workforce is currently living through a gap in their own employment. More people now have pauses in their resume than ever before. In a way, for the unemployed, there is strength in these numbers. If you are out of work you cer- tainly aren’t alone and you certainly aren’t the only unem- ployed person applying for a position.


However, times always change and the economy


is percolating again. If we know one thing for certain it is that people’s memories can be short, if not outright will- fully amnesiac. As the recovery chugs along the number of unemployed and underemployed are diminishing. That’s good news for most, but not all. Some will not be picked up by the rising tides. It is one thing to be unemployed during a recession. It is quite another to be unemployed during a recovery.


“Losing a job might be the best thing that ever


happened to you.” Once the majority believes the economy has been fully restored, the cover of recession will vanish and the gap in your work history will again be problematic. There are things you can do immediately to cover the gap while you search for your next career position.


These initiatives can


be begun on the first day of unemployment and will go a long way into making you a better candidate and a happier, healthier person.


Ironically, a temporary respite from your career can


be a golden opportunity for you. It sounds completely back- wards, but losing a job might be the best thing that could have ever happened to you. As an unemployed person, you now have flexibility in your schedule that you may have never had before. This may be the single best moment in your life to make some significant positive changes.


Start by embarking on an exercise regime. Most of us can stand to lose a few pounds and everyone would ben- efit by taking more exercise. Now that you don’t need to be at the office at the crack of dawn consider taking a morning walk or jog every day. The exercise will clear your mind, relieve you of stress and improve your overall well being. Over the long term you will feel and look better. This will help create the self-confidence that you need to make good impressions at your interview.


22


It’s important to maintain sense of opti-


mism and purpose. To do so you need to keep moving personally and professionally.


If you are unable to find a new job quickly,


find a volunteer position with a local non-profit. Volunteering for a charitable organization will not only enhance your community, it will keep you in the workplace mind-set. While you volunteer you are making more than a community contribution, you are making connections. Each new connec- tion might lead you to another opportunity.


You might even find a position that will al-


low you to learn new skills. Each new experience may point you in a new direction. Whether you volunteer five hours a week or forty, the time you invest will plug the gap on your resume.


When a recruiter wants to know what


you’ve been doing during this interim period of your career, you’ll be able to talk about your cur- rent initiatives and contributions. Instead of sim- ply admitting that you’ve been without work all this time, you can explain the impact you have made in your effort to make the world a better place while you have seeking the perfect profes- sional position.


Along similar lines, you may be able to se-


cure an opportunity with local pro-bono legal ser- vices. Check your local paralegal associations, local and state bar association and even nearby law schools for volunteer opportunities. You may be able to work at an upcoming legal clinic or volun- teer at an event for new law students.


If your local legal community does not


have anything planned soon, take initiative and try to create your own event. Consider creating a one- time initiative to address a pressing issue in your area. You might be able to bring people within the industry together for a common purpose. Vol- unteering for events within the legal community gives you a direct line to more people in the in- dustry. The more people you know, the better off you are. A small effort on your part can show local legal professionals how creative, industrious and


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