Unemployed 3 Tips for Surviving Holiday Parties

Unemployed 3 Tips for Surviving Holiday PartiesUnemployed During the Holidays?Unemployed 3 Tips for Surviving Holiday PartiesIf youve been unemployedwhether for six days, six months, or even longertheres a good chance some stranger will soon catch you off guard with that oft-used icebreaker at a holiday partyWhat do you do?Then, if youre like most unemployed people, youll hesitate before answering, take a sip of eggnog, or think a bit before you find the right combination of words to describe your current situation.Being unemployed sucks. Being unemployed during the holidays sucks even more. I can say this from personal experience. Theres little to no fun when youre putting so much effort into finding work amid the most festive time of the year. There are days youd rather stay holed up in your house and draw inspiration from Ebenezer Scrooge or The Grinch.But if youre a brave sort and want to be around people, good for you Socializing can blunt some of the sting of joblessness, and y ou might meet someone who knows someone who can lead you to a new job.But if youre asked the What do you do? question, here are three ways you can respondThe Vague Approach Im a (fill in the blank), but Im looking for something new in that area. Youre not saying in so many words youre unemployed, but youre making it clear youre actively seeking new opportunities. So, smile and keep the conversation going.The Factual Approach Im in between jobs right now and Im using the time to figure out which opportunities to pursue. This is a positive message that indicates youre trying to be productive and see yourself as employable. It may not elicit sympathy, but maybe a little empathy.The Brutally Honest Approach Im unemployed. It happens. (shrug here) What do you do? This can disarm the questioner, who may feel a bit embarrassed by having asked the question. By turning the question in the other direction, you can avoid a potentially awkward pause in the conversation. At the least, it can shi ft the focus from your situation to someone elses.When youre unemployed, the next-best thing to getting a job is knowing youre making progress toward getting a job. That alone can be a comfort during the holiday season. If you at least see the positive in that, try to sustain that mood into your holiday socializing.