unemployment
benefits. What makes matters worse, the number of
those who are underemployed continue to grow. The
unemployed include the ranks of workers who aver-
aged 40 hours of work per week, but are now only
offered 32. If you happen to be someone “between
jobs,” or have a friend who is, this column is for you.
Aside from the financial burden of unemployment,
the social consequences can be devastating. I speak
from personal experience. We live in a culture that
measures what you are by what you do. As a result,
a lot of people devalue their self worth when they
are out of work. Sadly, they are not alone, as other’s
personal insecurity is manifested by them avoiding
you. Maybe they don’t know what to say, or that your
“While everyone knows
the adage ‘a friend in need
is a friend indeed,’ when
a friend loses his job it’s
time to prove your mettle,
or move on.”
situation may bring them down, or worst of all... they
worry that you may need financial support. Fortu-
nately, a true friend realizes that this is their time to
prove their unconditional love for you.
While everyone knows the adage “a friend in need
is a friend indeed,” when a friend loses his job it’s time
to prove your mettle, or move on. Yup, I said it. Step
up or step aside, so your friend can form bonds with a table of contents is remarkably easy. Additionally, (Personal observation: reach out to those you didn’t
people who can support him or her. Right now your it begins to build confidence that—unlike being laid like, it confuses them, and sets them into action).
friend is experiencing 100 percent unemployment, off—you are in control of your destiny. Here’s my list • Get resumés and cover letters prepared. They will
it’s a crisis. There are a litany of things you can do… of first day activities for you and your friend: need lots of variations, as one-size-fits-all is no longer
and it won’t cost you a dime. Helping somebody get acceptable. Here is where your input, proofreading
organized for their job search is of extraordinary • Plan your workday. Now that finding a job is their and other insights become invaluable. All of your
help, as many newly unemployed are paralyzed by job, make a work schedule. It’s okay for 30 minutes of documents must be impeccable!
the prospect of job searching. I mean, think of all of TV Land, not 300. • Role-play being interviewed. It’s amazing how dif-
the rejection! Now compound that rejection by the • Contact everyone in your past with a pulse. You ferently one prepares after they have taken a turn as
isolation that they may be feeling, it is heartbreak- would be surprised at how many people want to the interviewer.
ing. help. Additionally, these days more than ever, an em-
My approach is to bring an empty binder to their ployee referral goes a long way. Organize this with I will flesh out these steps in my next article, until
home, and start creating ‘tabs’ for every step that they the phases of their life: childhood, school, college then, keep your chin up!
will need to take. It’s a heck of a lot easier to accom- if they went, former jobs, relatives, social groups…
plish a job search when you have a plan. Start with you get the idea. With the Internet, and all of the Note: Assistance provided by Erik Kuderna,
a table of contents…and let the ideas flow. Creating networking sites, it is much easier than you think. linkedin.com/in/erikkuderna
66 RAGE monthly | June 2009
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