We all know The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, commonly known as the Stimulus Bill, provides for a monetary boost for many parts of the U.S. economy. And since it is very expansive everyone, from small businesses to state governments, is cashing in, and rightfully so. The money is there, so one might as well take it and muffle the blow of the recession or offset it completely. What many people might not know is that the Stimulus Bill provides a substantial amount of money to nonprofits. Besides filling budget gaps and shortfalls, the stimulus money will expand nonprofits’ services and efforts, creating many jobs. This recession has changed the way a lot of us look at the economy and job market, and as a consequence many of us have had to widen our horizons.
Talk to Sampson
Desperate times call for desperate measures. A nice old saying for the age old economic down turn we have seen time and time again. Economic downturns are as consistent as the weather; inevitable and unpredictable. Each time we find ourselves rushing to understand how it happened, who to blame and how to fix it.
What I have noticed more now than during previous economic downturns is people coping more. With unemployment at a 20-year high, this downturn has hit us hard. Individuals are willing to sacrifice more to remain employed - an unfortunate scenario or a possible realization that certain jobs were overcompensating - and even take the initiative to suggest these cuts before they get the axe. Those already part of the unemployed have a tougher predicament; they don’t have a job that they can negotiate aspects of to keep. But, a new development (something I initially thought was mad) has evolved: working for free. YES, I did just say that.
As Bob Dylan said, “The times they are a’chang’n” and so people are as well. They’re adapting to the changed environment. And so, us drones have migrated to a new idea of dealing with unemployment; a novel one at that. Think about it. You just got the boot. You take a few days to a week to assess your predicament and then jump back into the fray to look for a job. Maybe you anticipated your exit for employment and have already started the search; good for you. Either way, you most likely have some free time and having a blank spot on your resume for however long it takes to find a job is not always nominal.
Working for free might just be a great way to fill that gap, gain some new skills and possibly widen your job search and increase your contact network. It’s a great way to keep your resume looking fresh. Think of it as working an unpaid internship that will help you get gainfully employed. So, don’t look at it as a sign of desperation, but dedication to polishing your resume.
Of course you can always get a job waiting tables and get a little green in your pockets, but then again you may be able to work somewhere beneficial to your career because you’re willing to do it for free. Besides the usual non-profits you can work for, many companies are looking to hire free labor or are asking their employees to work for. Just a few months ago, British Airways asked some of its employees to work a month for free.
Companies have something to benefit from this situation. Not only do they get free labor, but additionally it is also a great way for a company to create a pipeline of talent to draw from when the economy turns around. When a position does open up in the company or the company begins hiring again, it will most likely look internally to fill positions. For both the employer and employee, it brings long-turn benefits. You’re training new potential hires from which the company has its choice and as an unpaid employee you’re gaining experience with no contractual obligation. You work as long and as hard as you want. What’s the worst they can do, fire you?
Despite it actually being illegal for a company to have you work for them for below minimum wage, many are people are finding that working for free gives them more appeal when applying for a job along with countless thousands of other applicants. Some individuals argue that if you have the skills for the job, you should be paid for it, but with a lot of companies having the work but not the revenue to hire, it may be a win-win situation.
Often times once you have been unemployed for a few months this can be a decision between having an indelible white space on your resume or keeping your skills sharp and mind in the game. It may seem like an act of desperation or the sign of a true devotion, but in the end it will likely yield long-term beneifts.
Easy Green: Paid Science & Medical Studies
Talk to Sampson, The Lighter Side, Tips & Tricks No Comments »
Recently I have been feeling life’s expenses burn a hole in my wallet more and more. Even my modest social expenses, which are truly modest, seem to be a burden. Take it a step further and say you recently got the boot or are between jobs; the pain from your wallet would sky rocket.
I’ve thought of ways to attempt to fill in the bottomless pit my money seems to conveniently find. An extra job, working more overtime or even selling my soul - though I believe I already sold it once to pay my electric bill. One issue that always stands in the way is that I do not have a lot of free time. Those of us with regular jobs or looking for employment probably do not find the prospect of going to work after putting time in at your job (looking for a job is one in itself) very appealing. Then one day I was reading my recent issue of the Economist - see, I’m always in a financial frame of mind - and I realized that a great way to make some extra cash without excessive commitment is participating in scientific/medical research.
Sitting in my cubicle each day reminds me of the movie Office Space and the line about how humans were not meant to sit in cubicles all day, staring at computer screens. That statement really hits home because that is literally what I do all day. I know I shouldn’t be complaining; having a job right now is something to be thankful for. But sometimes I feel like up and leaving the job and I know I’m not alone.
The sense of hopelessness created by the current economy has definitely fostered a bleak outlook for anyone entering the job market, especially those recently canned or graduated. However, there is hope for those of you who loathe their jobs or are sick of the “Don’t call us, we’ll call you” routine. If you feel like your back is against a wall, you hate your job, want to go back to school or just want some time to think about your future without going bankrupt in the process, teaching English abroad may just be the remedy to your predicament. It may sound risky, slightly irresponsible and downright mad, but before accept your current job or job search as the status quo give the idea consideration. As crazy as the idea sounds, it may just be the thing to get a break from the 9-5 grind, give some thought to your career or prepare to go back to school - God knows the last thing I want to do when I come home from work is study for the GRE. Read the rest of this entry »
