Laid Off? 5 Ways to Bounce Back
[image error]“Laid Off,” “Fired,” “Let Go.” No matter how you phrase it, it can feel like a setback – but it doesn’t have to be.
Unfortunately, losing a job happens to tens of thousands of Americans every month. In just January, an estimated 134,026 workers were let go, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, contributing to the 7.9% of out-of-work workers nationally. But it’s not all bad news. The economy is still in recovery and for many, being laid off is just the catalyst needed to transition to the next step of their career (just ask Farnoosh who was laid off in 2009 from TheStreet.com).
But a layoff has to be handled properly, starting with day one. I spoke recently with employment professions to get their best tips for rebounding from being laid off.
Here are five of their top tips:
Half Glass Full
Being let go stinks, but it’s not the end of the world. Most likely, it’ll be the beginning of the next chapter of your career so cheer up! “Whatever you do, don’t act as if you have a chip on your shoulder,” warns human resources expert Steve Kane. “Employers do not want to hire individuals who don’t seem upbeat and enthusiastic, regardless of their skills.” Instead of staying hung up on the job you loss, focus on the opportunities ahead. As Farnoosh says, “sometimes the best decisions in life are the ones made for you.” Rather than dwell on the fact that you’ve lost your job (something you had no control over), focus on your next steps.
Tie Up Loose Ends
That said, it’ll be easier to make that transition if there’s no unfinished business with your employer. You should already be backing up your contacts and files but that’ll be especially important in the last weeks and days with your employer. In accordance with your office’s policies, you want to export email addresses, phone number and other important information for people with whom you’ve worked. For Outlook, Microsoft has an easy-to-follow guide to the process. Plaxo is a free service that will allow you to back up contact with other email services.
Shore Up Your References
Just because they fired you doesn’t mean you should go down in flames. When it comes to your now former employer, you want to maintain some goodwill and leave with a strong reference. “Smart hiring managers will not settle for a standard reference,” says Kane. “They will try to find individuals at a candidate’s last employer to get their take on the candidate.” Frank Lockwood is the co-founder of InBetweenJobs.com, a site dedicated for offering resources for workers in transition. He suggests setting up an exit interview with your employer to get the lowdown on why you were let go. ”It can help uncover areas you should work on,” he says. It’s also a great time to ask for a reference.
Maximize Your Time
Leaving a position, voluntarily or involuntarily, will provide some free time in your schedule, which you should try to maximize. if your employer was kind enough to give you a few pointers on your way out, apply them while in between jobs. Perhaps they were looking to hire someone with a more diverse skill set or specific knowledge in a burgeoning area. Lockwood suggest using your downtime to work on projects that will illustrate your skill in those areas. Consider volunteering your professional services for a local non-profit. Along with being useful networking , the experience will also give you tangible work to discuss with and show to potential employers. Idealist.org is one resource the will help you find volunteer opportunities, perhaps even paid opportunities. Also stay engaged and raise your profile through blogging on issues in your field, attending events, etc. – whatever you do, don’t go into hiding.
Develop Skills
Finally, new skills will make you a more attractive candidate when you begin searching for a new job. Do a little research on your industry with an eye on new technology and skills that are in high-demand. Consult your professional or trade organizations for the latest industry information. Once that’s done, there are some free and low-cost options to receive the training you need. SkillShare is an online hub for anyone interested in teaching or learning pretty much anything. A quick search uncovers tutorials in everything from social media 101 to building mobile apps. Another option is Udemy, which provides users with more than 5,000 free courses taught by leading experts.
Photo Courtesy, Victor1558.
