Recruiter scams are everywhere. EVERYWHERE. Whenever a recruiter DMs or emails me, my first thought is, "This isn't real." And yet, some of them are. So how can you identify the legit from the fake?
• Legit recruiters don't charge for their services and will never ask you to spend money on anything ("I'd love to submit you for this job, but first you need to pay this other person to fix your resume" << SCAM).
• Legit recruiters don't ask for sensitive information.
• Legit recruiters have real LinkedIn profiles. This platform is their bread and butter. If you can't find them on LinkedIn or their profile looks off to you (0 connections, vague job descriptions, almost no information at all, etc.), it's probably a scam. Trust your gut.
If you get an email from someone claiming to be a recruiter, see if you can find them on LinkedIn. And check out their email address. Does it look off? My favorite thing to do lately is to copy and paste their email address into Google and ask, "Is this a legit email address?" On multiple occasions the result I got was, "This is a known recruiting scam." Done. Thanks, Google.
You're unemployed. You're in a vulnerable situation. And you may even feel desperate. DO NOT LOWER YOUR GUARD. Things can get far worse for you if you trust the wrong people. And there are plenty of jerks who will try to take you for a ride. 🤯
What's one thing you did—or are planning to do—today to help in your job search?
A question I've been asked is how to maintain motivation during a difficult job search. Of course, it's not always easy, and what works depends on each person. We're all motivated by different things, after all. But here's one thing that works for me (more to come later):
Do at least one thing each day*—no matter how small—to aid in your search. I've posted about this before, but it bears repeating. Those who know me have heard me talk a lot about the concept of planting seeds. We can all be doing something each day to help ourselves, and although we may not see the positive results of those actions immediately, eventually those seeds may germinate. You just never know when or how. So apply to that job, reach out to that former colleague or professor, get a little work done on your portfolio website, write that thoughtful LinkedIn post, volunteer at that event (expands your network), etc. Each thing brings you one small step closer to that next great thing.
I get it: we all want immediate results. And when our livelihoods and our next rent or mortgage payment are on the line, being in a state of compromised finances makes things much harder. But sitting around and sulking doesn't help.
"Being unemployed is the hardest job you'll ever have." We've all heard it. But it's important to be kind to yourself and to be as patient as possible. We don't all have the mental capacity or emotional fortitude to embark on a 10-hour job search on any given Tuesday. But do one thing. It can be small. Each thing moves you forward, even if it doesn't look like it.
*But also, it's okay to take occasional breaks and have those days where you do nothing at all. Job searching can be soul crushing and exhausting. Take a break. Rest. Recharge. A day or two away from your search won't lose you any momentum. It will only give you more energy to attack your search with the positive spirit and gusto that you'll need.
Have faith that each action is positive movement. Because it is.
How are you at networking?
Some folks are very intimidated by it. But take it from me, a certified introvert, it's not that hard to put yourself out there. Previously, I talked about doing at least one thing each day to aid in your job search. That includes networking. I treat each encounter as an opportunity to do this. It doesn't have to mean uncomfortably rubbing elbows with folks at a work conference. It doesn't have to mean asking strangers for coffee chats. Yes, it can include those things, but ultimately how you choose to network is up to you and your own comfort level.
At the core of it, it's about reminding people about who you are, whether or not you're on the job market. (Remember, networking is something we should all be doing at all times, not just when we need something from someone else. Grease those wheels now so they'll get you rolling to your next opportunity when you need it.)
Reconnecting with former colleagues or instructors, asking folks to virtually connect you with people in their networks, even just a phone call with a friend or dinner
with family—it all counts. It's all an opportunity to remind people about you. And don't be so rigid with who you're speaking with. That woman you met once who works in that industry you wouldn't be caught dead working in? So you may not want to work at her company, but she might know someone in a different industry who's looking for someone just like you. You never know where connections can lead you.
Don't forget your family. They don't understand what you do? Join the club. But they may have a conversation with someone and say, "Oh, my relative is looking for a job. I don't know what they do, but it has something to do with finance." That might just be enough to open a door.
Every encounter is a networking opportunity—no matter who that encounter is with or how it happens.
Moral of the story: be out there, communicate, cast a wide net while you're also casting a more focused one. Because you won't get anywhere later if you don't grease those wheels now.
Sometimes what we really need to keep hope alive is something new to try.
