Nov 23 2008
Dealing With the L-Word
No, not that L-word, I mean layoffs. If you personally are not affected by downsizing and closings, someone in your family or friendship circle will be, statistically speaking. Try not to blame yourself or lose confidence because you get laid off from work. A positive attitude will get you back on track more quickly and with better results.
It’s okay to take a day or two to curl up in a ball and sleep with the shades drawn, feeling sorry for yourself. But within 48 hours, you need to dust yourself off, along with your resume, and get moving on the job hunting trail.
If you can spend close to eight hours a day on job hunting activities, you will be more apt to find a job quickly. Divide your time between the internet, the telephone and actual networking by going to visit employers, job fairs and business events that may help you get an inside track on job openings.
When you have been working hard and getting results in the form of phone calls and interviews, reward yourself for your efforts. Job hunting is not only hard work, it is a ego-bruising process where rejection is the norm. Don’t feel guilty about getting that massage or taking a weekend excursion.
Keep yourself healthy, eat right and excercise while you have some free time to reinforce these good habits. Be assertive about following up on job leads and you will prevail by finding an even better opportunity than the one you left behind.
My husband was just laid off last Thursday, so I understand how many are feeling. Being upset the first few days is just fine, but make sure to not give up. Get back out there and do keep looking. The first thing we did is fill for unemployment within an hour of him being laid off. Thank you for posting on this, as it is a real problem right now in America.