The Long Term Unemployment Support Center

Every person is unique, but when you face a challenge like long-term unemployment, you are never alone.  Countless men and women have faced the exact same situation and have survived and thrived.  The following guide is designed to help you navigate your journey with the best information and resources that helped other survivors when they faced the same challenge.  

TSC has scoured the Internet and assembled links to the very best long-term unemployment resources: articles, blogs, forums and tools that can help you make better decisions and take action to overcome the range of emotional, economic and other challenges that you face.

As you’ll see, we always welcome your ideas and suggestions to make this Disorder Guide even more helpful to survivors like you. 

JUST FOUND OUT

Survivors Say: Best Resources for Long-Term Unemployment

• Kiplinger: Help For The Long-Term Unemployed
• Job-hunt.org: Job Search Strategies for Long-Term Unemployment
• Congressional Budget Office: Long-Term Unemployment (PDF)

The Big Picture

Long-term unemployment is more common in certain industries. Both banking and real estate were hard hit in 2008 and 2009, as dot com start-ups were hard hit in the late 1990s. People in these fields, as well as in traditionally volatile fields such as sales, may find that they are facing a long road to a new job.

As soon as you become aware that your unemployment may last longer than a few weeks or months, you need to consider developing new job skills. People who are unemployed for a long period of time and don’t invest in their job skills are at the greatest risk of staying unemployed. Determine what skills you have and what skills you may want to develop.

Campus Explorer: Find College Degrees and Career Programs

Your Long-Term Unemployment

After being laid off, you need to assess and protect your finances and your assets. If you own a home, make sure to take precautions to protect it from foreclosure.

The Federal Reserve Board:  5 Tips for Protecting Your Home from Foreclosure

You may be responsible for other recurring charges, whether related to a car loan or credit card debt. If you let those creditors know your situation, you may be able to work out a payment plan that eases your financial burden.

CNNMoney: Dealing with Unemployment

Beyond protecting your assets and covering your debts, plan out a budget incorporating your basic needs, like food, shelter, utilities and health care. 

Young Money: 7 Ways You Can Prepare for Job Loss 

Your World

After a long period of unemployment, it's understandable to experience a flood of emotions. It's important to talk with your loved ones and reach out to support centers during the initial stages of your journey. For advice on dealing with the tangled web of emotions you may be going through, visit   

Unemployment Myths

• "Only uneducated people get laid off"
  
• "People wih graduate degrees are safe from lay-offs"
• "Unemployment insurance is welfare money I shouldn't be taking"
  

Information and Recommended Links for Survivors

• CNN Living: Clark Howard - What To Do if You're Laid Off
• USA Today: Top 10 Things to do After You've Been Laid Off

Immediate Financial Options

Unemployment

Filing for unemployment should be your first step. Benefits are not retroactive to the last date of employment, so filing immediately is key.

Quick Money

There are no get-rich-quick methods, but there are some ways to pick up extra cash while you’re looking for a permanent job. Here are a few ways to make money while unemployed.

Yahoo: Budgeting - Ten Easy Ways to Make Money

Frugal Living

If you can’t make money, you can save some money. You need to look for everything you can think of to help you save money while you’re unemployed.

Dumb Little Man: 30 Easy Ways to Save Money

Creating a Support Circle

• Set up your TSC Survivor Profile
• Join support groups of other survivors or set up your own
• Interact and provide updates on your profile or our forums

Family & Friend Matters

Family Matters

Once you've shared the news with your partner, you need to tell your children. While communicating the loss may be challenging, it's important to keep your children informed – and the sooner the better.

CBS NEWS: How To Tell Your Kids You Lost Your Job

Friend Matters

While your family depends on you for financial security, your friends are less dependent on your financial success. Don't let long-term unemployment prevent you from maintaining those friendships. If you find that you are tempted to withdraw from your relationships, consider joining an online group to get support and perspective on your situation.

