Tips for Navigating Unemployment

One of the inevitabilities of being a working adult is that at some point, you are going to experience unemployment. José Morales, Jr. and Malinda Frevert joined Bright Compass to nix the shame in the unemployment game by sharing their tips for political operatives in between jobs.

Here are some of their top takeaways:

Money

1. Sign up for a budgeting tool. We like free tools like Mint which will connect to just about any bank accounts and credit cards that you have to help you see where your money is going. Set up budgets and start thinking about where you can make cuts (can you bring that restaurant budget way down?) and where you might need to make adjustments (will you be spending more on transit for job interviews?).
2. Yes, you should collect unemployment benefits (if you can). This will vary state by state, but you should absolutely apply for Unemployment Benefits — that is a benefit you paid into as a worker and have a right to collect. Make sure, especially if you are unemployed because of a campaign wrapping up, that you get a point of contact from the campaign who the Unemployment Office can contact. Another tip is, unless you're in dire straits, opt to have the taxes taken out of your benefits. Otherwise you'll have to pay them in a lump sum in your annual taxes.
3. Use those work benefits before you lose them. Health insurance, vision insurance, FSA contributions — make using these up a top priority. Get those doctor appointments scheduled, spend down your FSA, and talk to your doctor(s) about getting as much as you can of any essential prescriptions that you take. GoodRX.com is a great resource for discounts on prescriptions. And don't slack on getting signed up for health insurance via Medicaid, the Obamacare exchange, or COBRA once your work-provided health insurance expires. (COBRA is typically very expensive, and you may find cheaper though poorer coverage on the exchange.) If you rely on your insurance to afford therapy, talk to them about low-cost options and local support groups.
4. Who pays for the networking coffees? Odds are you're going to be doing a lot of coffees and lunches to meet with folks about your job search — and that can really add up. If you're on a budget, consider getting creative about ways to meet that aren't just a meal. You could do a walk-and-talk (especially now that it's getting nice out!) or simply jump on the phone/Zoom.

Mental Health

1. Adapt to the loss of structure. One of the biggest shifts when you're unemployed is that there's no one verifying you're showing up or checking in on the status of projects. It's easy to quickly lose track of what you need to get done. So give yourself one as much as possible. José uses his Sundays to set up his week. Accountability buddies are also great for this. If you know other folks who are unemployed (or even self-employed!), set a recurring weekly time to work together. Malinda meets up every Wednesday for 2 hours with a friend who is also job hunting. There are also lots of folks who share their morning routine on YouTube. Check those out, and develop your own. Get in the habit of starting every day with a shower or a workout or making breakfast — it doesn't have to be elaborate, just routine.
2. Get outside. Exercise (if you can). There's something about sunlight and Vitamin D that just works. It's pretty easy when the unemployment depression hits to stay inside and in bed all day — and that can make it even worse. As Elle Woods taught us, "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't." Malinda uses Pokemon Go to get outside. Sometimes the thing that's gonna get you out of bed is catching a rare Pikachu two blocks away, and that's more than ok.
3. Spend time with your people. Work is often the place where most of our daily interactions happen. And in politics, our identities tend to be deeply enmeshed with our jobs in some very unhealthy ways. Reach out to your crew — yes to talk about jobs you're excited about, reviewing your cover letters, and making connections — but also just to be together. Remind yourself that you are so much more than a job. You are a good friend, neighbor, sibling, son, granddaughter, etc.
4. "Comparison is a thief of joy." -José Morales quoting one of Roosevelts or maybe some other dude, it looks like it was lost to time? Whatever, the point stands! Anxiety is inevitable when you're unemployed. And it can eat away at you and put you in a scarcity mindset so fast. But think of all the successful people you know or have been inspired by. Every single one of them has lost a campaign, been fired (seriously), and experienced setbacks. Unemployment sucks, but it isn't the end.

Job Hunting

1. How much time is enough to dedicate to job hunting? There's simply no perfect answer here. If you have the ability to take some time after leaving a job to reset, absolutely do it. Even a week is worth it. José ultimately rejects the "enough" frame — think about what is right for you. It will depend on what you're looking for. Some Unemployment Benefits will require you to show you're applying to jobs every week to collect them. That can be a good motivator, too.
2. It's ok to take temporary jobs. Working in retail, hospitality, joining a temp agency, and taking one-off freelancing jobs are all ways to bridge the gap to your next job. In fact — while we've got gripes about the seasonality of political work — it's very common in the industry for folks to work elsewhere until election season ramps up again. And your skills will translate! Malinda knows a senior campaign staffer who prioritized hiring folks with restaurant experience for field positions. Because if you can handle the bar at a Chili's on a Saturday night, you can absolutely handle talking to voters at their door.
3. Helpful places to job hunt >> Here are a few places we recommend scoping out for jobs:FreelanceDC — as the name indicates, this is specifically for folks looking for freelance work in DCRadical Communicators Network — one of the best Google Groups out there, they have an expansive jobs board on their listservBlue Digital Exchange — for digital practitioners?Politemps — political temp jobs in DCMatt Lockshin — Matt's a recruiter who keeps an extensive jobs boardAll Hands — not a jobs board, but they're recruiters so make sure they have your resumeGAIN Power — a powerful hub for political job hunters

We also found this panel so helpful and appreciated connecting with dozens of folks who are currently experiencing unemployment. Join our "No shame in the unemployment game" LinkedIn Group to connect with other folks in our industry who are in the same boat.