Week 2 underway

Today is the start of my second week of being unemployed. My biggest fear is that as time drags on, the opportunities for work are going to be farther and farther apart.

I have been thinking about making a career change, although I am not sure what kind of change to make. It seems clear to me that in this area of Southeastern Indiana, I am not going to re-enter the journalism industry for print media and marketing people in my area are just not in demand.

I have considered going back to school to complete my education, but I have missed the opportunity to get signed up for the spring semester, which begins this week at most local continuing education facilities. I still have about two months to decide if I want to start in the summer.

I also have found that I have compassion for others and feel compelled to want to help other people, perhaps those people who are unemployed. I know it doesn't make a lot of sense for an unemployed guy to want to help others who are in the same boat he is.

However, I think if push comes to shove, I can go to a local car dealership and become a salesman for them.

I am thinking about starting an unemployed job club of some kind in this area. Perhaps this group of people could meet weekly to discuss their efforts to locate a job. Perhaps some need help with a resume, only Lord knows I still need help with mine, but maybe I could get an expert to come in and talk to the group.

Perhaps, as a group, we can network and get the word out that a job club is forming and that quality people are unemployed and perhaps it will give local firms an opportunity to snag their next hire.

I don't know if I could make money at it, I don't think that would be the purpose, much like my decision to blog about my job search journey. I guess in the back of my mind it would be nice to capitalize on this blogging effort and or if I could make a unemployed job club successful, perhaps that could lead to bigger and better things.

For the last year at my previous employer, I lived every day and night with the fear that I was going to be released due to the economy. I would wake up in the middle of the night wondering what I could do on a shoestring budget to bring more revenue into the place. I am sure I am not alone in this manner of thought. Many Americans are lying awake at night, worrying about tomorrow.

Now those fears are gone since I have been let go, but I find myself waking up now thinking about where I am going to get a job.

Maybe an opportunity to network with fellow Americans on the unemployment line is just what I need. A group of people who understand what I am going through. A group of people who have been unemployed much longer than I have.

I am considering approaching an organization about this idea of mine. I just haven't decided which one.