When I introduced this "How to be Unemployed" series, I said the point wasn't to help people find jobs, but rather to navigate the waters of unemployment. So file this post under "Tactical Job Search Methods That Might Offer Hope During Unemployment."
AI is a complicated thing, and so are many of our feelings towards it. But when used responsibly and as a tool for support, it can be effective.
I'm very proud of my resume, not just because of my experience, skills, and education, but because of its actual design. I thought I created something that is sleek and stylish, but not gaudy or unprofessional—something that helps me stand out among a sea of boring, heavy text resumes. And I do believe that it ticks all those boxes. But what I failed to consider is that a beautifully designed resume can only be appreciated by human eyes. And these days, human eyes may be miles away when sending your resume into an online black hole.
Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to parse through resumes. They're automatic. They're not human. So just today, I ran my sleekly designed resume through Claude and asked if it was optimized for ATS software. The short answer was no.
The content is good, it told me. I've got the great titles, the impact numbers, the name brands, etc. But I also used a two-column format, a designed header with small pictograms and a block of color, and even the accent mark in my last name. I also wasn't using some key terms enough or at all. All of these things seem to work against me. ATS software may read through my resume and get tripped up by my design choices, jumbling things up or bypassing my application because I didn't use a term like "social strategy" enough times or in the optimal section of my resume.
So I've got some work to do to update it in a way that's ATS friendly. I doubt this is the silver bullet I'm looking for, but after days of wondering WHAT ELSE I could possibly do when I felt I've done everything—especially when I've been rejected from jobs for which I checked all the boxes and even had the exact title and salary range listed—this is one avenue left to explore, and more cause for hope that my resume will pass through applicant tracking systems and reach human eyes.
I'm still proud of my "pretty resume" and will keep that on my site and on LinkedIn, and I'll be sure to use it when emailing it to humans, but having a second version to use exclusively for online applications now makes me feel hopeful that I'm on the right track, and that makes wading through the unemployment waters a bit more bearable.
There’s a way to keep your skills sharp while also networking, even without a 9-to-5 to go to every day. And you can do it while also spending time doing the things you love.
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You’re unemployed. Me, too. It’s a bummer. But that’s no excuse to sit around and not do anything. Sure, you’ll be applying for jobs and networking in the traditional sense, but your life can’t be only that, either. So how can you be productive, maybe take your mind off your unemployment, and reignite a spirit of a joy in you?
Volunteer. That’s it.
You’ll get all that, plus you’ll be supporting your community. And if you believe in karma, the more good you put in, the more good you’ll get right back.
There are countless nonprofits and community organizations that need able hands and minds. I’ve been regularly volunteering my time since I was a kid, ultimately culminating with my AmeriCorps service after college and now with a board seat with a local nonprofit and with my work with a few other groups. I find it extraordinarily fulfilling. And when I can leverage my own skills (marketing and team leadership with Red Hook Conservancy) and interests (passing my love for NYC to tourists with Big Apple Greeter), it’s all the better for me, and for them.
You have skills and talents. And the skills and talents you’re used to getting paid for would be valued by your own community.
Yes, you need to pay your bills, but if you have the time, anyway, why shouldn’t you keep your skills sharp while also meeting new people (networking!) by helping to make your community a little better?
Consider your hobbies—the stuff you love to do, anyway. Are you an amateur photographer? There’s probably a local nonprofit that could use photos for their site or social media. Into gardening? Look into local orgs that work with environmental concerns, or even just need the flower beds outside their doors spruced up. Have a knack for business writing? You can do some grant writing for that community organization down the street.
Put together a list of local organizations whose work and mission you admire, and start reaching out. Tell them what you do and ask if they have a matching need. Even better if you’re open to whatever needs they currently have. You’ll walk away having helped someone else while also having something new for your resume and LinkedIn profile (and maybe even your creative portfolio).
Investing in volunteerism is also investing in yourself. And there’s no down side when helping others also means helping you. Volunteerism is a selfish act. Those who do it gain joy and a sense of purpose. In this case, it’s good to be selfish. 🤝
This will be a short one. Mostly because I’m really bad at following this advice, but here goes, anyway.
