Surviving Unemployment: A How-To Guide on Finding Your Next Job

By Keneth F. Wassell

When Kenneth F. Wassell discovered his days on the job were numbered, he immediately began searching for alternatives.

But like so many others, he searched for months without landing a single interview. As time went on, the pressure mounted to pay the bills especially after friends began looking at him as a charity case.

He managed to get through the rough period, and he wrote this book to help others struggling with unemployment. Learn how to:

overcome the depression that often comes with losing a job;

manage finances while unemployed;

write cover letters and resumes that get noticed;

network with friends and colleagues to find opportunities.

By applying the strategies that worked for the author, youll find that unemployment is a season with a beginning and an end and you can get through it as long as you dont give up on finding your next job.

Get advice from someone who has been through the trials and tribulations of being unemployed, and find out how to keep your life intact until you find a new position in Surviving Unemployment.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press AU
• Release date: Oct 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781452525884

Keneth F. Wassell

Kenneth F. Wassell lives in Sydney, Australia, with his wife, Michelle, and their three adult children. With firsthand experience of being unemployed, he’s proved that it doesn’t have to turn your life into a disaster.

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Copyright © 2014 Kenneth F. Wassell.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Balboa Press

A Division of Hay House

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www.balboapress.com.au

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4525-2587-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4525-2588-4 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date: 10/08/2014

CONTENTS

Letter to Readers

Preface: My Journey

Chapter 1   Choices

Chapter 2   Getting Support

Chapter 3   Managing Finances

Chapter 4   Preparing for Your New Job

Chapter 5   The Interview

Chapter 6   The Roller Coaster

Chapter 7   Different Types of Paid Opportunities

Chapter 8   Networking

Chapter 9   Casual Breakthrough

Chapter 10 Part-Time Breakthrough

Chapter 11 Journaling

Chapter 12 Keep Positive

Chapter 13 Full-Time Breakthrough

Chapter 14 Writing Your Next Chapter

Acknowledgements

For Michelle who loves me, Marion who encourages me, Glenn who supports me, Charlie who furthers me, my mother who believes in me, and my God who never fails me.

Author Ken Wassell is a man with unbridled enthusiasm. The book you are about to read is from the heart of a man who has been through what so many millions have also experienced. The difference is, Ken Wassell ‘Found a way’! - Through the journey of unemployment that can rob any individual of dignity, Ken has been able to turn that ‘set-back’ into a ‘come-back’. He is a man who has ‘LIVED’ what he shares with you the reader. I have personally observed him through this journey and I can testify that he is on the other side. He came through. He did not give up nor give in. You can too.

Brett Murray – Author ‘Make Bullying History’ &

‘Give yourself Permission to Fly!’

It has been my honor to witness and walk beside Ken on this extraordinary journey. Supernaturally each day Ken remained positive and focused even when life threw it’s most difficult & devastating challenges at him. Steadfastly he moved forward searching for & discovering the keys to breakthroughs that were needed. He found that each day could release a positive outcome that filled his future with hope. Though this journey wasn’t easy, whenever life’s storms smashed every hope, Ken remained encouraged and encouraged everyone he came in contact with. Did Ken have victory? Yes he did! He left this season stronger than he entered and today walks in victory!

Glenn Nurse (Senior Pastor – Maximize Church)

Letter to Readers

For you to pick up this book, there is something that has stirred within you to open it.

You may be in this season right now, wondering how you are ever going to get through it. Perhaps you think someone close to you will find this book to be helpful.

My name is Ken, and I wrote this book to encourage you or your loved one through this temporary season.

You are not alone; I will be walking you through it until your breakthrough is at hand.

Unemployment will always be within our society and of concern to individuals and their families. World governments will always try to minimize its numbers.

I will guide you through the journey with practical and personal strategies that I implemented to keep me moving forward.

This book is to encourage you in moving forward. Don’t give up, and never put your anchor down.

Keep smiling, keep smiling, seek encouragement, and …

Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, give up. Never give up, never give up. Never give up.

—Winston Churchill, October 29, 1941

Preface

My Journey

It began like a regular day. I commuted to work and arrived early. I parked in my usual spot, placed my briefcase under my arm, and walked to my desk. A few colleagues had already settled into their daily routine, so I walked into the kitchen to prepare my morning coffee. With my steaming latte in hand, I walked back to my office, ready to tackle the day. I sat down at my desk, opened my laptop, and took a sip of my coffee. Suddenly, the CEO called and asked me to come to his office. I got up and walked with my coffee, notepad, and pen to his office, expecting another business meeting. Closing the door behind me, the CEO said, Ken, you are a machine, but we can’t afford to keep you. We need to let you go. I encourage you to start looking for another position and we are happy to give you a few months to find your new role. I was left speechless.

Back at my desk, I called my wife and shared the news. Michelle was very supportive and said we would look on the Internet that night for a job. I thanked her and then wandered perplexed through the rest of the day. After dinner, we commenced the job search. This became the routine for the next three months. I applied for many jobs, but never received a single interview. Perhaps it was because of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). With my formal qualifications and many contacts, I didn’t think it would be this difficult to find a new job.

One day, I was at my desk when the CEO again called me to his office. With a notepad and pen in hand, the CEO again closed the door behind me. Ken, have you had any success in getting a new job over these three months? I replied that I hadn’t. Ken, due to our financial situation, I need you to finish up this week with no severance pay. I knew this day was drawing near, but to hear that I only had a few days left shocked me. However, I felt a sense of peace about it, yet I made it clear that it seemed sudden to finish by the end of the week. The remaining days I trained the volunteers who were to replace