Tips To Survive A Layoff

This http://www.WorkTree.com
career article will quickly give you eight MUST know tips on
effectively surviving a layoff.

****** FACT ****** Losing a job is one of the most stressful
life events. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. With this in
mind, you will need a good action plan in order to recover as
quickly as possible from a job loss. 

The following eight tips will help make sure that recover from a
layoff sooner than you think.

=========================================== Tips You Must Know
To Survive A Layoff ===========================================

#1 - DON'T PANIC: You may have lost your job but you have not
lost everything. You are a skilled individual and will work
again. Do not ever lose sight of these two simple sentences. Do
not let yourself fall into a spiral of negative thinking. Think
back to all the other people that you know of that have lost
jobs in the past and are now successfully employed.

#2 - REFLECT AND RECOVER: Step back and clear your head. Anger
and fear are two of the most common emotions experienced after a
job-loss. Neither is conducive to clear thinking or good
decision-making. Take some time to talk through your feelings of
loss with friends and family members. If this does not help,
consider the services of a professional counselor. Sort through
your emotional baggage or else risk dragging it with you on your
job-search. #3 - ORGANIZE YOUR FINANCES: Take a serious look at
your spending habits. List out your monthly expenses into 2
groups- absolutely necessary and optional. If you have already
been laid off you should limit your spending to the first
category. If you are still employed but fearing what the future
may hold, start cutting back in the second category. A general
rule of thumb is to keep the enough cash to cover at least two
months worth of expenses in the bank for emergencies. If you
have not had a chance to do so as of the time of termination,
you still have options. Don’t forget that most companies offer a
severance package to laid off employees. In addition you can
also contact your local un-employment agency regarding
unemployment benefits. #4 - INSURANCE: Just because you have
lost your job does not mean that you and your family have
immediately lost all insurance coverage that you had while you
were employed. It just means that now you are responsible for
paying for it all by yourself. Under COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act) generally you can remain on your
former employer’s plan for up to 18 months as long as you pay
the premiums. Remember that there are time limits for signing up
for COBRA. You can get more COBRA information from the human
resources department of your former employer.

#5 - UPDATE YOUR RESUME: Take account of all the skills and
responsibilities that you acquired on your last job. Make sure
that you include these on your updated resume. And remember this
is not the time to be modest; be proud of your accomplishments.
If you are unsure on how to lay out or word your resume, then
you can find many examples of successful resumes on the Internet
or in your local bookstore. Definitely have a friend or family
member review your resume. Remember that a good resume can often
make the difference between being granted an interview or not.
Take the time to make your resume shine. #6 - ACTIVATE YOUR
NETWORK: Do not be ashamed that you have been laid off. Tell
everyone that you think can help that you are looking for work.
This does not mean that you should cry on the shoulder of anyone
that will listen. What this does mean is that you should be
prepared to tell friends, family and even acquaintances that you
are looking for work, what types of skills you have and the
types of jobs that you would be interested in.

#7 - CONSIDER USING A RECRUITER: Consider using a recruiter.
Recruiters a.k.a. headhunters can help you to better manage and
improve the results of your job search. Using a recruiter has
many advantages. These advantages include their having already
established relationships with many employers and their having
access to hidden job opportunities. In addition many recruiters
will offer tips on how to improve your resume and interviewing
skills. Best of all most recruiters are completely free to the
job seeker. They collect their fees directly from the employer.

#8 - GO BACK TO SCHOOL: Take advantage of the time provided by
being laid off to better yourself both professionally and
personally. Some people choose to go back to school and pursue
an entirely different trade. Others will attend a few classes at
the local community college to sharpen their skills in their
chosen profession. Still others will pursue 6 or 12 month
programs in a trade school. And don’t think that your study must
be directly career related. This may be the perfect opportunity
to study a foreign language or learn to roller blade. Layoffs
provide people who are used to being busy with a lot of free
time. Make the most of this time by improving yourself. 

In conclusion, remember that getting laid off is not the end of
the world. 

Whether you are recently unemployed or are just feeling a bit
uncertain about your job security in these tough economic times,
the eight survival tips above can help you to get back on your
feet quickly in the event of a layoff.

This article can be read online at: http://www.worktree.com/newsletter/surviving-a-layoff.html

Sincerely, Nathan Newberger Managing Editor http://www.WorkTree.com
"Helping You Find More Jobs Faster"