Against my better judgment—not to mention expert advice—I don’t always follow a consistent routine while unemployed. Routines can give us a sense of structure when life around us feels uncertain. Going to sleep and getting out of bed at consistent times. Having meals at the same time each day. Moving our bodies daily. Working each day from X time to Y time (for us unemployed, that likely means networking, brushing up our resumes, applying for jobs, participating in webinars, or learning new skills). Even when unemployed, we should be adhering to a routine. It gives us structure, yes.
But it also can enliven a sense of hope and positivity within us. Plus, when our lives shift again (i.e., that next job finds its way to us) the transition won’t feel so jarring.
It’s tempting to drastically shift our routines or obliterate them completely when there’s a major shift in our lives. I’m a night person, so I especially succumb to this temptation. That said, I don’t think staying up late and waking up late is inherently bad. Understand your own self and energy. Do what makes sense for you. But do it consistently and in a healthy way.
Do you have a routine? What does it look like?
I recently came across someone's post on Threads. It went something like this:
"I've been unemployed for one whole month, I've applied to 100 jobs, I've updated my resume countless times, and I'm BURNT OUT!"
Now I get it: we're unemployed and we need a consistent paycheck. Noted. But we have to pace ourselves. They say looking for a job is a full-time job in its own right. And there's certainly truth to that. But one of the "blessings" of being unemployed is that we have the "luxury" to take a step back and a much-needed breath, especially if we've been so caught up in a fast-moving grind for so long. Unemployment is an opportunity to reevaluate our needs and interests.
And yes, we need to be paid, so it's easy for a lot of folks to skip the self-reflection part and immediately jump right into the grind of applying for jobs. Some simply don't have enough money saved up to take a beat between rent or mortgage payments. But just like with the grind of full-time work, the grind of full-time job seeking can lead to burnout if you're not careful.
I said in a previous post that we should all aim to do something each day to advance our job search. But that doesn't mean we should do EVERYTHING every day. Burning out so soon will only lead to feelings of dejection faster. And when that feeling sets in, you'll likely crash and lose any momentum.
This job market is terrible. That's no secret. I was unemployed during The Great Recession in 2008/2009, and somehow this is worse. As painful as it is to read (or for me to write), the reality is that you're highly unlikely to land your next job only a month into your unemployment. Buckle up. For most of us, this is a long, bumpy road.
Allow me one more tired metaphor: this is a marathon, not a sprint. You need to be in positive, hopeful spirits to last. It's not easy to maintain over time, I'll grant you that. But you won't do yourself or your search any favors by crashing so soon.
What are some money-saving programs that you've found helpful during unemployment?
Discounted public transportation fare. Free museum visits. Cheap movies. And more. They exist, though you might not know about them. Of course, this all depends on where you live, and I encourage everyone to explore what might be available in your region. But here are just a few things those in NYC can take advantage of that may not be widely known:
- Fair Fares for discounted public transit: If your salary has taken a hit, you may be eligible for this program that offers half-price subway and bus fare. Why pay $3 per ride when you could be paying $1.50? Check your eligibility.
- TDF for discounted tickets to theatre and other live performance: The Theatre Development Fund exists to make the performing arts accessible for all people (most will know it for its TKTS booths). Various categories of people qualify for membership, including anyone under 30, freelancers and the self-employed, artists and arts professionals, students, and many others. For just $42 a year, you get access to discounted seats for select performances on Broadway, off-Broadway, dance, concerts, and more. Get information.
- IDNYC for tons of discounts related to museums, movies, health, kids and teens, food, housing, fitness, and much more: This is NYC's official ID card, which among many other benefits grants you access to movie tickets starting at $8, sporting events, and free membership benefits to over 25 museums and cultural institutions across all five boroughs. Learn more.
Hundreds of applications. Endless resume revisions. Countless cold emails and messages. And you feel like you haven't budged. It can feel disheartening. But often, the seeds we just planted take time to germinate. It may not look like we're making any progress. But in truth, the bloom is forming beneath the soil, outside of our view. Give it time. And while you're waiting, try to take your mind off your search for a bit. Help someone else out.
If you're like me, you know plenty of talented people currently facing the same choppy waters that you are. Just like you, they've been so intently focused on their own searches that their vision may be blurring. It's never a bad idea to offer them some fresh perspective. Give them a call or meet for coffee; get to know their search parameters. Maybe you know someone they should be connected to. Maybe you have a different take that might benefit them. Offer to review their resume, or even seek out opportunities for them that they might not have already come across.
