With pink slip in hand, you dive into the uncertainty of unemployment in a down economy. Getting yourself back on track might not be as easy as you think. Take my word for it, not all advice is created equal. Gainfully employed or unemployed, there are some things you should know about navigating a layoff, firing or “downsizing”.
Read Part 1: Preparing for Job Loss if you haven't already.
For the last week I have been conducting an informal study on Twitter. I set up a search for “Job Loss," “Fired” and “Lost my Job” in TweetDeck. Not surprisingly I found that many people are talking about either losing their jobs, or have just lost their jobs. However, I was surprised at the volume of hits I'm getting on the search. As it turns out, at least once a minute during the test, someone on Twitter is writing about these terms. I am receiving 60 to 100 hits per hour. That's a lot of people worried about their employment future.
If you are one of these people, or if it is remotely possible that you might find yourself unemployed in the near future, there are a some things you need to know about not only surviving the layoff, but thriving in it and acquiring new employment. By following the recommendations below, you will quickly find yourself on the track to a new future.
Preparing for the Journey Ahead
Keep a Secret: Don't tell anyone! “Whoa! Wait a minute.” You're thinking, “I've always been told to tell everyone I know and spread the word.” Spreading the word comes later – after you've had time to prepare yourself. Of course you'll want to tell your family and maybe a few close friends, but don't overdo it.
Layoffs are incredibly stressful. The heart races and our emotions go on a binge of anger that purges into sadness and often despair and depression. Speaking your mind at this time will put you at risk of burning bridges that you may need later. Being angry at your ex-employer, the country and the President are normal feelings. Stay positive and refrain from commenting on your situation. How you handle yourself under these circumstances will either put you on the right course or set you adrift in uncharted waters. Grab your life vest and jump in the boat. You're on an exciting journey. (Time Allotted: From termination (or notice thereof) until you are 100% certain you are ready to present yourself.)
Vacate Yourself: That's right, take a personal mental vacation. It is important that you release yourself from anxiety and stress as much as possible. Make time for yourself to clear your head daily. This is an important step, but don't dwell here. Your personal mental health time should be limited to 30 to 60 minutes a day, no more. Seek assistance from your family by asking them to let you “be” for just an hour each day while you reset your head. If you use this time properly and frequently, you will find that you are better able to tackle your day while keeping your anxiety to a minimum.
If you are not versed in meditation or self-hypnosis, make your first of very few post-layoff purchases a meditation or relaxation CD. Body scan relaxation is a great way to introduce yourself to this relaxation technique. There are literally thousands of them available. Try one from your library before purchasing if you are uncertain about what you want. I frequently use the “Body Scan and Sitting Meditation” by Joe Nelson. (Time Allotted: Start immediately and continue throughout your life.)
Get Fit: Thirty to 45 minutes of exercise daily is essential to keeping your physical and mental health. During periods of high stress, your body will show signs of fatigue as it fights to keep you going. Both your physical body and your ability to concentrate will suffer. This is not the time to let either your appearance or your ability to think straight decline. Exercise will clear your mind allowing you to focus better and will keep you attractive while you travel through life. (Time Allotted: Start immediately for 20 to 60 minutes per day for the rest of your life.)
Plot your Course: You wouldn't venture into open seas without a map and compass. Don't look for employment without a plan of action. Employers have more options for hiring people than ever before. You need to set up an action plan that prepares you quickly and thoroughly for direct communication with potential employers.
- Identify what type of position you will be looking for. What job titles fit this position?
- Write-out what the ideal job description might look like.
- Short of the ideal job, what other positions would you accept if in a pinch?
- What other industries would your skill set fit into?
- Would you consider changing the industry you work in? For instance, you might have been programmer at an internet marketing company. You would have a steep learning curve to adjust to a non-profit focusing on sharing rides for the disabled. Would you consider a change like this in your career?
When you have clear definition of what you will be looking for, plot it on paper. Rate your options on a scale from one to five with one being your first choice. This will be your job guide when you discover new opportunities.
Packing the Briefcase: Your briefcase needs to contain 4 things. Don't leave the shore without them.
- Resume
- Case Studies
- Cover Letter(s)
- References
The Resume: Only after you have determined what you are searching for and where you are going to do it, should you prepare your resume. Your resume is You. It needs to clearly and concisely describe who you are, not just what you've done. It also reflects where you are going. Trained and experienced recruiters will review your resume along with possibly hundreds of others. Your resume will need to clearly show your successes and achievements. These things tell the recruiter much more than a job title or the name of a previous employer does, although they can be important as well. A strictly technical resume gives the reader a sense of what you can do, but doesn't tell them anything about you. Chances are there are a dozen resumes on that persons desk with the same skill set. How will you reflect who you really are?
