Getting Fired or Laid Off
June 5th 2008 12:05
Losing your job at any time can create unneeded stress and put you through a whole lot of emotions that you don’t want to deal with. I’m not a counselor so I can’t help you with the emotional stuff, but I can give you some advice to keep the time between jobs as short as possible.
How quickly you bounce back from a major life change like this, really depends on you. When my neighbor lost his job more than a year ago, I watched him go into a deep, dark hole. He couldn’t see beyond his depression. When interviewing for jobs, his attitude was poor and his confidence was low. Employers couldn’t see the potential in him because he came across as a low-achiever and someone afraid to deal with situations. In his personal life, he also spiraled out of control and did a number of stupid things. He finally found a job after a year, but in the process he lost his dignity and his family.
You need to turn things around when this happens and look at this as an opportunity. The one thing you should not do when this happens is nothing. Don’t sit around watching TV, drinking or whatever you do to escape. At the very least, you should get a job to help with the bills. You may not be able to get back into your field immediately, but you could still get a lowly job in retail for the short-term.
Other options you may want to explore include: going back to college, consulting, and temp work. I know some people that decided to become full-time bloggers or freelance writers to help during a time like this. Doing something is better than nothing. It also helps when you have to explain gaps in your employment history to a potential employer. The last thing they want to hear is that you did absolutely nothing!
Steps to getting a new job after you were fired or laid off:
1. Have the right attitude – getting your confidence back after losing job isn’t going to be easy. Keep telling yourself that you are smart and you really are good at what you do.
2. Continue to stay busy and employed, in some fashion. You need to explain time between jobs to a potential new employer.
3. Spend an hour a day, at a minimum, in your job search. This may mean sending out your resume, calling potential employers, or networking to find a new position.
4. Visit you local Employment office. Every state has federal funds for a Workforce Investment Board. They may have funds to pay for you to go back to college or get additional training to update your skills. With a little more education, you may be better qualified to get a new job faster.
How quickly you bounce back from a major life change like this, really depends on you. When my neighbor lost his job more than a year ago, I watched him go into a deep, dark hole. He couldn’t see beyond his depression. When interviewing for jobs, his attitude was poor and his confidence was low. Employers couldn’t see the potential in him because he came across as a low-achiever and someone afraid to deal with situations. In his personal life, he also spiraled out of control and did a number of stupid things. He finally found a job after a year, but in the process he lost his dignity and his family.
You need to turn things around when this happens and look at this as an opportunity. The one thing you should not do when this happens is nothing. Don’t sit around watching TV, drinking or whatever you do to escape. At the very least, you should get a job to help with the bills. You may not be able to get back into your field immediately, but you could still get a lowly job in retail for the short-term.
Other options you may want to explore include: going back to college, consulting, and temp work. I know some people that decided to become full-time bloggers or freelance writers to help during a time like this. Doing something is better than nothing. It also helps when you have to explain gaps in your employment history to a potential employer. The last thing they want to hear is that you did absolutely nothing!
Steps to getting a new job after you were fired or laid off:
1. Have the right attitude – getting your confidence back after losing job isn’t going to be easy. Keep telling yourself that you are smart and you really are good at what you do.
2. Continue to stay busy and employed, in some fashion. You need to explain time between jobs to a potential new employer.
3. Spend an hour a day, at a minimum, in your job search. This may mean sending out your resume, calling potential employers, or networking to find a new position.
4. Visit you local Employment office. Every state has federal funds for a Workforce Investment Board. They may have funds to pay for you to go back to college or get additional training to update your skills. With a little more education, you may be better qualified to get a new job faster.
| 72 |
| Vote |