Shifting focus won't just help your friends. It helps you, too. It can reenergize you when you're feeling depleted. And while you're thinking creatively about someone else's search, it may spark some ideas for your own. Or, perhaps, in discussing with your friends they may tell you about some method that you haven't considered yet.
Searching for a job in this current market really does take a village. Not all people are comfortable asking for help, so be proactive. Offer a hand. Put some good into the world, and you'll get some right back.
I used to think that losing my full-time job meant applying for a bunch of jobs and reaching out to my network—and that's it—until another full-time job came along. For years, people would tell me, "Dan, you should go into business for yourself." But as nice as that sounded, it didn't seem like something I could ever pursue. Fine for others—those entrepreneurial-minded others—but not so much for me. Five layoffs later, something finally clicked for me...
Somehow, for some reason, what many others realized long ago finally seemed like a very real option for me, too. Perhaps it was my increased exposure to freelancers. Perhaps others' urging me finally broke me down.
It's no secret how difficult this job market is. After everything I've gone through in my career, I thought I owed it to myself to shake things up a bit. And with all the layoffs happening across industries, it occurred to me that perhaps companies would be more willing to take on freelance talent to save costs. So I finally did it: I launched my LLC and started pursuing freelance work.
It's been an eye-opening process, learning about the logistics of starting a company, having to set up a business bank account, finding an accountant, etc. I leaned heavily on friends and former colleagues who have done it, learned a lot, and am grateful that I now have this infrastructure in place. Is setting up a legal company necessary? It's not a requirement, but it's strongly advised to do so to separate your personal finances from your business finances (if you ever get sued by a client, you'll be thankful for that separation).
Of course, there are pros and cons to freelancing:
Pro: Lots of flexibility
Con: No PTO (you don't get paid if you don't work)
Pro: Depending on your client, you can probably work from anywhere
Con: No health benefits
Pro: You're your own boss and are separated from most in-office politics or toxicity
Con: Finding clients might require some hustle, and you might go weeks or months between contracts
But the same can be said about full-time employment—lots of pros and cons. I continue to pursue full-time work, but in the meantime I've been fortunate to have my freelance work to keep me afloat, active, and sharp. And having all those building blocks already set up with my LLC means having a safety net to fall back on in case I need it after my next staff role somewhere.
If you've been considering freelancing but not sure where to start, ask around. Collect some knowledge. Who else is doing it, and what can you learn from them? This is a viable option for many, and truly worth considering. It can renew a feeling of purpose, motivation, and freedom.
If you've been following this series, by now you would have noticed a theme of "investing in your own joy." It's just as important to do while unemployed, if not more so important since times may seem bleaker than usual. Upon losing their jobs, some immediately panic and rid themselves of all non-necessities. Now, of course, each person needs to evaluate their own situation. But I'll caution anyone from hastily depriving themselves of the things that give them hope, or even just put a smile on their face when there's little else to smile about.
When finances are tight, you'll likely need to make some tough decisions, but you can be conservative with your dollars without eliminating all the "good stuff."
First, make a list of all of your expenses. Start with your credit card statements, as you might find you're paying for things you don't even realize. Make an itemized list. Streaming services. Gym memberships. Utilities. Home payments. Insurance. Gas. Food. Subscriptions. And on and on.
Obviously, some of these expenses are unavoidable. But for those that aren't, make tiered lists.
Tier 1: The things you can immediately cancel because you don't use them often or at all. That Peacock subscription you've been holding onto even though you never watch anything on the platform? Get rid of it. That Instacart membership you've had since Covid lockdown that you don't use anymore but are still paying for? Trash it. Keep the things you regularly use, especially if they don't break the bank.
Tier 2: Give it some time after your Tier 1 expenses are cut. If a few months later things haven't improved for you and you need to make more cuts, what's next on your list? Cut those things out, or scale back. Maybe you're paying for a premium membership that can be reduced to a cheaper version. (Will ads on Netflix really kill you?)
Tier 3: These are the things you use regularly. If times get really bad, these are your last-resort cuts.
By making tiered lists, you can aim to save some bucks while only reducing—not eliminating—the things that make you feel like a human being. And remember, these cuts can just be temporary. Once your finances improve, you can get them back. Or even better, you may realize you don't miss some of them and can reinvest those dollars elsewhere or save them.
So, what's on your list?