If you found yourself unemployed at year-end, you have my deepest sympathy. I have been there a few times myself, and it does not improve with repetition. <\/p>\n
Being unemployed is a condition that will affect more and more of us in the years to come, because employment no longer comes with any guarantee of security. <\/p>\n
The one thing I can say with certainty, is that when you are unemployed, you will find out who your real friends are, because they are the ones who will give you the impetus to get back on your feet and succeed again.<\/p>\n
They probably will not lend you money, but they will put you in touch with people who will hire you. You don’t need charity, you need a helping hand which leads you to a new opportunity.<\/p>\n
At the risk of repeating myself, I would like to remind you that 85% of all positions are filled by personal referrals. (Wall Street Journal archives)<\/p>\n
If you are going to get a job and you were not top of your class
\nfrom a nationally recognized university majoring in whatever is hot,
\nhot, hot today, you will probably get your job through the
\nrecommendation of a friend, an acquaintance, or someone you just met at
\nStarbucks or the neighborhood bar.<\/p>\n
It doesn’t matter where you find this person, what is important is
\nthat they know someone else who could use your services. It may take
\nseveral tries, but you will find a job, when you do, through a
\nreferral. Not to knock headhunters, as I have known and used them, but
\nfor most of us the route to employment is through personal contacts.<\/p>\n