Tips To Survive A Layoff
The following eight tips will help make sure that recover from alayoff sooner than you think.
#1 - DON'T PANIC:
You may have lost your job but you have not lost everything. You area skilled individual and will work again. Do not ever lose sight ofthese two simple sentences. Do not let yourself fall into a spiralof negative thinking. Think back to all the other people that youknow of that have lost jobs in the past and are now successfullyemployed.
#2 - REFLECT AND RECOVER:
Step back and clear your head. Anger and fear are two of the mostcommon emotions experienced after a job-loss. Neither is conduciveto clear thinking or good decision-making. Take some time to talkthrough your feelings of loss with friends and family members. Ifthis does not help, consider the services of a professionalcounselor. Sort through your emotional baggage or else risk draggingit with you on your job-search.
#3 - ORGANIZE YOUR FINANCES:
Take a serious look at your spending habits. List out your monthlyexpenses into 2 groups- absolutely necessary and optional. If youhave already been laid off you should limit your spending to thefirst category. If you are still employed but fearing what thefuture may hold, start cutting back in the second category. Ageneral rule of thumb is to keep the enough cash to cover at leasttwo months worth of expenses in the bank for emergencies. If youhave not had a chance to do so as of the time of termination, youstill have options. Don't forget that most companies offer aseverance package to laid off employees. In addition you can alsocontact your local un-employment agency regarding unemploymentbenefits.
#4 - INSURANCE:
Just because you have lost your job does not mean that you and yourfamily have immediately lost all insurance coverage that you hadwhile you were employed. It just means that now you are responsiblefor paying for it all by yourself. Under COBRA (Consolidated OmnibusBudget Reconciliation Act) generally you can remain on your formeremployer's plan for up to 18 months as long as you pay the premiums.Remember that there are time limits for signing up for COBRA. Youcan get more COBRA information from the human resources department ofyour former employer.
#5 - UPDATE YOUR RESUME:
Take account of all the skills and responsibilities that you acquiredon your last job. Make sure that you include these on your updatedresume. And remember this is not the time to be modest; be proudof your accomplishments. If you are unsure on how to lay out or wordyour resume, then you can find many examples of successful resumes onthe Internet or in your local bookstore. Definitely have a friend orfamily member review your resume. Remember that a good resume canoften make the difference between being granted an interview or not.Take the time to make your resume shine.
#6 - ACTIVATE YOUR NETWORK:
Do not be ashamed that you have been laid off. Tell everyone thatyou think can help that you are looking for work. This does not meanthat you should cry on the shoulder of anyone that will listen. Whatthis does mean is that you should be prepared to tell friends, familyand even acquaintances that you are looking for work, what types ofskills you have and the types of jobs that you would be interestedin.
#7 - CONSIDER USING A RECRUITER:
Consider using a recruiter. Recruiters a.k.a. headhunters can helpyou to better manage and improve the results of your job search.Using a recruiter has many advantages. These advantages include theirhaving already established relationships with many employers andtheir having access to hidden job opportunities. In addition manyrecruiters will offer tips on how to improve your resume andinterviewing skills. Best of all most recruiters are completely freeto the job seeker. They collect their fees directly from theemployer.
#8 - GO BACK TO SCHOOL:
Take advantage of the time provided by being laid off to betteryourself both professionally and personally. Some people choose togo back to school and pursue an entirely different trade. Otherswill attend a few classes at the local community college to sharpentheir skills in their chosen profession. Still others will pursue 6or 12 month programs in a trade school. And don't think that yourstudy must be directly career related. This may be the perfectopportunity to study a foreign language or learn to roller blade.Layoffs provide people who are used to being busy with a lot of freetime. Make the most of this time by improving yourself.
In conclusion, remember that getting laid off is not the end of theworld.
Whether you are recently unemployed or are just feeling a bituncertain about your job security in these tough economic times, theeight survival tips above can help you to get back on your feetquickly in the event of a layoff.
This article can be read online at:http://www.worktree.com/newsletter/surviving-a-layoff.html
Sincerely,
Nathan Newberger
Managing Editor
http://www.WorkTree.comHelping You Find More Jobs Faster
Nathan Newberger is the job and career expert at
http://www.WorkTree.com. Nathan has over 10 years experience in staffing and human resources. He has worked both as a recruiter and career counselor. Mr. Newberger has been the Managing Editor at
http://www.WorkTree.com for the past 5 years and his articles have helped thousands of job seekers.
