Save the Wolrd: Be A Volunteer!

Remember how you are always saying you would love to help others if you just had the free time? Well, now you have it! Go do it! Nonprofits across the state are cutting staff time, services, etc. and they could benefit by having a few volunteers on hand to help them out. Of course there is no pay involved, but it is rewarding experience that may even be resume worthy. It certainly beats sitting on the couch and sulking in your unemployment and gives you a break from the endless work of finding a new job.

Here are some volunteer resources that I have used and would certainly recommend.

Idealist.org: This site offers temporary and long-term volunteer opportunities across America. Find a one day volunteer opportunity or something that requires a longer time commitment.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Wake County: Those of you that know me well, know that I am an advocate and volunteer for the Boys and Girls Club in my community. There are all kinds of volunteer opportunities at the club, from mentoring children to helping with special fundraising events.

Duke Hospital Volunteer: Duke Hospital is a nonprofit organization with numerous opportunities to assist cancer patients, terminally ill children, and provide services to family members in waiting rooms. Many of the opportunities are long term commitments. Who knows how long you will be unemployed, so go ahead and sign up today!

Get involved with politics! Progressive or conservative, I urge you to get involved with local and national politics. Advocacy and political nonprofits host lobbying days for citizens frequently. Check their websites and find an opportunity to meet with lawmakers and tell them what is important to you!

Volunteering may not earn you a paycheck, but its a great way to network and feel good about giving back to your community at the same time.

Step 1: Find an Unemployment Partner in Crime

Since November, I can think of at least 10 friends that have lost a job for one reason or another. Take this opportunity to bond with those that are jobless. They know your pain, your worries, your anixety, and can be a fabulous support network for you. After you are done complaining about your situation to someone that truly understands, you can share a nice cold PBR, or as I like to call it, the poor man's brew.

Meet your friend at Unemployment Cafe for a coffee and motivate each other to apply for all 300 of the jobs that are out there for the 9,345 unemployed people in the Triangle area. When you get bored and need a break, take funky pictures with your Mac computer. Be productive and do mock interviews with your unemployed partner in crime. Look over your friends cover letter and resume and let him know what looks good and what needs improvement.

This will be a whole other post soon, but find a worthy nonprofit to volunteer with until the new job starts and invite your friend to come along. So far, we have assisted in lobbying for gay rights, painting houses for low-income families, and advocated for other issues that are important to us.

Unemployment Cafe

Wireless internet is a life saver, especially when it comes with a tall cup of joe. Baristas across the city might hate me for saying it, but a coffee shop can be your new 9 to 5 office. Walk or bike (save on gas!) to your local coffee shop, purchase a drip coffee for about $2 (please, don't forget to tip!) and camp out with your laptop. Lattes and speciality drinks are off limits, since they cost anywhere from $3 to $5 a pop. Drip coffee is a cheaper option for those of us with temporary limited funds. Start sipping on your joe and searching for job. If you treat applying for a job as a full-time gig, you might come out of this unemployment phase a bit faster than you expected.

Chances are you are not the only one in the coffee shop looking for a job. Welcome to Unemployment Cafe! Get your network on and start mingling with other unemployed mates. Ask them where they are looking for jobs and you are certain to find a few websites or resources you didn't find on your own. Keep your eye on that sharp looking businessman in the corner. Maybe he is a human resources manager or knows of someone that can get you an interview with his company.

Disclaimer: I hate on people that don't tip in the service industry. So, if you decide to use a coffee shop as your new office, be kind and show your baristas some love by tipping. Refills are nice too, if you are going to be there taking up space for a while.

So, you lost your job, ey? It is not the end of the world!

Hoookay....here's the deal. Young professionals in the Raleigh area are losing their jobs, taking pay cuts, and considering less than few options when it comes to advancing their career. What the media says is true...the economy is bad and the job market is even worse. Due to bankruptcy, lack of funding, corporate greediness, or any other unforseen circumstances many of us are in the same boat.

This blog is our advice to you as a savvy young professional that is looking for a way to pay the rent and still advance your career. Half humerous and half serious, I hope this blog will be a collection of ideas and thoughts that have helped me through the journey of unemployment. Losing your job is not the end of the world, but rather an opportunity to recreate yourself and have fun while doing it. Yes, it sucks that you no longer have a paycheck, your health insurance just kicked the bucket, and you have just been slapped with a huge dose of 'holycrapiamarealadult' reality. Given the right attitude and dedication, this could be the best thing that ever happened to you. Seriosuly!

Read farther and take some advice from two Raleigh locals that have made the best of their unemployment and maintaned a positive outlook by doing cheap, silly, and creative things around the city.