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At times, due to circumstances beyond your control, you may find yourself unexpectedly unemployed or facing imminent job loss. It could be because your company has closed down, been acquired, or experienced a product line elimination or another unforeseen disaster. The specific reason for your unemployment is less critical; what matters is that this sudden change has caught you off guard. You don’t have a “Plan B” in place since you hadn’t anticipated a career shift. With your world turned upside down, what’s next?
If you are really lucky, the situation mentioned previously may never occur. However, in the event that it does, are you prepared with an emergency exit strategy? It’s crucial for everyone to have one in place, as it can provide peace of mind during times of crisis. While you may never need to use your emergency plan, knowing it exists can offer a sense of security, similar to the reassurance provided by any emergency evacuation procedure.
Things to Consider if You Lose Your Job
- Allow yourself to grieve the loss of your job.
- Create a budget and track your income and
expenses . - Start looking for a new job.
- Be patient and persistent when looking for a job.
- Explore other options, such as starting your own business or going back to school.
- Remember that you are not alone and there are resources available to help you.
Managing Your Time
Believe it or not (and I know from personal experience), one of the most difficult things to manage when you are out of work is your time. You have lots of time when you are out of work and gives you a false sense of “there’s lots of time to look for a job later”. Not true. When you are out of work your job is to look for a job and you need to manage your time effectively (see Job Search Marketing Toolkit). One of our favorite time management books is Getting Things Done by David Allen and is worth a read (or two) to help you manage your time during (and after) your
Resumes
Maintaining an updated resume is crucial, regardless of whether you’re actively seeking employment. Doing so provides a precise record of your accomplishments and, as previously mentioned, prepares you for unforeseen circumstances. Your resume stands as the most vital instrument in your job hunt, as well as the document that demands the most time and effort. Ensuring your resume is current accounts for half the
Keeping Your Resume Up to Date
Keeping your resume up to date is not all that difficult. You have a baseline to start with and now just need to add any new roles or achievements. Even if you don’t need (or want) to look for a job outside of your current company, an updated resume can help you get promotions or new opportunities at your current employer.
This comprehensive guide offers a wealth of resources for job seekers, including hundreds of sample resumes and cover letters that have been successful in landing interviews and job offers.
What, You Don’t Have a Resume?
Maybe you don’t have a resume (sounds strange, but this is not all that unusual). Well, time to get that fixed. resume writing can be a very painful process, however, once it is completed you will feel really good about your achievements. As the saying goes, the best place to start is at the beginning.
- 5 Steps to a Great Resume (on the CareerAlley Lessons page)
- Take a look at these top resume books.
Caught by Surprise
Okay, you should have had an emergency
- 15 Things to Do if You Lose Your Job – This article provides 15 basic steps in getting yourself on track for finding a new job. The first tip is the most important (Don’t Panic). The other tips are also worth a read. Once you’ve gone over these basic steps, you need to really get down to work (no pun intended), and that work is to look for a new job (which is your new job until you find a paying job).
- Why You Need a Job Search Marketing Toolkit – This is one of my prior posts, but it is a great place to start if you are first planning your job hunt.
Where to Find Help
Job hunting can be an overwhelming task, especially if you’ve lost your job and don’t yet have the resources you will need to get started. Every piece of the puzzle you put in place will get you one step further in finding a job.
This book is about getting one's life in order and moving on after career setbacks. The book shares a number of anecdotes from personal experiences, intending that the book be both instructional and motivational in its tone.
