With so many unemployed people in our country today chances are high that you know a friend, if not a few, who is not employed. Probably one of the hardest things you have encountered is to find the right words to tell such a friend especially one who has just lost a job. A talk with such a person can really affect your relationship and thus you should be careful on what to say and what not to say. Here are a few guidelines of the kinds of words that you should say and ones which you should not say to a person who is out of work:

First, I will start with the kind of words which are not regarded as good to tell an unemployed friend. You should avoid telling a person who has just lost a job that everything happens for a reason. The person can only take this kindly if he believes in karma or in natural order of things but if otherwise the person may feel like you really have no idea of their concerns. Similarly do not say that where one door closes another opens or such clichés. Also never tell a person who lost a job to enjoy “funemployment” because not having a job can only be fun for only as short time as just before the next salary is needed. As well, avoid talks which tend to tell them that even if they lost the job they are lucky to get more time to do things such as fun activities that they used to do after work. Others go to an extent of saying hurtful things such as “you are lucky- I hate my job”. Despite how much one may hate his job, he cannot hate it as much as not having it. You should also avoid mentioning that you sometimes do not have enough time to be with such friends since they might feel like you are avoiding them.

Instead of having such talks with unemployed friend you should do and say things that show you care and you are concerned that he lost his job. You should ask them to let you know of anything you can do to help. You should help such a friend in his endeavors to seek for another job and show support by paying for services such as a haircut, resume review and getting him magazines with job adverts among other ways. You should also give such friends company and take them out to interact and socialize with other people. Show them support and give them the encouragement and hope that they can get another job soon.