Your being laid off means you’re in good company this week. The U.S. Labor Department says more of you than expected have applied for unemployment as unemployment claims surge.
California layoffs were predominant this week, followed by Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan. When you find yourself eligible to file unemployment claims, here are …
…A half dozen steps to take after layoff
1. It’s OK to hit the panic button to release some steam. But don’t reveal your anger, frustration, and anxiety by calling everyone you know to tell them how upset you are about having to train the people from India who have replaced you.
2. Instead of flying off in all directions focus your attention on planning what to do after a layoff. This allows your anxiety to subside a bit as you become involved with your job finding campaign.
3. Take care of unemployment claims and internal business, like your insurance and 401K plan.
4. Update your resume. Or create a new one. This will make you feel better about yourself as you recall, through writing down your achievements, how good you are at what you do.
5. Make a networking list of your contacts. The list needs to include your associates (people with whom you work and know what you do), friends, family, professional people you know, contacts you did business with at your former company, and get you hands on an alumni list for your high school or college.
6. Call selected names that you’ve listed, telling them about your being laid off and what you’re looking for. Always end the conversation by asking, “Who do you know that you think I should be talking to?” This is the exquisite way to network.
Workers being laid off are often helped by remembering your fulltime job is looking for a job. Like any job, you need to put in the hours to succeed. That means a minimum of four hours a day looking for work.
Randy Place, a career management consultant in private practice, and Internet host of Your Career Service — http://www.yourcareerservice.com Daily posts feature job-finding tips and career management advice. Topics include job interview tips, networking strategies, dealing with job loss, resume writing and personalized cover letters, getting ahead at work, how to handle standard interview questions and much more
Tags: california layoffs, unemployment claims, workers being laid off, your being, hit the panic buton