Job Loss

What should you do after a Job Loss?  The loss of a job can cause feelings that are similar to what one feels after the death of a loved one.  You may go through several stages, from initial shock to acceptance.  It is important to maintain a positive attitude as you deal with your situation.  Don't dwell on the past and don't get caught up in your emotions.  Do research on ways to deal with all aspects of Job Loss.  Then make a plan and work it steadily! This web page is a resource to help you begin your research on all aspects of Job Loss.  Further down on this page, we present an article called, "Out of a Job - What Next?"  The article describes what one man did to cope with Job Loss.  Read the article and learn how to deal with the feelings that you may be having.  Discover helpful tips to help you move forward.  After you read our article, follow the Related Links we provide to other informative and interesting web sites about Job Loss.  Explore the sites we've linked to and see how other people have dealt with the many of the exact same concerns that you may have.  Buy a few of the Books we recommend below, to learn more about Job Loss and Job Seeking.  Learn how to find a new job that meets your needs and matches your abilities.  Keep your attitude positive by reading The Traveler's Gift and Hope Happens!  You are not alone.  Others have been through this, too.  Learn how they have handled it, then come up with a strategy that will work for you!   Related Links: NEFE.org, Job Loss A three-page article on all aspects of what can result after a job loss. CareerJournal.com, After a Job Loss  A listing of links to articles on all aspects of Job Loss, from The Wall Street Journal Executive Career site.  Monster.com, Advice for the Jobless  Another list of links to articles on all aspects of Job Loss, from this popular job-hunting site.  JobLayoffSupport.com Forum  An online forum where people can communicate with others who have also been through a Job Loss.    Read These Books:

Out of a Job - What Next? by Malcolm Tatum   3/1/06 Okay, it finally happened. Your employer downsized or went out of business. All you have to show for a decade's worth of faithful service are a couple of boxes of pictures and office knickknacks. You still have one more paycheck due, so you know you can pay the bills this month. But what about next month? Most of us will find ourselves out of work at one time or another. Sometimes we see it coming. At other times, it appears to come from nowhere. If we have planned well, we have resources at hand to get us through the several months it may take to find a job we really enjoy and can see ourselves doing for several years. The problem is that most of us do not plan. I worked in two different industries and experienced layoffs in both with little or no warning. I learned these simple life lessons that helped me cope with my situation and ultimately get back on my feet. 1. You are not your job. Drawing too much of your self worth from your career can make losing your job a real kick in the gut. You may find that you question how good a friend/parent/neighbor you really are. One word: don't. There is much more to you than where you worked and what you did for a living. Realize that you are still a person with hopes, dreams, talents, and there are people around who think you are mighty terrific, even if your employment status is reversed at the moment. See yourself as your loved ones see you and stop thinking that the loss of your job makes you somehow inadequate. 2. Find something now. If you have no savings and it is going to be a month before your unemployment compensation kicks in, you need money to pay the bills right this minute. There is nothing that says you can't find something part time while you look for full time work. Get to a local employment agency and pick up something that you can do in the evenings and still look for work during the day. And don't discount the possibility that you could be placed with a company who will later approach you and the agency about offering you a full time position. 3. Realize that you are starting over. Nobody ever guaranteed we would jump from one dream job to another. Nor are there any promises that you will use the same exact skill set. When I moved from the textile industry to the telecommunications industry, my first job was entry level - a teleconference operator. I barely made above minimum wage my first two months and some weeks I did not work more than 28 hours (fortunately, I still had my part-time night job!). It was tough, but I liked the work and soon I was being trained in other facets of the company's business and operations. By the time I had been with the company for six months, I was a full-time salaried employee and heading up our newly reorganized Customer Relations department. I would have missed out on a lot of good stuff had I looked at my initial pay and decided it was not good enough. 4. Cut Expenses. Most of us have all sorts of little ways to cut expenses when we must. Drink more water and less soda and beer. Realize that it is okay to have macaroni and cheese as an entrée now and then. Grab a basket and ride your bike to the supermarket that is only a mile away instead of cranking up the car and driving across town to save five cents on a can of green beans. Believe it or not, you can live without two hundred channels, so put the cable on ice until things are better. When you emerge from this period of restructuring, you may be amazed at how much you don't miss and can be perfectly happy without. 5. Above all, don't give up. As tempting as it may be to let your troubles get you down, don't allow your focus to stray from your goals. When you feel the walls closing in, seek out a friend or loved one and let them know up front that you need to vent. Really, they will understand and will most likely remind you how much you mean to them. Best of all, you will have let off a little steam and will be ready to stand up again and keep moving forward. What a world we would have if all of us had the foresight to plan ahead for such a rainy day. Unfortunately, few of us do. While failing to plan for the possible loss of a job does lead to frightful and uncertain days once the axe has fallen, it need not be the end of all that is good and true. Stand up, fight, and appreciate all that you do have. Chances are, the time will come when you find yourself in the better circumstances that you knew before.

Email a Friend!     Related Articles    Next Article