The hidden cost of a job search | Job Market Success

Aug 16th

It?s not just the loss of earnings that keeps the costs of being unemployed up. Nor even the extra electricity you?ll use (and pay for) if you?re at home.

Here are some of the other ways that being unemployed is an expensive business:

- new clothes, accessories or haircuts for interviews
- travel (to and from interviews, networking events or to the job centre)
- books, subscriptions, internet and phone connection, newspapers etc
- upskilling / training sessions
- postage or office supplies, business cards, etc.

And that?s before you even take into account the odd treat (or networking coffee) that will stop you from going mad.

Far be it for me to tell you how to budget, but looking for ways to reduce the financial burden makes sense.

Take advantage of all the reductions you?re entitled to if you?re out of work. That could be cheaper subscriptions to industry publications and events for example.

Get freebies where you can. You might be able to teach yourself a skill for no charge from internet tutorials.

Don?t make false economies. You can save yourself gym membership if you exercise for free in the park, but the gym might also be a good place to get job leads? Similarly, a cheap suit often looks just that ? if you can stretch to quality, the investment will probably pay off over time. (Same with cheap haircuts!)

Schedule meetings, interviews and appointments for off-peak times, if you can.

Be wary of dubious marketing and referral schemes or paid networking events. There seem to be plenty of people who prey on the newly unemployed, offering leads and connections ? all for a fee. Whereas, of course, asking your own contacts for referrals is free of charge?

Photo credit: Antony Griffiths

Source: http://www.jobmarketsuccess.com/2012/08/the-hidden-cost-of-a-job-search/

best superbowl commercials madonna half time m.i.a super bowl coin toss madonna super bowl halftime kelly clarkson super bowl giants super bowl 2012