I was out of work for two long stretches in the 90's. I was laid off the first time in August of '94. If I remember correctly, I had a hot prospect almost immediately. I think I interviewed in the first week of September. During the two weeks leading up to that interview, I did a great deal of biking and started some library research on companies that might need someone like me. I had a nice severance package, so I didn't bother with unemployment at first. I was hoping that I'd find something good before the severance stopped. At that time, I didn't have a TV, so there was no late-night TV watching. I didn't have a computer, and I was going to Kinko's to print all of my cover letters and resumes. I remember that I used to go to Kinko's after midnight because I didn't want to be disturbed while I was doing this work. I'd usually finish around one or two in the morning and head to the post office with a bunch of envelopes. I'd put them in the box and go home to sleep. I'd sleep late and then wait for the mail to come or try to make phone calls.
The second time was in '99 when I finished my second master's degree. By this time, I had a computer but still no TV. I was finishing my thesis for part of the time that I was looking for work, so the thesis kept me busy. Afterward, I just took walks around campus and surfed the internet to keep myself busy.
I can't say that I ever really learned to enjoy unemployment. I'm sure that I'll love retirement, but I have a hard time relaxing when I know that something big is waiting for me to complete. I never took a job because I wanted to be ready to go at a moment's notice. Furthermore, I'm not really suited to do anything but be an engineer. In the '94 to '95 time period, I was almost ready to do some odd stuff when I finally found the job at the consulting firm.
Bill
Yeah, I had a few longer stints in the 1990's of being laid off too and I just temped and did what I had to do survive. I admit I had very short notice when I got my current job and I hated to just "drop and leave" but that is the nature of today from time to time and I have to think of myself and my family and what's best for them, well, my current job meant a lot more money so I had to jump ship and take it. I work in the accounts payable in the ground division of a major shipping company. I'm glad too with all the health bills my cats have had although it is kind of crunching me but it is a cross I'm glad to bear for them.
Chuck