A fantastic resume will also show the reader where you are going in your career. Often this is done in the “Objective” paragraph, but it is just as important to demonstrate your path throughout the resume.
Case Studies: In addition to a resume, you should be prepared with one or two “Case Studies”. Case studies are examples of success during duress or other achievements. Usually your case studies are stories or anecdotes that you keep in the back of your head for the interview. I suggest however, that you write them out.
Typical interview question: “Give me an example of one time when you overcame all odds and were successful?” You will get a question like this at an interview. If you are not prepared, you will stumble. By preparing a couple case studies in advance, you will not only force yourself to mentally revisit your past, and thereby refreshing your memory about prior achievements, but you will also be more confident in the interview and display less stress. Write a couple case studies that reflect different aspects of your personal achievements and study them.
Cover Letters: Second on my list of the most difficult things a person has to do in their life (the first being the resume), the cover letter is usually the very first thing someone reads about you. Much has been written about cover letters, but my advice is simple and straight forward. You will need a new cover letter for every resume you send out. It must be directed not only toward the position you are applying for, but also the company and the person who will be reading it. In addition, it needs to be clear, easy to read and explain why the reader not only needs to look at your resume, but hire you. Easy, right? It's not and this article cannot possibly contain enough information to solve this problem for you. Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Address it to the person that will be reading it. “To Whom it May Concern” shows that you: a) haven't done your research, b) that you don't care enough about the job to do your research, and c) that you don't deserve the job.
- Tell the reader how you found the job. Here's an easy way to show them that you are resourceful and may even know someone they know.
- Tell the reader why you are absorbing their valuable time. Restate the skill set they advertised for and one by one describe why you meet their needs. You'll most likely revise this section for every letter you send.
- Show the reader why you are better than 100% of the other applicants. What additional skill or experience do you have that fits perfectly with their advertised position, but was not spelled out. Your extra insight into their organization will make you stand out from the crowd. You will have to work hard find this information, but it will be worthwhile.
- Show your confidence while remaining humble. You've told the reader why they need to hire you. Now you need to get the interview. Suggest a day to get together that you have relatively open. “I am free to meet with you on Thursday December 18th. If that works with your schedule, please reply by phone at your convenience.” If the employer calls to make the appointment, answer the phone and get the interview. There might not be a second chance.
References: Hopefully during your career you have developed and fostered positive relationships with your employers, clients and coworkers. These are your references and we will cover more on them in the next section.
Quality resumes and cover letters don't happen by accident. They are thoughtfully created, and revised numerous times before they see the hands of a potential employer. There are numerous good books on the market that can get you started in the right direction, but you might consider working with a professional in the employment industry or with a coach that will give you direction and unbiased feedback. (Time Allotted: 1 Or 2 days. Get it done. You won't find work sitting on your duff. Work 10 hour days on your resume and cover letter template until they are ready.)
Write your speech: You've been keeping a secret. It's almost time to announce yourself. How are you going to present yourself? As the angry, shoved under the rug, pissed off ex-employee of XYZ Corp? Or as an excited to be free, reorganizing your life, ready to make a move employee of the year type looking for great organization to share your knowledge with? As someone who hasn't heard from you in the last couple days, I'd most likely want to hear from the latter rather than the former. Don't bore me with your sob story about how you were under appreciated or how the government hasn't done enough to save the working class. I might have just closed the largest deal of my life with your former employer and I might have voted for that political party you are slandering. That bridge is made of wood, don't burn it.
Be prepared to keep a light conversation with everyone you meet. Announce that you're on a new career path due to circumstances beyond your control. Prepare yourself to answer questions about your layoff without getting worked up and without professing any negativity.
Get your story straight and consistent. A potential employer might want to know why your prior employer let go of you and 9 other people while they kept 2 others. Why weren't you one of the two they kept? It might be difficult to find the answer inside yourself, but it's an important question to answer. Likely there is a good reason, namely “money”. Whatever it is, know the answer.
You won't be reading your speech. Rather it's a outline to follow that reintroduces you to someone, describes why you are getting back in touch (ie. Looking for work, seeking a reference or asking for a referral) and opens the lines of communications. By now you've created your job guide, so it should be easy to tell someone what type of work you are looking for. (Time Allotted: 30 To 60 minutes.)
Your the Captain. Pick your Crew: Having packed your bags, exercised and cleared your head of the negativity you had two days ago, it's time to recruit your crew. Grab the phone, your job guide, your speech and $20 bucks for coffee and hit the streets. Everyone you've ever met in your entire life is a potential reference or a source for job leads.
