Unemployment is one of the hardest things to cope with in life. Not only can you find yourself in dire financial straits, but you can be emotionally hurting too. It doesn’t matter whether you were fired or made redundant. It can be so hard trying to kick start your career again when you’re out of work. It’s important to fill your time with career-boosting activities that will make a prospective employer keen to recruit you.

One of the most effective ways to prove you’ve maximized your time off is to update your qualifications. No matter what you do, you can always take a refresher course. You can find plenty of trainers and courses like the tutorials by Simplilearn. This can boost your resume, and even provide you with extra skills and qualifications to support your chosen career path. Try to seek out one or two that will help take you beyond the next job you apply for.

Applying for jobs is another tough and unpleasant part of unemployment. When applications are ignored or rejected you can be filled with self-doubt. As tedious as it sounds, it is important to tailor your resume for each prospective job and employer. You want to demonstrate you are perfect for the position - a fit. As desperate as you are for work, a career decision should be made as well. You want to get back on the ladder without having to work back up too many rungs. And applying for jobs you are overqualified and over experienced for will not get you an interview.

Picture thanks to Alan Cleaver at Flickr.com

If money is tight, take temp positions while you continue to hunt for the right job for you. This will also look better on your resume than doing nothing with your downtime. Best of all, it puts you in touch with businesses and recruiters that can help you find your next job. You’ll gain new experiences and insights that you can take with you to your next permanent position. You may even find a job you love that could lead to a whole new career opportunity.

Becoming self-employed isn’t for the faint-hearted. But if you believe you have the skills and tenacity to draw customers to you, then why not give it a go? You can become self-employed or a freelancer without much hassle. If you want to go into business for yourself, there are some more official routes you can take. These are also more expensive. It may be best to get started before committing to the responsibilities and obligations of a formal company.

If you really want a particular job with a particular employer, you may have to present yourself to them directly. When there isn’t a role being advertised, you may need to get a foot in the door. Then you can propose that you are considered for something within your desired department. This takes a lot of daring, and could easily backfire if you come off as annoying rather than just keen. It’s not easy to market yourself. Why not speak to a career counselor for advice on your next step?