PJ Media

Dr. Helen:

“PJM readers, if you have any better advice than “stop being addicted to success” for the recently unemployed or for their family members, please share it with us or add any other comment about this article below.”

I work in maritime, where losing your job is part of the gig.

Get up in the morning as though you were still at work, because you are. Your job is now to find another job.

Try to keep the same routines you had at work,(turn-to at 0800, coffee break at 1000-1015, lunch 1200-1300, break at 1500, knock off at 1700, to give you an example of a shipboard dayworker’s workday).

We take comfort in our routines.

If you were in the habit of working overtime, you can now spend that time with your family.

Get on unemployment, (I know, the money’s pitiful and who needs another “DMV-type” experience), but it IS money coming in, and it also tags your former employer…if everyone hit up their unemployment benefits, (which is money whose premiums you didn’t see in your paycheck), then businesses with high turnover rates or itchy layoff fingers would have to pay higher UI premiums, and be at a disadvantage to businesses that hold onto their workers.
(This would be a Good Thing).

And most UI offices I’ve been to also have Job databases available. If your skills are ones that have been usurped by the H-1B-type visa programs, you should get on the horn to your Congressmen to send “Visa-Boy” back where he came from and let you start eating HIS lunch.

You should have been doing that already. If you had, you might not be out of work.

My first round of apps or interviews would be my former firm’s competitors…does Macy’s tell Gimbel’s? They don’t have to. All the former Macy’s people are working at Gimbel’s now, see?

I’d stay in touch with my former colleagues still working at the firm. Since you were axed, they’ve probably got it in mind that the skids might be greased for them as well, so they might be in your shoes next quarter.

And if you’re still employed, keep in touch with your buds, and bird-dog for ‘em if you hear of anything good.

The best jobs I’ve gotten have been former shipmates calling me aboard.

Good Luck