Are you one of the numerous employees who have been laid off? You do not have to feel like a victim. You can take control and take action.
Emotional Reaction
It is natural to feel fear, loss of self-confidence, and loss of control after
being laid off. Most people follow a range of emotions when dealing with their
new situation:
- Denial
- Anger
- Acceptance
- Commitment
What You Can Do
Examine
your financial situation.
This may be especially hard if you live paycheck-to-paycheck. Examine your
savings account, checking account, retirement account, insurance policies, and
any other sources of income. Examine your monthly budget. Look for ways to cut
your expenses. Determine how long you and your family can go without a steady
income. Explore the support network available to you (for example, COBRA
and your local unemployment services). Try not to panic; this is part of taking
control of your current (and temporary) situation.
Talk to friends and loved ones.
Avoid the temptation to keep your
emotions to yourself. Instead, garner support from friends and family. You will
need their support and reassurance.
If you are offered job re-training or job search seminars, take advantage of
them.
While you may not feel like going to a seminar, take advantage of it. You may
pick up some useful tips and meet others in the same situation, helping you
realize that you're not alone. Make some friendly contacts; ask a coworker if
you can use them as a reference in your upcoming job search.
Next, be sure to get a record of employment from your human resources office.
Request a letter of recommendation from your manager. While you're at it, gather
human resources information from your company. Learn what your company's policies
are regarding layoffs.
If you are lucky enough to have a severance package, request its details in writing.
If you can afford to, take some time to assess your situation.
If you haven't been in the job market in some time, practice your interviewing, cover letter writing, resume writing, and job searching skills. Save yourself some money and visit your local library's career development section. Taking an active approach to finding your next job will help you feel more empowered and in control of your life.
Also, take time to assess your career. Assess your skill
set. Were you happy in your last job? Feel like you've always wanted
to pursue a different career? Now may be your chance. Explore additional training
opportunities; there are a variety of online services that can help you determine
a new career path. You could relocate, change careers, go back to school, find
a better job… a world of possibilities is now open to you.
Set daily goals pertaining to your job search.
Your next job is not simply going to fall in your lap. Take a pro-active approach to find your next employment opportunity. Each day, do something that progresses your job search in some way.
Make social contact on a daily basis.
This is especially important. Don't regress and spend all day watching TV, not talking to anyone. Tell everyone you know you're in the job market. Network with everyone you can. Be ready to talk about your skills and career interests.
Feeling alone, out-of-control, or depressed is normal. However, you
may need to seek counseling if these feelings persist beyond a few weeks and
keep you from pursuing your job search.
Have
a positive attitude.
Focus on what you can control in your life, not on what you can't.
Resources:
Laid Off Central
Laid Off Central offers resources, connections and related articles that can help those who have been laid off.