If you’re recently unemployed, you’re probably feeling worried and fretting about expenses. It’s hard to say how long you’ll face unemployment, unless you were laid off with a clear return date. It could be a short-term or long-term period of job loss.

Most experts agree that you should plan for at least a six-month period of unemployment, unless you’re positive you’ll return to work sooner. This guide is designed to help ease the stress of unemployment by preparing you financially. Unemployment doesn’t have to financially cripple you; actually, it can be a positive time of renewal and reinvention if you’re prepared.

Apply for Unemployment Benefits ASAP

Don’t wait to sign up for unemployment benefits. Even if you’re going to receive another check from your job, it takes time to get you into system, so apply for benefits asap. Plus, employment offices typically provide you with job search resources. GA unemployment lists job training, employment workshops, job expos, and resume assistance among the resources they offer.  

Unemployment benefits won’t start paying out until you stop receiving payroll checks; however, you can register the day you lose your job. This is going to help ensure there aren’t long gaps where you’re not receiving money.

Defer Your Debt

Oftentimes, loans and credit cards will allow you to participate in a deferment if you’re unexpectedly unemployed. These deferments may be complete or partial. A complete deferment would mean you pay nothing until you gain employment. A partial deferment will lower your payments until such a time as you can afford to pay more. Not all deferments work this way; some allow for a very specific time period, such as three months, which means you’ll want to work diligently to regain employment during this deferment period, or at least save enough money to make your payments when they resume.  

Slash Your Budget

The secret to building savings, even when you’re unemployed, is knowing where to cut back. If you don’t already have a budget built, use Excel to create one or The Daily Muse’s budget tool. You’re going to want to slash unnecessary expenses, such as dining out and premium cable channels. This isn’t a time for luxuries, which isn’t much fun, but if you’re diligent now you can resume extraneous spending when you’re employed later.

Adjust Your Health Care

If you have a family, you may not be able to reduce your medical insurance costs, but if you’re a healthy individual this is an area where you can definitely save. Bankrate.com warns that COBRA is expensive, but it’s what it usually offered post-job loss. Instead of going the expensive route, consider a “bare-bones major medical plan… The Web sites Insureme.com (a Bankrate company), Ehealthinsurance.com and Insurance.com offer good options.” Your state may also have a state or federally funded, such as Medicaid, program for low-income individuals.

Make a Plan For Your Job Search

The reporters at Boton.com have some great advice for putting together a job search plan. They warn it won’t be easy to find a job, but with effort you’ll land something worthwhile. “…finding a new job is probably going to take at least a few weeks and maybe months.” It’s important that you’re realistic about this, so you can financially prepare yourself.

Unemployment will insist you apply for a certain amount of jobs per week or month, but they can’t tell you where to apply. If you apply to something you’re overqualified for, you may get the job, but will it be worth it? If you decline the job you could lose your benefits, so consider every application you submit very carefully.

Overall, if you’re diligent and careful with your money, you’ll be okay. Try not to get bogged down by depression; most people face unemployment at least once in their life. Also, it may be a good idea to take advantage of this time by participating in job training or returning to college. You have options and resources, and you’re going to get through this. 

If You’re Looking for a Career Change

Tired of the same old work routine? Many professionals switch careers to expand their horizons, gain more experience, and start new businesses. Do you know, on average, people tend to switch to different career options for around 5 to 7 times in a total of their professional careers? Interestingly, tracing the numbers of Research from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average worker holds up for as many as ten different jobs before the age of 50. And that number continues to rise in the coming decades. In the present scenario, people are increasingly up fronting the news ways of working, be it part-time, remotely, or flexibly as freelancing. Education and training are now considered as an essential pillar for a dynamic working style. If you are looking for a new job role, whether or not in your current domain, there are various ways by which you can broaden your learning needs.

How about enrolling for a course for a career switch?

Indeed, the new courses are well designed to suit your professional skills and empower you to take on various live projects in it. It is seen that many people choose their careers with validated and accepted courses. Apart from that, you can get along the various learning opportunities for your job.If you’re thinking of branching out and trying something new, consider these careers as a starting point for your job hunt. Before you leap in the forward pane of your career, consider taking a backstep and exploring the main reasons you may want to consider for a career change.

How to decide on a career change?

New challenge: How about enjoying the work that you do? Let us pour this idea on a more straightforward platter. Reflecting over the below two questions can help you out to answer the reason behind your career change. Does your work empower you to continue it the next day? Or do you just drag it for money?

