ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2007 > July > 13 > Entry
Facing a lay off?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No one ever really expects to find a pink slip in their own hands, but the harsh reality of big business proves that no one - no matter how loyal and dedicated - is immune to the possibility. With corporate mergers, off-shoring, and downsizing, even the best employees can find themselves unemployed.
So, how do you manage life after a lay-off?
Certainly, you’re entitled to any feelings you may have about the situation. You may feel angry, frustrated, betrayed… or you may even be glad, relieved, to be free from an unhealthy employment situation. If you do have negative f eelings about the lay-off, take a few days to collect yourself and deal with any feelings you may have about being laid-off - BEFORE you start your new job search.
Potential employers are not interested in the politics of your former company and they certainly don’t want to hire someone who is still obviously bitter about something that happened at his last job. Get it out of your system. The sooner you put the past behind you, the sooner you can move on.
Decide on the day you’ll officially launch your job search, then set your alarm and get out of bed at a reasonable hour that morning. If the lay-off was surprise and you haven’t already done so, your mission for this first day is to get your affairs in order. Take stock of your finances, research how you can consolidate any debt you may have, make time to understand what benefits (severance, unemployment, outsourcing support, etc.) you’re entitled to now that you’ve been separated from employment.
Your next step is to create a plan for moving forward. Get out your calendar and set small goals for yourself each day. Day two’s goal might be to polish up your resume. Day three’s goal might be to contact five people with whom you can set up networking meetings over coffee.
Then move toward larger goals. Perhaps your goal for the next week is to attend one networking event and take on one volunteer project, in addition to identifying at least ten companies who may have job openings in your area of expertise.
Factor these activities into your schedule and use the hours between 8 am and 5 pm to focus fully on your job search. Then at 5:00, turn off the computer, put away your job search materials and enjoy your evening. Plan to return to your project the next morning.
It’s important to have a routine that forces you to work toward finding a new job. Even if you have been given a generous severance package, you’ll want to start this process sooner, rather than later, as it could take several weeks or even months to land an interview. This is especially true when your field of experience is highly specialized.
When you’re not working, the hours in the day will slip by you much more quickly than you can anticipate, so make sure your efforts are focused. Make the most of this time that you have been given to meet new people who could be valuable contacts. Don’t let time get away from you, be sure to plan your work, and work your plan!
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