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Being unemployed can be a depressing experience if you let it get the better of you. The lack of a consistent routine, coupled with a possible dip in self esteem and boredom is enough to leave some people feeling down and lethargic.

To make the most of your unemployment time it is best to view it as an opportunity to brush up on skills, update your documents and look at what possible future career changes might be on the horizon that would benefit you.

Keeping positive and active are two key ingredients to surviving time out of work and to coming out on top at the end of the experience.

The following are some guidelines to help you make the most of your unemployment.

1# Self evaluation.

Now is the time to have a good look at your strengths and weaknesses. Make a list of skills which you have and any abilities and talents.

Also take some time to realize what experiences you have gained, either through previous work or in life in general, which you may be able to use in future employment.

2# Dream Occupation.

If there is a career which you have always dreamed about following but never have, then perhaps this is a good time to seriously look into the positives and negatives of this field.

It may be that you can match some of your skills with your dream career and that you only need a little more studying to reach your goals.

3# Education.

Whether you do decide to retrain for a totally new area of employment or for other reasons studying will keep your enthusiasm alive whilst teaching you new skills to impress your next employer with.

It may be that you can get ahead by doing some training which will leave you much better qualified for a superior position than you previously held.

It may also be the case that you can brush up on skills which you already have. This will show interviewers during your job-search that you are keen and have made good use of your time out of work.

4# Voluntary Work.

Voluntary work can give you experience and help you to get a job, as well as giving you a better idea of what certain work entails so that you can assess whether it is really for you or not.

5# Network.

Making use of your contacts can lead you into new directions, or simply help propel you to where you already know you want to be.

Close friends may seem like the obvious place to start, but don't forget associates, former colleagues from jobs in the past, family and family friends.

Keep a book of contact names and numbers which may be helpful or useful in your job-search. It can be easy to get

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