Monday Manners: Recession Tips

Chances are, if you're not unemployed right now, you know somebody who is.

Isn't living in a global recession fun?

Anyway, because we're living in a rather volatile time, with thousands of "steady" jobs going out the window, it's perhaps time for a quick reminder to treat the subject delicately.

For instance, when making plans with an unemployed friend, don't suggest the most expensive restaurant in the city. You don't exactly want to say "I know you're not working, so let's just go to McDonald's," but maybe you want to stick more to the simple, affordable Devil's Alley menu than to a quickly-adding-up small plates menu at a place like Amada. Likewise, if you're meeting for happy hour, look for dollar drafts rather than ten dollar martinis. It's a way to show your friend you understand without having to rub the unemployment situation in.

On a similar note, it's probably best not to greet your friend by asking how the job hunt is. While some people may only be out of work for a few weeks, there are definitely people out there who've been looking for jobs for months, and they're really tired of answering that question. Let your friend initiate the job talk and then follow the lead. Unless you're opening the conversation with: "My boss has asked me to make you an offer," it's best to leave the subject alone if it doesn't come up.

Likewise, if you're unemployed, understand that your friends can only do so much. Your friends can act as your references, help you with your resume formatting, proofread your cover letter, but just because they're employed doesn't mean that their places of employment are hiring. See an ad on craigslist for their company? Ask away. But making an inquiry cold—or even worse, going around your friend and straight to his boss (I know people to whom this has happened)—is absolutely, positively, not cool. (On that note, though, if you have a job and your friend asks you for help, try to lend a little assistance. You're not a very good friend if you can't spare five minutes to look at a cover letter, now are you?)

If you were indeed laid off because of the economy and not because your boss didn't like you anymore, learn the rules around filing for unemployment and respect the system. Being rude or surly on the phone with the Department of Labor & Industry employee assigned to your case is a pretty good way to make sure you don't get your benefits. Just remember: you may not have much respect for the civil service, but the civil servants have a job and you don't—they must be doing something right.

And whether you're unemployed or just know somebody who is, don't despair. It's always darkest before the dawn, so just know that you will get through this, maybe a little bruised, but older and wiser for it. If you're working, don't worry too much about your unemployed friends, but maybe buy them a coffee once in a while. Trust me (as a person who spent almost six months unemployed last year): that's the kind of moral support that's needed far more than the pity party you just tried to throw. And if you aren't working, keep applying for work, and something will come along eventually.

Image Credit: Flickr user Dyl86