Sort that stack of business cards in your drawer by order of importance in your journey. Read through your contact database and make a note of everyone that will be a good source for you. Make a list of your contacts in two columns: References and Referral Sources.
Call your potential references first. You have the speech, use it. Ask them if you can use their name as a reference in your job search. Unless you've completely burned all the bridges in your field, you will get a “Yes”. Be sure to ask them if they know of someone you should call for a job lead. Your best job leads come from people you know. Not out of the newspaper. Lastly, ask your reference contacts to keep their ears open for a position you should investigate. This little touch places a subconscious note in the persons head that produces a surprising amount of job leads. This is your “crew”. They are the people working for you at least in some small way. Be sure to follow up with your crew when you get leads with a big “Thank you”. It shows them that you appreciate them and makes them feel good about helping you. It wouldn't hurt to send a follow-up letter to your references with a resume included. Asking them to kindly review the resume for their opinion will subtly entice them to actually read it and may spark an idea for a job lead. (Time Allotted: Depending on the height of your business card stack, this might take a while. Don't fret about the time, you're looking for work now!)
Be a spy: Not only is it a lot of fun to investigate new opportunities, it is necessary. As was discussed in the Cover Letter section, you need to know what you are applying for and who you are applying to. Gather as much information as possible before committing a resume and cover letter to a potential employer. Prepare some questions about the position, the company, the work group or anything else (except for salary inquiries) that intrigues you. Then start your investigation. It goes without saying that you should never break the law. If an employer specifically asks in the ad not to be contacted by phone, doing so means you are not a rule follower and you won't be likely to get the interview or the job. Try these things if it makes sense to do so:
Get a name: Many job advertisements, especially on online job boards, don't have the name of the contact person. A quick phone call to the company can get you this information and might even get you in touch with the right person. Ask the receptionist if you can speak with the person that is hiring for the XYZ position. If the gatekeeper locks you out, ask if you can get the name of the hiring person so that you may properly address the cover letter. You're being truthful and thorough. You'll most likely get the name. You might try calling later with the name in hand and your questions ready.
Research the company online: The company website will tell you a lot about most companies, but do a Google search as well. Read up on what others are saying about them. If the company has been cited in a business journal, read the article. You'll stand out in an interview if you reference an article you read. You're well informed and obviously interested in the position.
Investigate the position: Careful here! Don't try this if you are not fully prepared. If you are applying for an Account Manager position, a quick call to the receptionist will likely get you in touch with an Account Manager at your request. Ask to speak with one and you shall receive. Being open and honest will be serve you well. Let the Account Manager know that you are thinking about applying for a similar position. Ask some insightful questions about the position, it's client base, the work environment and the stability of the company. You will get some good information, but it's important to recognize that this tactic can sometimes backfire. The person you are speaking with may be the person being replaced or they may be disgruntled about something. Use caution.
- Follow Through: Good sales people know that if you promise something, you need to get it done. It's easy to overlook the fact that promised to email your resume “in the next hour”. Not doing as promised will put you in a negative light and may lose the position for you. Likewise, not following up with a thank you note (hand written, of course), may tell the employer that you don't appreciate their time or that you just aren't interested in the position. A hand written note will tell the employer just the opposite; you appreciate them and look forward to hearing back from them.
- Bring the Ship Back to Shore: If you follow the above advice, you'll be on your way to finding new employment. Extended periods at sea can make you a bit wobbly on your feet. To make sure you stay grounded and focused, remember to keep your exercise and relaxation time consistent. Doing so will increase your stamina and help control depressive episodes if the job search runs long.
When you find employment, it's important to thank you crew for their hard work. A quick call announcing your successful job search is a nice touch, as is a note. Make it personal and professional.
Surviving a job loss is a difficult proposition, but not impossible. Thousands of people are loosing their jobs daily. Finding new employment and getting your feet on the ground will require thoughtful preparation and often more time than we would like. Following a daily regiment is important to success. Be sure to treat your job search with the respect that you would a full time job.
One or two hours a day is not usually enough to quickly find employment. Working 8 to 10 hours a day, five days a week finding employment for yourself is your temporary job. If your job search will last more than a couple weeks and your funds are dangerously low, get a part time job to make ends meet. The stress of working two jobs will be less than the stress of losing your house or not being able to pay your bills.
For more information and health care tips, check out WEB MD
Part 1: Preparing for Job Loss: If you missed it, click here.
(Brandon Johnston is a Life and Transition Coach assisting people balance their lives in ways they never dreamed were possible. Brandon can be reached by email at brandon@coachbrandon.net, or by phone at 612.326.4717. The first session is always free.)
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