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When I hadn't found a job a few months after my layoff early in 2008, the prospects for my wife, five children and myself looked bleak. Everyone in both my wife's family and mine knew I was unemployed. What they did not know was, I could soon be reaching out to them for serious help. Through the good times and difficult times in my life, I always maintained open and consistent communication with my family. No one likes to deliver bad news. However, losing a job is not the end of the world. As terrible as it may feel at the time, often it’s a chance for a new beginning.
When my wife introduced me to her parents for the first time, they welcomed me with open arms. Not only did my future father-in-law give me permission to marry his daughter, he said, “Welcome to the family.” Little did he know that six years and two children later, I would be sending his daughter and grandchildren back to him to live for a spell while I looked for a job.
My wife and I knew our immediate families would take us in if we had nowhere to go. But it wasn't easy finding space and financial support for our entire family. One or two people can sleep in a spare room or on a couch. What do you do with three, four, five, six and seven?
Support From Family Can Take Various Forms
Most people do not like to talk about their financial problems. When you are job-challenged, however, it is important to get your family on board. Even if they cannot help you financially, your family may be able to help you with emotional and psychological support, networking, food and shelter.
Losing a job is nothing to be embarrassed about and is an opportunity to spend time with family. After the initial adjustment, you may even find it is quality time. Every cloud has a silver lining. It my be difficult to relax or relate to people when you are unemployed, but you may be surprised how wonderful, helpful and generous your family can truly be.
There is an old proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” It can also take a village, family, or community to help you get through difficult times such as a long stretch of unemployment.
Don't Overlook Community Institutions
My wife and I were blessed to have supportive families. Many other people do not have supportive families, or any family at all. You should not hesitate or be shy about reaching out to your community, charitable institutions or government. Believe it or not, there are people out there who want to help you almost as much as you want help.
Charitable organizations could not exist if they did not have people to help. Community service organizations do not have big marketing budgets, so sometimes all you have to do is reach out to them.
The government also does not always find the people whom they are mandated and budgeted to help. So you have to take the initiative, state your case and fill out the forms.
Religious organizations are full of people who dedicate their lives to helping others.
There are people and organizations near and far who want to and need to help you. They might not always to be able offer financial assistance, housing or food, but you never know whom you might meet.
Community, religious and government organizations are great places to network and the people inside might be able to open doors for you in unexpected and constructive ways. If nothing else, they might give you emotional and psychological support. In the best case, they might even be able to help you find a job.
Joshua Persky is a New York-based career management author, blogger and lecturer whose professional background is in corporate finance and valuation. Last year he gained worldwide media attention for handing out his resume to strangers on the street while wearing a homemade sandwich board that read: "Experienced MIT Grad for Hire."
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