March 26, 2009

What have you done for your laid-off friends lately?

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Much has been written about the survivor's guilt that can plague those who have not been laid off. But rather than avoiding certain subjects (your trying day at the office, the tropical vacation you're planning) while chatting with friends and colleagues who recently got the employment axe, a New York Times article from last Friday discussed going the extra mile to give downsized friends a hand.

Besides the always-delicate suggestion of lending friends money, the New York Times suggested several ways to help an unemployed pal, including:

1. Showing them how to set up a Web site or a LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter account.

2. If you're a business owner, letting them use a spare desk in your office, along with the free wireless service, printer, and copy machine.

3. Inviting them to industry and community gatherings so they can broaden their network.

4. Making them a nice home-cooked meal at your place.

5. Watching their kids for a couple hours so they can take a night off from worrying about money and spend some quality downtime with friends or their S.O.

While my cooking and babysitting skills leave something to be desired and my bank account isn't much to write home about, I do have job hunting skills to share (as a freelancer, my hunt for work never stops). As a result, I've been encouraging my unemployed friends to get on Twitter and explaining how they can promote their skills there, passing along job leads that come my way, reviewing and making suggestions on their resumes, and helping those friends striking out on their own a freelancers negotiate better terms in their client contracts.  

We all have unique strengths and assets that we can offer our unemployed friends right now. Not only does lending a hand help ease some of the sting they may feel about having been pink-slipped, it helps alleviate a bit of the guilt and awkwardness you feel about having an income when a friend doesn't. So much more satisfying for all than replaying that old "This economy blows!" saw week after week.

Readers, what do you think? Do you have any success stories about helping laid-off friends to share -- or about receiving help from friends yourself? Any warnings (besides those involving friends and family who didn't repay the money you loaned them)? Do tell.

Michelle Goodman is the author of "My So-Called Freelance Life" and "The Anti 9-to-5 Guide." E-mail Michelle at mgoodman@nwjobs.com

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2 Comments

Jason Dojc on March 26, 2009 7:48 PM | Reply

I was chatting with a between-jobs pal and she was talking about all kinds of baby stuff she had been getting friends. For someone without kids, she was incredibly knowledgeable. Then an idea hit me, there's tons of mommy bloggers out there but no one dishing info for everyone who hangs out with moms but isn't. So she started Nonmom. (nonmom.wordpress.com). Since then she's snagged freelance assignments left right and center.

Keith Gormezano on March 29, 2009 11:10 PM | Reply

I was chatting with one friend that I am connected with on LinkedIn who is looking for a high level sales job in the high tech field in the Greater Seattle area.

They mentioned that they were having a bit of a problem managing their money so I suggested that they use Intuit's free Quicken Online web site at http://tinyurl.com/quickenonline to keep better track of their spending.

I knew about the offer as I teach people at their home or work place how to use Quicken and QuickBooks.

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