Begin Your Quest
- After a layoff, never give up looking for work. Even though we are in a bad economy, there will always be someone who is quitting somewhere.
- Use all the resources offered by an outplacement firm, if one is
provided.
- Network - network - network. Talk to friends, talk to their friends. Make sure as many people as possible are looking out on your behalf. Most new jobs come from referrals.
- Get familiar with job hunting Search
engines.
- Create a job hunt strategy. Plan out actions each day, take them and then check them off your list.
- Make it a rule not to sit around the house feeling sorry for yourself. You need to get mobilized on your job search as quickly as possible. Make an appointment with yourself to go online each morning and check job sites/company sites every working day.
- If you submit at least four job applications or resumes each day you are out of work, you will have a better chance statistically of being phoned
for a job interview.
- In person or verbal contact sometimes yields better chances of landing a job interview. If possible, use the phone to try to speak to a hiring manager or supervisor.
This can be very effective within the retail industry.
- Try for as many job interviews as you can, even if the job is not directly related to the
position you seek. Jobs often are created for promising candidates, and you will continue to do better as you gain interviewing experience.
- Don't panic. Reading about or watching the TV news on the economy can hurt your confidence during your job hunt. Instead, focus on the things you need to do each day and feel good about what you are accomplishing.
- Review your expenses and see where you need to trim. Cut back on expensive restaurants and excessive auto trips. Take a "staycation" this year and visit a local attraction. Feel good about making changes that will improve your spending habits.
- Whenever you speak to people on your contact database, immediately enter a date and a note documenting what was said. Was your resume forwarded to another possible contact? Make sure you know who might be acting on your behalf.
- A layoff is also stressful to your spouse and children. Don't isolate yourself from your primary support team. Be sure to make time for them. Reassure them that both you and they will get through this and your lives will be better. Make sure they know what is going on and encourage their suggestions for creative cost cutting. Plan together for the future! Celebrate together when you get the offer of a new job.
- For further reading on the subject of layoff advice, check out
this collection of articles to help you develop coping strategies
and get you back into the workforce.
Surviving a Layoff
Lessons Learned
Throughout your career, always work on improving your job skills and education.
- High school or GED is a must. Better is a college degree or an advanced degree
- If college is not for you, learn a trade or pick up a second or third trade
- Continue to look at the current want ads for industries that are hiring
- Learn a lesson from the banking industry and auto manufacturing; it is important to keep in mind that retraining could take weeks, months or years. If a layoff happens, you have better chance of landing a new job outside the ailing industry that has laid you off.
- Keep your resume at the ready. It should list all the new training you completed or are in the process of completing. Retraining for alternate career(s) also opens doors for additional networking contacts.
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