| 11. |
BUILD A SUPPORT TEAM. Put together a small
team of people that can help you undertake some of the work involved
in changing employers or careers. It’s time to call in your
IOUs! Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help. Job-hunting can
often be a lot of work – sometimes too much for a single individual.
Assign "work" responsibilities according to the talents,
time available, and willingness level of each person on your team.
Keep in touch with all members on a weekly basis; find ways of motivating
each member, offer different forms of "compensation" if
necessary, such as bartering of services.
Visit career chat rooms on the Internet. Many of today’s most
popular career and employment websites (such as www.monster.com)
offer chat rooms where you can discuss your job-hunting problems
and issues with other people in similar situations. These chat sessions
can boost your moral and spirits – they’re free and often
available 24x7. |
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| 12. |
SEEK OUTPLACEMENT ASSISTANCE. Ask your employer for assistance from an outplacement firm –
or an individual trained in outplacing professionals. These people
are trained and experienced in making the transition work – don’t
underestimate their value. They can help you with updating your resume,
role-playing interviews, finding potential employers, negotiating
a salary and other important issues. If your employer refuses to provide
you wish such assistance, consider hiring a placement service yourself,
or at least register with several employment recruiters (AKA headhunters). |
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| 13. |
GET A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION. Ask your employer for a letter of recommendation that you can use
when seeking new employment. (Here’s a good reason for not going
ballistic when you first learned that you were to be laid off.) By
acting professionally, your employer is much more likely to provide
you with a valuable letter of recommendation. |
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| 14. |
DOUBLE CHECK YOUR REFERENCES. Don’t take chances with your references. Hire a career counselor
or employment recruiter to contact your past employer and to request
a reference. Know what each reference is saying about you. |
|
| 15. |
HIRE A CAREER COACH OR MENTOR. When you need medical advice, you go to a doctor. When you need
legal advice, you go to a lawyer. When you’ve been laid off and
are facing a job search, you should be willing to seek advice from
experts. Here’s where a career coach (or mentor) can help you
successfully make the transition. A career coach is a professional
with many years of experience in your field – someone who has
elected to advise others regarding how to be successful in the field.
Do some research and identify a few people who are leaders in your
field. Then, contact them and inquire if they would be willing to
coach you in making the transition. If they are willing, then you
can negotiate the terms of their assistance, including compensation.
Meet with your coach weekly, even if its only a phone call. |
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| 16. |
APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. Visit your local State Employment Service and file for unemployment
benefits. This is money that your state will pay you during your unemployment
to help you meet your bills. Don’t think of this money as charity,
it’s not. You’ve earned it as part of your past paychecks
have gone to this unemployment insurance fund. |
|
| 17. |
CLEAN OUT YOUR WORK AREA. Remove
all personal possessions from your work area. Do not take anything
that belongs to your employer, such as stationary and general office
supplies, as your employer could charge you with theft. If you feel
that cleaning out your work area may be an emotionally upsetting experience,
ask your employer if you can do this after hours when the office is
empty. Make sure you take your copy of the Employee Handbook for future
reference. |
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| 18. |
CONSIDER UPGRADING YOUR SKILLS. This is an excellent time to upgrade or develop new career skills.
Consider returning to college or enrolling in a specific course to
develop new knowledge and skills. Acquiring new skills will increase
your self-worth and future career opportunities. |
|
| 19. |
BE OPEN AND HONEST WITH YOUR FAMILY. Even though you want to spare your family from the trauma that sometimes
can occur from being laid off, don’t keep them in the dark. This
is a time that you need support, and a time when your family wants
to help. Gather them together, inform them of your dismissal, and
answer any questions that they may have. Be positive and assure them
that while there may be changes during the transition, the future
looks bright. |
|
| 20. |
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF PHYSICALLY
AND MENTALLY. Being laid off can cause stress and anxiety that
in turn can negatively affect you physically and mentally. Don’t
try to bury or ignore this stress – doing so can only lead to
further problems. Deal with the stress by improving your eating and
diet, undertake more exercise, socialize, get enough sleep, rest and
relax and above all talk to a few select confidants or professional
counselors about how to deal with your situation. Forget the "tough
guy" attitude and find proper channels for your stress. If necessary,
consult your family doctor at the first sign that you’re not
handling the stress well. |
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|
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Written for Lamaute
Capital, Inc. by James C. Gonyea, Internet
Career Connection |