The answers to the above questions can portray the reason behind your career change. Many a time, people are contented with their work and share a renowned recognition at their workplace but do not enjoy the work. Getting up for new challenges at your work frontier can share a broader picture than you can think of! If you are one of those kind souls who need to push themselves, a career change might be the destined ticket for you.

Change in values! : Reverse your timeline to a younger age, say 22. Now, at 44, would be confronting to the ideal job that you did in your twenties?

Indeed NO! The values and ideas change with time. With every job experience added to your resume, you tend to grow progressively further. The company you joined five years ago may not hold your interest and values in you now. So, a change in benefits can deliberately make you crave for getting on for a new job. For instance, financial security might not have been onto your list when you started young, which can now be of considerable concern. These changing concerns, values, and priorities might now speak for a career change for you.

Your passion lies elsewhere: At some point in their work-life, there are many people who feel that they want to pursue something that makes passionate dealings. What about a doddle artist in a consultancy job role?

Indeed, that makes an unusual combination. If a person makes a career in the field in which he/she is passionate, you can skip the aspect of a job change for the entire lifetime. For some instances, you may slog for hours at your desk to earn more money, but it is only money that matters at the end of the day. Perhaps, adapting the money mindsets to a more significant and practical approach fr choosing your career is more important. Research shows that with the advent of new technologies and work platforms, people are switching over to part-time jobs as their primary job.

You are not happy : That is a simple sentence that is known to create most of the complexities in your work life. While you fill-up the various feedback forms over multiple websites, how about creating a similar questionnaire?

How about reflecting on your happiness? Indeed, that can be amazing or you. Feeling happy about the work you do is necessarily essential. Moreover, satisfaction is something that you earn money for! It is seen that people who are not happy with their work-life tend to switch jobs frequently.

What can be the benefits of a career change?

The Job lists survey shows that most people who changed their careers are satisfied with their job changes. The benefits that can be highlighted with any job change can be notes as under.

• Job satisfaction
• Happiness
• Better work-life balance
• Enhanced efficiency
• Increased productivity

If the conditions seem familiar to you, how about switching your career to some other domain. Please scroll down to know the various options for your career with us now.

• Information Security Analyst

Information is a big deal these days. With all the data that’s collected, stored, and transferred, there’s a need for tech-savvy professionals to keep information safe from hackers. Unfortunately, there’s no shortage of cyber criminals who steal bank account information, credit card numbers, passwords, email address – you name it, they take it. As long as the internet is around, skilled information security analysts will be in high demand.

• Web Developer

If you have technical skills and don’t mind sitting in front of a computer most of the day, web development can be a fulfilling occupation. You can work as a freelancer or get hired full time by small and big businesses alike. You can also use your skills to develop innovative web-based applications, games for mobile devices, and programs that connect gadgets such as digital watches and tablets over wireless connections.

• Foreign Language Interpreter

Are you fluent in more than one language? Do you know American Sign Language or Braille? If you’re multilingual, you can easily find work as a translator. Many companies offer contract positions on an as-needed basis, while some larger firms have full-time positions available. Jobs can include translating written documents or interpreting speech during conversations such as trade agreements, legal counsel, and business transactions. Government organizations, especially those who deal with foreign affairs, and international businesses are always looking for multilingual professionals.

• Healthcare Manager

Healthcare is an ever-changing industry. With advancements in technology and integrated patient services, professionals need more education and skills to keep up with business trends, market demands, and government regulations. Whether you’re already in healthcare or looking to break into the industry, you might consider earning an advanced degree in healthcare management. Check out the following article to learn what is unique about an online healthcare MBA. Online classes can help you learn the ropes on your own time while you’re in between jobs.

• Tax Professional

Another occupation that’s not going anywhere anytime soon is the professional tax preparer. Every year there are hundreds of millions of tax returns sent to the IRS from individuals, businesses, and estates. Preparers help filers understand their tax obligations, organize their documentation, complete all appropriate tax forms, and pay their annual taxes. They also keep up on tax codes and provisions that individuals and small businesses usually don’t have time to monitor throughout the year.

What’s Next for You?

So, what your next move? Think more about possibilities than constraints and stretch yourself in the direction of your dreams. Consider jobs that are always in demand regardless of economics and market trends, and seek educational opportunities to get a jump start on your new career.