The Best 8 Tips For Getting a Job When You Have Been Unemployed for a Long Time. Part 2

Getting back on the job market after having been unemployed for a long time can be tough. Here are some tips to help.

When you have been unemployed for a long period of time, trying to find a new job can feel a lot like clawing your way out of a hole. The longer you are out of work, the bigger the hole seems. Climbing out takes strength, determination, a whole lot of help from friends and some hard work. Here are some things that can help you get a leg up on the climb. Last time we covered tips 1-4, and here are tips 5-8:

• Find a your passion, start a project – Even if you haven't had luck finding a full time job, think about what your passions are, and get involved volunteering. There are many places that could really use help, and volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, get back into the swing of working and will give you an amazing opportunity to meet new people and build your network. Also, when you interview for the job you really want, it is better to have something to point to when you are talking about what you did while you were unemployed. Employers want to see that you are still working, even if it isn't paid work.
  
  
• Hone your interview skills – Now that the job market is starting to look up, it is even more important to practice for your interview. When you have been out of work for a long time and are feeling discouraged, it is hard to show up to an interview and “wow” them. Sharpen your skills and practice your interview skills.
  
  
• Sell yourself and your skills – When you get a chance to interview with a potential employer, use your unemployment period to your advantage and sell yourself as someone who will work hard to prove themselves. Use your desire to never be unemployed again to fuel your determination and enthusiasm.
  
  
• Work hard on acting positive – Even if it is hard, get rid of any bitterness. Trust me, I know how hard it is when you have bills piling up and kids to feed. The desperation of not knowing what is going to go wrong next can be hard to set aside. But the truth is, the bitterness and stress will make you less attractive to a new employer. Even if you have to act hopeful and happy, when you aren't feeling it, it will start to become second nature. Having a positive attitude is one of the things that makes you successful in all parts of life, even finding a job.

Getting back into the work force after a long being unemployed is a challenge, but not impossible. As the job market continues to improve, it is essential that you work on being ready for the next big opportunity to knock on your door.

What do you think is important when you are trying to get back into the work force? Let me know in the comments.

If you are looking for a job in the Philadelphia area, visit PhillyJobs for the best Philadelphia area job listings.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for PhillyJobsBlog, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

Overlooked Words That We Should Use More Often

I am a firm believer in the power of words. The things we say can hurt people, make them feel worthless, raise their spirits, motivate them and even help them see the world differently. I spend a good amount of time reading articles online and I am constantly amazed at the things people say. When they read an article about something they find offensive, some people have no problem commenting that the particular person or author should be “taken out and crucified on the street.”.

Although I realize that they can't possibly be serious, those words are still out there. These words could have a great impact on the writer or the person in the article but they also have a huge influence on the person who said them. Words have much more power to influence both ourselves and the people around us than we want to give them credit for. So, it stands to reason that if negative words can have a negative affect, positive words can have a positive affect as well. So, if you want to make a change in your life, land a new job, improve your relationships or be an effective manager, take a moment to think about the words you chose.

Sometimes it is the smallest of words that can make all of the difference. They have the ability to encourage, lead, make people feel important, make them feel good and they set a great example of positivity.

Here are some overlooked words that we could all stand to use a bit more often:

• Thank you – We learned it as children, but often forget it as adults. Openly expressing gratitude for the people and the tasks we take for granted can change our outlook and make others feel appreciated.
  
  
• I forgive you – When people say they are sorry, it is easy to say “Don't do it again.”, but try giving them verbal affirmation that you forgive them. Apologizing is hard, and accepting an apology gracefully is just as difficult.
  
  
• You can do it – I have a friend that I call each week when I am feeling the pressure of my deadline just so that she can say “You can do it” in a mock-Rob Schneider voice. A little encouragement can go a long way.
  
  
• I was wrong – These words are so powerful. In your personal relationships as well as your professional ones, being able to stop defending yourself and just say that you were wrong is hard. But, when you admit it, it frees up energy that can be devoted to repairing the damage.
  
  
• I admire you – If there is someone you look up to, let them know that you admire them. They may be trudging along just like you, and it might not ever occur to them that someone respects what they do.
  
  
• Good job – Everyone likes a pat on the back. Unfortunately, they are easy to forget about.
  
  
• I'm sorry – There is nothing like a heartfelt apology.
  
  
• I understand – If you are being given complicated directions from your boss or your partner is telling you how they feel, let them know verbally that you understand what they are saying. You will be giving them the gift of being heard.
  
  
• You're important – Everyone wants and needs to feel valued. Let the people who are important to you know how you feel.

Try using these words more often for a week and see if you start to notice a change in the people you interact with and in yourself. Keep in mind that other people aren't mind readers, so even if this list seems like things that should go without saying, they won't know unless you actually say it.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for PhillyJobsBlog, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.