New York Times: Health - The Isolation of Unemployment

Professionals Who Can Help

Who do you turn to when you’re facing long-term unemployment?

Knowing where to go can take a bit of research, especially if you’ve never faced unemployment before. You’ll need to figure out whom to contact and what they can do for you.

Finding an unemployment support group can help.

Red Orbit: Support Groups May Help Stress from Unemployment

Resources to Find Other Employment Tools

• Considering a Resume Writer - Yahoo: Should You Use a Resume Writing Service?
• Finding Career Centers - America's Service Locator: Find a Nearest One Stop Career Center
• Choosing an Employment Agency - Suite101: Choosing an Employment Agency

The Emotional Rollercoaster

One day you think you have a job, and the next day you’re convinced you’ll never find one. Being unemployed for a long period of time can lead to confusion and frustration. You need to prepare yourself for this while you’re looking for a job.

Books Survivors Recommend

• Fired, Laid Off, or Forced Out: A Complete Guide to Severance, Benefits, and Your Rights When You’re Starting Over 
• Hardest Times: The Trauma of Long-Term Unemployment 
• Unemployment Boot Camp: Tactics for Surviving and Thriving in the 21st Century 

What Survivors Wish They’d Known

Communicating with Your Creditors

• Contact your creditors immediately. Some of them have forbearance programs that you may be able to apply for immediately.
• Go to your creditors with a potential budget using alternate sources of income. Tell each creditor when you expect to be able to pay.

Dealing with Long-Term Unemployment: Information and Recommended Links for Co-Survivors

How you can help

• Offer to help with any job search tasks your friend or family member needs. If you can help by looking through advertisements, proofing resumes, or taking phone messages from headhunters, do.
• Continue to engage your friend or family member in fun activities. If you used to spend money on entertainment and weekend activities, think of some alternatives -- go for a bike ride, make dinner at home or rent a movie.
• Let your friend or family member know you’re there. Talk with them about job prospects, financial issues, and the emotional toll of long-term unemployment.

What to say 

• "I’m confident you’ll eventually find something, even if it sometimes doesn’t feel like it.”
• "Do you want to vent? If you do, I’m here."
• “This market is really tough for a lot of qualified folks. You’re not doing anything wrong.”

What not to say

• "Sometimes there’s a silver lining in losing a job." 
• "Look at the bright side – a permanent vacation!"
• "Ah, don’t worry about it. Something will turn up."

Things you can do for a survivor every day

Offering small financial assistance can be crucial. Though many people won’t accept money, they may allow you to do things for them, such as have them over for dinner or pay for a movie and popcorn night. The lack of money adds to the stress of being unemployed, and a bit of financial ease can go a long way.

How to build a support network

• Set up your TSC Co-Survivor Profile
• Create a support group for your friend or family member.
• Interact and provide updates

How to help a survivor deal with day-to-day challenges

• Finding and Using Food Banks: About.com - Get Assistance with Basic Food Needs
• Assessing Your Financial Situation: The Debt Consolidation Post - I'm Unemployed and Can't Pay Debts
• Considering Going Back to College: Back to College - FAQ

Once you’ve conquered long-term unemployment, it may take you a while to get back on your feet completely. You’ll need a solid plan to regain your professional and financial footing.

Learning to keep to a budget is key. You may be making less money, and you may also have back bills that you need to pay.

Nolo: How to Make a Budget and Stick to It

Learning how to save money will help you mitigate the losses you face on any future unemployment. Be sure you make savings a key part of your financial plan when you’re employed again.

About.com: Financial Planning - Saving  Money

What can you do if you exhaust all of the possibilities you are considering and still cannot find a job? You may need to consider re-training for a new career field.

You may also need to move. Though many people are tied to their current location, expanding your preferred job location may uncover career opportunities.

For advice on how to conduct a long-distance job search, read through:

Quint Careers: Long-Distance Job Search Do's and Don'ts