Unemployed? Volunteer!

I thought I had things in order.

• Stable job
• Master's degree to push me forward 
• Own my house
• Long-term, committed marriage

Then the housing market crashed. My employer downsized. And I was out.

I had no where to go. I had my Master's degree, right? Well, so did hundred's of other applicants.

It was scary. I was second guessing everything about my life.

There was only one thing that was certain - I had no motivation to get up in the morning. 

I started attending a weekly unemployment support group at the local university. At first, I even second-guessed this decision. I felt different. After a couple of weeks, I realized I had a new outlook on life.

Then I heard the strangest advice - start to get back in the workforce by volunteering.

WHAT? Volunteer? I needed money to come into the household.

I found a great volunteer opportunity in a human resources department at a local organization. Mundane tasks of filing soon turned into updating training and procedures. Volunteering gave me a reason to get up in the morning.

More than that, the volunteering position allowed me to fill in the two year unemployment gap. Yes, you read that right - two long years!

If you are one of those who are walking the beat of unemployment putting in applications at every opportunity, make sure you are taking care of that resume. Volunteer opportunities allow you to fill in the unemployment gap as well as give you additional networking opportunities at a time they are most needed.