Job Search & Career Blog

Train yourself out of unemployment

May 28th, 2008

The Way Out and Upward: Training- A big chance for the unemployed

That feeling of stagnation that comes with long periods of inactivity is avoidable. Training is a very useful job hunting asset, and provides exposure to new options and opportunities.

Because work skills can get rusty, the job mentality can lose its edge, and the daily routine can suffer a lot from unemployment, training is a vital kick start for unemployed people. It can be a particularly productive use of time, leading to new jobs. It can also create a much more flexible career path that can move with the current job market.

In many jobs, Staying Current is the big divide between successful job applicants and other candidates. Even administration, usually not much of a center of innovation and originality in the workplace, is now picking up a lot of new systems, particularly databases. Processes are changing, working practices are evolving.

There’s a good reason for employers wanting up to the minute applicants in some jobs. The cost of training, both in terms of actual training and time, is prohibitive. Babysitting a new starter is one thing; spending thousands on an office assistant is something quite else.

Business overheads are no joke these days, and just about everyone will have heard the line about being expected to hit the ground running. It’s perfectly true, and they mean it.

The other good reason could be called System Literacy, rather than just Computer Literacy. Things like MYOB, and other standard business software, are essential criteria in many fields, including accountancy, media, graphics, and many government jobs, which are adopting standardized methods.

Job candidates are expected to be trained. How they do it is up to them, but employers do need trained people.

Training as Self Help

Unemployment brings with it some baggage. As the workplace changes , some job skills become obsolete. Career paths can change direction. The Dream Job of the past suddenly isn’t looking as good as it did. Anyone who’s worked in IT would know how drastic, and how quick, these changes can be.

The world doesn’t stand still, but the unemployed person can certainly feel as if they are completely immobile, sometimes for years.

That’s fixable.

If you can find a good training course, you can put that time to work for you.

Think about what you can achieve in two years. It could be a certificate course, a diploma, or a combination. Beats hell out of two years of watching the search engines.

Doesn’t hurt the CV, either, to add some extra resources. Employers will notice that you’re not treading water, and that you are making a real effort.

Thanks to technology, you can actually create a new career for yourself, too.

Online courses are a definite option. Check out things that really interest you, where you know you’ll be able to put in 110% into your courses.

Local courses, too, are sometimes potential meal tickets, giving you a good range of skills for work, and, more than likely, higher pay. Even basic workshops, like Retail Skills, are valuable as job hunting assets.

Many non-profit groups run training courses, and have a good understanding of the needs of the unemployed.

Short courses, provided they’re accredited, can be big time savers, and give you access to other training, as well as extra skills.

Some of these courses could be things you’ve always wanted to do, but didn’t have the time.

Well, now you do have the time, and you’ve definitely got the reason.

You also have, more than likely, in most Western countries, a social security system which recognizes the need for training, and can help with fees, times, etc. Some social security legislation makes specific provision for training schemes, and you can actually get yourself doing a course worth thousands of dollars, for no fee at all.

Student grants are another option which can get the dust of the unemployment system out of your machinery. You still have to manage your money, obviously, but you don’t have the kinds of distraction that come with unemployment.

Things to look for in training courses:

1. Accreditation This is essential. You must get recognized qualifications, in many industries. Be patient, have a look at what’s available, and check out what you can do with those qualifications. See below, also, about what to look out for.
2. Viability Make sure you can do the course from start to finish, and that there are no obvious difficulties.
3. Career track See where the course can take you. Some courses, done strategically, are the basis for degrees. Universities often create a series of modules which can be used for different degrees. You can do those, pacing yourself, so that you can then do a higher degree down the track. (This also minimizes outlays, and makes the basic management of fees, times, and daily life a lot easier.)

Ironically, work is often a real obstacle to training, for some people. The hours and the courses don’t mix well, or the courses have to be dragged out for an extra year, because of the part time effect.

You see what we mean about use of time. This could actually save you a year of your life, and give you a massive boost in your job hunting.

Considerations for training courses

Because a lot of new courses are coming on the market all the time, you have to be careful about what courses you do. Training is an industry, too, and it’s sales-based. A lot of these courses may or may not contribute much to your career, so get independent advice from someone in your industry who’s in a position to know whether they’re worth doing.

Use the well known courses and degree modules as a comparison with any course you find. Education and training comes with brands and labels, too, so you may be able to get the same thing for a lot less. But to be worth it, it has to be the same qualification as you’d get from a more expensive source.

As a general principle, stick to acknowledged training schemes and programs, by reputable organizations.

• Outlays and budgeting Cost has to be managed at every stage. Don’t try and budget every cent. That never works. Be realistic, control spending, and work on saving some cash wherever possible.
• Time and distance Times and distances have to be workable. Commuting, trying to fit in daily needs, and the rest of the fact of being alive, have to be taken into consideration. If the course becomes unworkable, it’s a waste of time.
• Relevance of courses Employers know what they want in terms of qualifications. They never guess. Most industries have standard qualifications, too. Ask a professional association, if you’re not sure.
• Be demanding Work on the basis of what you consider the best and safest options for training, where you’re sure you’re getting something of value.
• Remember you don’t have to commit yourself if you’re not sure. One of the most glaringly obvious problems for people with too much time on their hands is the urge to do something for the sake of doing something. Being inactive for any noticeable period of time can make people more inclined to do things they wouldn’t normally do. That affects decisions, and it shouldn’t, when you need to be thinking clearly, and planning ahead.
• If it doesn’t make sense both short and long term, it’s probably not worth doing. The idea is to start moving forward, not just lurching to somewhere else.

This is where something as simple as basic retail training can take you:

• Retail training
• Sales training
• Bookkeeping/accountancy/systems/marketing training
• Supervisor/middle management training
• Business/executive management training

These can all be done in relatively short steps, but they do all lead somewhere. Each stage is an advancement. Some are, literally, just short courses. Retail training itself is usually a workshop, a few days’ training. It’s often done by community colleges.

That’s what you need to see, a way forward.

Training can change everything for you.

For the long term unemployed, it can turn your life around.

If you see a chance, grab it.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 28th, 2008 at 5:47 am and is filed under Unemployment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

One Response to “Train yourself out of unemployment”

1. Remi Says:
   May 28th, 2008 at 7:11 am

   I think the job market is essential to a successful job search. But its challenging and stressful task that requires good organization and planning. It is essential that you have a clear idea of the job you are seeking. It is equally important that you know about yourself - your requirements, interests and abilities.

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