Try To Keep It Going Even In Tough Economic Times
Many people across the country are facing hardship and unemployment this holiday season. Whether you are downsized or your company goes out of business outright, you must try to keep it going even if things seem grim to you.
I have faced many a downsizing in my day with nonprofit and political organizations, therefore the advice I offer does not come without merit.
There are many horror stories about how people lose their jobs. I was once laid off by an organization by receiving a Fed Ex letter two weeks after my team raised $2 million dollars. Don't dwell in those stories, but be realistic. Never assume you are safe in any given situation, no matter who you are or what position you hold. Take it from me, once the lay-offs start you never know where cuts are going to be made. Always operate from the assumption that this could happen to me as well as form the mindset of being overly prepared for whatever comes your way. And always, always keep your resume updated.
Being laid-off or even fired from a job ranks right up there with the top three life-changes that affect people psychologically:
1. Death
2. Divorce
3. Job Loss
You must not let yourself succumb to the trap some find themselves in when faced with a life-changing scenario. Depression. It is devastating to lose a job. It hurts your ego, it hurts your sense of who you are.... But believe me, sinking into a deep state of depression only hurts you and your family. It never hurts anyone at your previous company. In addition, don't think that just because you have received some severance pay you are in the clear. Oh to the contrary. The little money you receive in severance will only get you through the short run. After the money runs out, what happens to you in the long run?
After the initial shock, I recommend your picking yourself up by the boot straps and get going with it. Looking for a job is a full time job. Don't the cobwebs grow around you. Get out there and do something about it. No one else will or can!
Here are my tips for hitting the job-search challenge head-on:
1. Re-examine your career path. Are there any adjustments you could make at this time?
2. Consider starting your own business or become a consultant.
3. Network, network, network- LET IT BE KNOWN THAT YOU ARE IN THE JOB MARKET and do not stop attending professional meetings. Go to as many as you can.
4. Talk to your friends, co-workers, ex-employers, ask them if they know of any available jobs.
5. Search all of the job Web sites.
6. Apply for jobs everyday. If something sounds close to what your chosen profession is, apply for it. You never know what other positions the company may have available.
7. Social Networking- Create a page on Linkedin or other business social networking sites. Let people know on the site your are looking for a job.
8. Be bold. Be creative.
9. De-stress. Remain calm.
10. Make sure you keep healthy. Laugh if you can. Maintain a positive demeanor.
11. Look at the situation as an opportunity. The glass is half full.
12. Smile.
One last piece of advice I will offer, is to consider taking a part-time job in the interim. You may believe that you are too good to do some of the jobs that may be available for instance in retail, but taking a part time job will help your self esteem as well as offer another opportunity to meet people and network.
Like I said before, looking for a job is a full-time job, but if you approach it in the right manner and frame of mind, you will overcome the situation. Take if from one who's been there on more than one occasion.
Believe me it pays to be optimistic event if times are tough.
I have faced many a downsizing in my day with nonprofit and political organizations, therefore the advice I offer does not come without merit.
There are many horror stories about how people lose their jobs. I was once laid off by an organization by receiving a Fed Ex letter two weeks after my team raised $2 million dollars. Don't dwell in those stories, but be realistic. Never assume you are safe in any given situation, no matter who you are or what position you hold. Take it from me, once the lay-offs start you never know where cuts are going to be made. Always operate from the assumption that this could happen to me as well as form the mindset of being overly prepared for whatever comes your way. And always, always keep your resume updated.
Being laid-off or even fired from a job ranks right up there with the top three life-changes that affect people psychologically:
1. Death
2. Divorce
3. Job Loss
You must not let yourself succumb to the trap some find themselves in when faced with a life-changing scenario. Depression. It is devastating to lose a job. It hurts your ego, it hurts your sense of who you are.... But believe me, sinking into a deep state of depression only hurts you and your family. It never hurts anyone at your previous company. In addition, don't think that just because you have received some severance pay you are in the clear. Oh to the contrary. The little money you receive in severance will only get you through the short run. After the money runs out, what happens to you in the long run?
After the initial shock, I recommend your picking yourself up by the boot straps and get going with it. Looking for a job is a full time job. Don't the cobwebs grow around you. Get out there and do something about it. No one else will or can!
Here are my tips for hitting the job-search challenge head-on:
1. Re-examine your career path. Are there any adjustments you could make at this time?
2. Consider starting your own business or become a consultant.
3. Network, network, network- LET IT BE KNOWN THAT YOU ARE IN THE JOB MARKET and do not stop attending professional meetings. Go to as many as you can.
4. Talk to your friends, co-workers, ex-employers, ask them if they know of any available jobs.
5. Search all of the job Web sites.
6. Apply for jobs everyday. If something sounds close to what your chosen profession is, apply for it. You never know what other positions the company may have available.
7. Social Networking- Create a page on Linkedin or other business social networking sites. Let people know on the site your are looking for a job.
8. Be bold. Be creative.
9. De-stress. Remain calm.
10. Make sure you keep healthy. Laugh if you can. Maintain a positive demeanor.
11. Look at the situation as an opportunity. The glass is half full.
12. Smile.
One last piece of advice I will offer, is to consider taking a part-time job in the interim. You may believe that you are too good to do some of the jobs that may be available for instance in retail, but taking a part time job will help your self esteem as well as offer another opportunity to meet people and network.
Like I said before, looking for a job is a full-time job, but if you approach it in the right manner and frame of mind, you will overcome the situation. Take if from one who's been there on more than one occasion.
Believe me it pays to be optimistic event if times are tough.
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