One of the shocking and scary scenarios is to lose your job. Losing a job means you lose a recurring stream of income to pay your bills, rent, food, mobile and transportation. Being sudden out of job could be caused by mass lay off, firing, bankruptcy and downsizing. Losing a job means you lose the financial support that lets you live in dignity. But losing a job is not the end as you can still make ways to reduce the negative impact of unemployment while looking for a new job. 

Get a side income

Getting a side income such as part-time or freelance work can help you in three ways. First, you earn money while you are looking for a full-time job or while you’re learning to enhance/add your skills. Second, you’ll get the temporary experience that can fill up your time in order to avoid unemployment gaps. Third, you may be absorbed into the company as they may or might offer full-time positions. Freelance and part-time jobs can help you survive (buy food, pay utilities, pay rents) while you are actively pursuing a full-time job. Such incomes should let you have free time to look for a decent job.

• Freelance

Freelance could be a computer-based job that you can start with a laptop, a stable internet connection and organized mini-space. Some freelance jobs require skills such as graphic design, copywriting, content writing, technical writing and others which will only need a little training to start. You can use the skills you used during your full-time tenure into your freelance jobs.

• Part-time jobs

Part-time jobs usually refer to outdoor jobs that are temporary and not bound by contract.

Expand and reach out to your network

How large your network may affect your chances of landing a good job. In fact, a part of job landing success comes from the network or people you knew as working colleagues, friends and relatives.

They may simply be those people you met in a convenience store. They could be a drinking buddy last night or a bystander asking for directions. Expanding your network means knowing more people - quality people whom you can trust. Expanding your network doesn’t mean you have to imitate a people pleaser dude.

Here’s how to expand your network:

• Use alumni networks - They are your school buddies way back to your high school and college years.

• Get involved in social media - Promote your website or blogs and chat with people. These social networking sites are full of communities and groups sorted according to their niches. 

• Join an organization - You can join those groups, clubs or shared interest organizations. There could be a writer's guild, graphic artists’ organizations and aid for the unemployed organizations.

• Volunteer - Join an organization working for a cause or an interest you care about. From there, you’d meet different people who might be your future potential buddies, friends and even your future girlfriend/boyfriend. 

• Start a website and blog - By having your own website and blog you can make yourself known within or outside of your niche and expand your presence across the internet. 

• Nurture your network - While you don’t need to contact them daily, you do need to greet them either offline or online on a biweekly or weekly basis. You need to let them know that you care and that you exist in their minds. 

Trim your expenses

When you trim your expenses you remove those wants from needs. Such “wants” involve video streaming subscriptions and cable. Needs are those that you need to survive (food, water, medicines).

• Bulk cook - This means that you can cook various dishes which you can keep in the fridge and reheat.
• ​Share your internet - You can lower your internet bills by having others share with your internet.
• Cancel gym membership - Get free exercise by walking, jogging or buying your own free weights.
• Save energy - Use LED instead of fluorescent lamps.

Build better resume

Preparing your resume requires updating your experiences and contacts, and upgrading some of your skills. A well-polished resume is crucial for your success as it shows your detailed career updates. Here’s how to update a resume:

• Make a format of your resume (chronological, functional and combined)
• Update Skills, Experiences and Education
• Create or update portfolios (sample of work for designers, editors, writers and web developers)
• Remove old or entry-level positions
• Refresh contact info if necessary
• Edit (checking for overall ideas, conciseness, tone)
• Proofread (checking for typing mistakes, spelling, grammar, formatting)
• Publish (make your resume public both offline and online)

Outline of resume 3 resume formats

1. Chronological Resume Format - best for all levels (Student-level, mid-level, senior)

   a. Contact information
   b. Summary
   c. Extra info
   d. Education
   e. Skills
   f. Work experience (covers most of the content)
   g. Job title
    

2. Functional Resume Format - best for Senior level

   a. Contact Info
   b. Summary
   c. Job title
   d. Skills
   e. Work experience
   f. Education
    

3. Combination Resume Format - Best for Mid-level and Senior level

   a. Contacts
   b. Summary of skills
   c. Other Skills
   d. Work Experience
   e. Education

Expand your skills/knowledge

You can expand or hone your existing skills by enrolling in online schools (some are free and some are paid) and training schools such as TESDA. Online schools offer the freedom of earning a short certificate or a degree in the comfort of your home. The pros of expanding your knowledge are that you’ll have the opportunity to add another skill and avoid employment gaps that could leave a bad impression in your resume and interview. Most online schools offer an online certificate that can serve as your credentials.

Here are some online schools or Massive Open Online Courses - MOOCs

Apply for an unemployment insurance

Unemployment insurance refers to the benefits (money) granted to the unemployed while they are seeking a new job.  They are those who became involuntarily unemployed - people who lost their jobs due to bankruptcy of the employer, merger and reorganization. The Republic Act 11199 (Social Security Act of 2018) provides the legal basis for such benefit. 

Eligibility Criteria/Requirements:

• Members of the Social Security System (SSS) of the Philippines. 

• Members must not be more than 60 years old during the time of involuntary separation (SSS Circular No.2019-11, July 8, 2019).

• Members must have made 36 months of contributions.

• Unemployed Members are those who have involuntarily resigned.

Facts:

• The amount of cash given depends on the average monthly credit. Here’s the Monthly Salary Credit table from SSS 

• The SSS Unemployment insurance is not a loan and you do not need to pay the SSS for the cash assistance you received.

• The SSS Unemployment insurance does not cover those who resigned from work or people who lost their job due to neglect of duties and disobedience.

• The funding for the SSS unemployment insurance comes from the SSS Contribution hike.

Do Some Volunteer Work

Volunteering can do wonders for your career and social life. It can expand your network that could lead to a job opportunity and provide a learning opportunity. Having a volunteer experience in your resume looks great and appealing to interviewers. Some volunteer organizations provide allowances or some kind of perks for the members.

Apply for a job (In the right way)

You can search for a job via online (registering and using job search sites) or offline (office visits and networking). Here are tips to increase your chances of landing an interview and shorten your job hunt.

• Send applications specific to your skills using the rifle approach (applying to vacancies you are qualified) rather than the shotgun approach (applying to many jobs as much as possible even if you don’t fit the qualifications).

• Send your resume to both solicited and unsolicited applications.

• Keep a database or spreadsheet of job applications for tracking.

• Research the companies and the roles (the HR will surely ask these things).

• Dress up for the interview.

• Follow up your applications.