Save this article
Use this article for free on your own website
Republish this article for free on your own website or blog. Or search or browse for more articles that your audience will appreciate. Huge choice available. Ideal for finding quality, free content. Read our publishers guide.
6 Tips To Get Back On Track When You Get Laid Off
The terror that rises in your throat from being laid off or fired and really become a phenomenal opportunity if you follow these six tips. If you feel that you've fallen on your face, have hope. When you stand up, you'll be at least one body length ahead.
Gone are the days when a company employed the same workers for decades. People today will change jobs more often than in any other generation. Indeed, the fastest rate of job growth is in part-time and temporary jobs.
Even the higher stress plaguing today’s workplace can itself trigger yet another level of high stress when the result is losing a job. The researchers at Harvard indicate that individuals with CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome induced by stress) are vulnerable for job loss because of it.
If you lose a job because of being fired, just knowing that it doesn’t hold th stigma it once did will help you maintain more equanimity. Behind that pink slip could be a golden opportunity.
Try using these six tips to accelerate your career if you’ve gotten laid off:
1. Embrace the opportunity. You were fired because you were not considered a right fit for the job. If it’s a matter of temperament, embrace the opportunity to find a job that will not make you blow your top, or one in which you can be positive. Embrace the opportunity to find a better fit for your career goals, your good health and a more rewarding lifestyle.
2. Get moving. Don’t become paralyzed at being fired. Make a “to do” list each day to a. explore jobs, b. update your resume, c. apply for jobs, d. network, c. examine what you’ve got planned for that day and e. reward yourself for not standing still. If you can’t seem to get started, enlist a friend or a local support group to get you moving.
3. Tighten up. It’s always wise to cut out unnecessary expenses even if you find another position early on, because a tightening will help you to make the change without stress. Cut out all but necessities. Reward yourself with free fun such as a trip to the public library, a park or by taking long walks with friends or family members.
4. Be honest. Very few people have never been fired, so don’t think you’ll never get another job. Focus on the positive results you achieved at your former job. When a potential employer asks why you were let go, say it wasn’t a good fit and point to your positives.
5. Network. It’s tried, but true. Go to professional meetings. Join associations. Make cold calls to leaders in your field, and ask for advice. You will find that your bravery will be amply rewarded, even if not immediately.
6. Think outside the box. This is the perfect time to ask yourself if you are on the right career path. Can your skills be useful in another profession that you would find more rewarding? Find four potential “outside the box” career fields, and revise the wording and focus of your resume in four different ways to fit those career requirements.
If you got a pink slip (aka were fired) or simply lost a temporary job, you’re at the edge of a great opportunity! Be sure to make the most of it.