Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its monthly jobs report – announcing the lowest unemployment rate in the past two years. A deeper look at these numbers, however, showed that one of the main reasons for the drop to 8.6% unemployment (from over 9%) is that over 300,000 people left the work force and stopped looking for a job. This may sound disheartening, but there is always an upside – if you look hard enough.
As Angel and Dorian discover in the entrepreneurial comedy Partners in Pretension, being out of work can be very challenging, but unemployment can lead to new opportunities and unexpected benefits. Are you unemployed and looking for that silver lining? Here are ten of them.
Partners in Pretension – How to Coexist with the Common Man
No boss
More recently, inappropriate bosses were showcased in the film Horrible Bosses, where Nick Hendricks (Jason Bateman), Dale Arbus (Charlie Day), and Kurt Buckman (Jason Sudeikis) agree to kill each other’s bosses (played by Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, and Colin Farrell, respectively). After meeting with a murder consultant (Jamie Foxx), their plan begins to unravel, but not before they prove the extent to which some people will go to rid themselves of their boss.
Without a boss, working on Saturdays and the need for murderous plots is a thing of the past.
Time to work on that screenplay/novel
Walk into any coffee shop, and you will notice several people typing away feverishly. They owe this productive, creative oasis to unemployment.
A 9-to-5 job can zap away your creativity and consume valuable writing time. Without the hustle of a commute and an eight-hour workday, that spark of creativity may reignite and provide you with that job satisfaction you’ve been looking for.
Time with the family
During The Great Recession, approximately 70% of those unemployed were men. Many of them involuntarily became a stay-at-home parent. As such, they not only saved money on child care but also bonded with their children during crucial developmental years. What’s more, stay-at-home parents can take advantage of the situation and start a business - their very own day care facility.
A chance to go back to school
In the film Larry Crowne, the title character, played by Tom Hanks, loses his job at a big-box store after his bosses decide he has capped his advancement opportunities without a college degree. With this realization, Larry decides to go back to school. A great way to use your “downtime” is to go back to school to start a degree, finish a degree, or pick up some extra skills. If nothing else, you’ll have a new sense of self-worth and something to fill in the gap on your resume.
A clean slate
In a 2010 poll, only 45% of people were satisfied with their jobs. Although a layoff or firing seems horrible in the short-term, this may allow you the time to find a job that satisfies you in the long-term. There are many resources, such as career counselors and online career tests, to help guide you towards a job that suits you. Knowing what you want to do and tuning in to what you’re good at can bring you joy and inspiration in light of your unemployment.
Self-employment
On the television show Ed, high-profile New York lawyer Ed Stevens (Tom Cavanagh) decides to return to his hometown and start his own law firm in the local bowling alley after being fired. Although this sounds like a crazy proposition, it’s not uncommon. Sometimes the freedom of unemployment lets you take the risk that you always wanted to take.
See the world
Ever wanted to go somewhere but couldn’t take off from work? This is your opportunity! Grab the newest issue of National Geographic, cash in your savings, and jump on a jet plane. If your savings can’t get you to somewhere exotic, the United States has plenty of unbelievably beautiful sights and cities. If all else fails, you could enroll in the Peace Corps or the military.
Reacquaint yourself with your parents
Moving back home isn’t as bad as it sounds. Mom wants to feed you. You’ve been gone long enough to make it a novelty. Dad enjoys watching sports with someone who isn’t your mother. All of those months worrying about the heating bill or the price of Ramen noodles end with one phone call.
Get fit
Have you looked in the mirror lately and noticed that those freshmen fifteen have become the freshman fifty? Have all of those hours in your cubicle made you look like a Weeble? Like an inmate in prison, you have all the time in the world to focus on a couple of key goals. Make one of those getting fit.
If all else fails: early retirement!