The 3 Most Effective Ways to Say Goodbye Forever to Unemployment By Calvin Arnold

Experts advise people without jobs to make looking for a job their "full-time job," but to many people who’ve struggled with unemployment or underemployment for weeks, months or even years, that’s a joke. It seems like no matter how hard you try, no matter how many hours you put into the job search, employers simply won’t hire you. The longer you go without a job – or at least without a full-time job or a job that pays more than minimum wage – the harder it will be for potential employers to overlook that lengthy time period, too, so it seems like looking for a job is a lose-lose situation.

Change how you look for work, and things will start seeming more win-win. You’ll win because you’ll be looking for work in a field that wants new employees, and where there are enough positions for everyone determined to make it. You’ll win because you’ll get the training and certification you need to qualify, and the time you spent without work or without full-time work won’t be so important to potential employers anymore. Best of all, you won’t have to worry about layoffs anymore because you’ll have the skills necessary to quickly find a new job should you need it.

Go Into Skilled Trade

Construction workers, carpenters, electricians, pipefitters, iron workers – these are just some of the jobs that are always seeking qualified applicants. With the proper training in your selected field, the time you spend without a job or working minimum wage jobs will prove irrelevant. Skilled trade jobs allow you to work with your hands and keep your brain active as you repair and construct the very buildings in which we live, work and go about our daily lives. Other skilled trades you might consider going into include:

• Brick masonry
• Carpet installation
• Concrete finishing
• equipment mechanic or operator
• metal worker
• Wind technician
• Welder

These are just a few of the types of positions that state-led contractors' associations are actively looking to fill. These jobs tend to offer job security and a chance to stay physically active throughout the day.

Pursue Certifications

To get a job in any field, but particularly in a skilled trade, you need a certification or you simply won’t make it past the application stage. Depending on the type of career you pursue, you could earn a degree or certification in a year, two years or four years. By contacting a contractors’ association for more information, you’ll be paired with the educational institution that’s going to get you the right certification in the most efficient amount of time.

Apply for Apprenticeships

There are other trades that put more emphasis on on-the-job training, but you won’t be hired for the full profession without that initial training. In these cases, applying for apprenticeships is the way to go. Employers aren’t hiring you permanently yet, so there’s no reason for them to look too closely at the years in which you didn’t work or only worked part-time. They get a feel for your abilities and your commitment to the line of work, making them more eager to hire you after the apprenticeship is over.

A number of states are actively seeking workers for skilled trade fields. With apprenticeships and certification programs available, you could be earning an impressive salary in for a skilled trade in a year or two – or in even less time. Women and men alike are taking control of their lives by going into skilled trade work.

About the Author: Calvin Arnold is a career counselor from Montana. He encourages everyone interested in construction industry careers to take advantage of the training and resources available.

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