5 Post-Layoff Tips

These days, even the most talented, hardest-working professionals have discovered that they're not immune from the flood of layoffs sweeping the nation. Unemployment rates are soaring and economists are forecasting that more tough times are ahead.

For many individuals, this means that if they haven't already been laid off, the potential that they may suddenly become unemployed is building every day. Therefore, it's imperative that people -- whether they have a job or not -- know how to bounce back from sudden unemployment.

"Nobody's job is 100 percent secure, and a recession is not the only economic event or trend that can threaten your job. Therefore, you need to develop skills that will make you resilient enough to rebound from a job loss. This way, you'll bounce back from unemployment more quickly and may even find a job that is more rewarding than your last," says Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., co-author of "150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs" (JIST).

In his book, he outlines the following strategies to help individuals maximize their ability to rebound from a job loss:

1. Specialize and focus on a specific goal

Connect the key skills you possess to a niche, and then develop additional skills that will help you stand out from other job seekers. In a shrinking job market, employers have plenty of candidates to choose from and will be most interested in the special few who have developed the exact skill set they are seeking.

2. Be visible beyond your workplace

To bounce back quickly from a layoff, it's not enough to have the respect of former colleagues and supervisors. Today's job seekers need to have already presented themselves as movers and shakers in their occupations and industries. To establish this kind of credibility and enhance your network of contacts, consider joining a professional organization, publishing a blog relevant to your career goals, or offering your expertise to the media. In turn, you'll enhance your brand, which will have a long-lasting impact on your future career success.

3. Keep your résumé up-to-date

For many career coaches, this piece of advice ranks high on their list of career commandments -- in good and bad times. Whether or not you're unemployed, your résumé should include your most recent job title, as well as outstanding accomplishments achieved in that role. This way, you can put your résumé to use immediately, rather than having to completely rework it for the job search.

4. Keep your skills up-to-date

It's a no-brainer that you should already possess the skills needed to perform your job. What many individuals overlook, however, is that developing additional skills can go a long way in making them more valuable and attractive to employers.

In his book, Shatkin identifies the most recession-proof skills and encourages individuals to enhance these areas to become more valuable to employers in tough economic times. These skills include the following:

· Social perceptiveness

· Writing

· Reading comprehension

· Service orientation

· Persuasion

· Active listening

· Critical thinking

· Speaking

· Learning strategies

· Instructing

5. Believe in yourself

You can find great opportunities in the job market, regardless of what today's grim headlines may suggest. The key is to stay positive, treat the job search as though you were being paid for your efforts, and think of your layoff as an opportunity to have a fresh start or find more rewarding work.

Tips You MUST Know To Survive A Layoff

Here I 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.

#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.

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