Not knowing what to do when you are unemployed can leave you bored and frustrated. But not when you have our 10 great tips on how to keep busy. Take a day or two to relax but once that’s over,these tips will not only help you keep busy but also help you land that job. Ready to kick boredom to the curb?
Ways to Keep Busy When You are Unemployed
So you’ve been unemployed for a few months, now what? Sitting on the couch isn’t going to help you get your dream job. You have to be proactive about it. Take a look at these 10 ways to keep busy when you are unemployed:
Join a Temp Agency
Have you ever heard of a temp agency? If not, we can explain it. Temp agencies help you find jobs that only last a short period of time. This would include standing in for permanent employers who are on leave.
Work on Your CV
Is your CV up to date? Before sending your CV out make sure that you include the most relevant and recent information. If employers find outdated information they might think that you are lying and not consider you for the job.
Create a Schedule
Being at home for long periods of time can make you lose your mind. You won’t have to worry about that with a daily schedule. Your schedule should include job hunting, exercise, socialising and your daily chores.
Keep Active
It’s easy to become a couch potato. That’s why it’s important to keep active. Now you don’t have to train like a professional athlete. Simply go for a daily walk or even a jog. If you want to turn things up a notch, create a workout plan.
Keep Track of Your Applications
Have you found yourself forgetting what jobs you already applied for? Well, keeping track of your job applications can help you stay organised. This will also help you know who you should ask for feedback after two or three weeks of no response.
Follow Up
You have to know that employers and recruitment agents receive loads of job applications. So they might be too busy to get to your application or too busy to give you feedback. But you can take the first step and follow up with employers within a reasonable time period.
Network
Rubbing shoulders with the who’s who in your industry can help you land the job you want. You can build your network by attending social mixers for employers and workers in your industry. But that’s not all, you can join Facebook groups as well.
Volunteer
Don’t let your skills and knowledge go to waste. Volunteering can help you keep your skills fresh and it’s also a way to gain some working experience. Employers are highly impressed when they see that you volunteer in your free time.
Take a Short Course
Choosing to continue learning is a great way to keep busy while you are unemployed. Even though you already have skills and knowledge, a short course can help you stay up-to-date with processes and skills in your industry.
Find the Right Short Course
You don’t want to waste your time by studying for a qualification that you will never use. That’s why it’s important that you know how to find the right course. A great way to know if a short course is for you, is by knowing what interests you and what industry you want to work in.
What to Consider When Enrolling in a Short Course
There are a variety of short courses you can enrol in but that shouldn’t be the reason why you enrol. Remember this short course should not only help you keep busy but it should give you a qualification or certificate that can help you do your job better.
Here are two questions you should ask yourself before enrolling in a short course:
- Can you continue job hunting while studying?
- Will your career benefit from the certificate?
Distance Learning Short Courses
By now you know that there are a variety of short courses you can study with a number of institutions. But we are here to tell you about studying our short distance learning courses. Don’t know what distance learning is? No problem. It’s simply a way of learning except you never attend physical classes, all your studying is done at home.
Our Distance Learning Short Courses
We offer a great range of short courses that aim to give you workplace ready skills. Each of these courses are part of our open entry policy. This means that you don’t need to have a matric certificate to enrol in them.
Skills Academy is the word support in every way.
Keep Busy and Continue Learning
Become productive when you take advantage of our tips on what to do when you are unemployed. Looking to continue learning and improve your skills? Contact one of our course experts and start learning today.
- Contact us for free on 0800 39 0027
- Fill in our online contact form