Enduring Layoff

If you're laid off, you've got to keep getting up in the morning. You will find another job. Remember, you have skills!

Try to avoid being overly obsessed or panicky about finding a job. But do set a regular schedule to look for one, and stick to it. Make job searching like a new job that you're working from home, to help fill the gap in your routine left by unemployment. For example, you might set aside a few hours every weekday morning over coffee, to search job banks, read your jobs by email lists, scan the employment sections of local newspapers, and shoot your resume to promising opportunities. Then go about other business and pleasure, and try to enjoy your time off while you've got it, without guilt. To avoid worry and depression while you're waiting for interviews, keep your mind busy and make yourself feel useful by working on your house, car, yard, hobbies, portfolio, etc.

You might even consider enhancing your skills through online training or a local school. In fact, now might be a good time to go for that career change you've been contemplating for years, but never had the time because you had to work full time. The unemployment office (aka Career One Stop Center) in your state offers training programs (or information about same) for free, if you qualify. It also offers free resume help, occupational counseling, job-searching help, and more. You don't have to eligible for unemployment benefits to qualify for some of the programs. You're likely paying for them in your taxes, so you might as well get what you're paying for.

Consider temping until you find a permanent job. Temp job sites and your state employment service can help you land them. Some temp agencies offer free or discounted training, too.

For tips on how and where to conduct your job search on the Internet, see "Getting Started with Online Job Searching" and "Expand Your Job Search." Also see Interviewing and Writing Resumes to get ready to land that new job. For your convenience, the Topic Guide has all these resources and just about everything else you need to find and land jobs, all neatly organized in one place by subject.

Oddly enough, even after a layoff, some departments still continue to hire, especially for mission-critical positions. But many an HR department is negligent in finding internal openings for which laid-off workers are qualified. Negligence aside, many don't guarantee that they'll call you back if a position for which you qualify opens, but they'll consider you if you stay in touch. Check with the HR department or contact department heads periodically. Ask former work associates to keep an eye on the internal jobs list for you. If you have transferable skills, you might qualify for a mission-critical position in another department or at least temporary work on contract. Even your own department might contract back to you, so you can finish the projects on which you were working. You might even get hired back a few months down the road if the company's financial condition turns around. If you can get reinstated within a few months, you might retain your tenure and benefits. Some say that you should never "go back," but that's really a personal choice. It might be better than starting over again at a new job. But don't just sit around hoping for this to happen, as it's a mistake many laid-off workers make while they're in denial. It's okay to hope, but keep looking for a new job in the meantime.

It's a good idea to have written proof that it wasn't your fault you were terminated. Ask your ex-boss to write a recommendation letter that also explains why you lost your job. See Letters of Recommendation for tips and samples you may download for free and give to your references. (Some don't know how to write such and might be glad you offered. Besides, a poorly written recommendation letter does little good, so samples can't hurt.) See the Letter Writing Desk for samples of other types of business letters to help you in your job search.

Don't be discouraged if you don't land a job after several interviews. When employers don't hire you, they're not saying that you're a crummy, worthless individual. It's not personal, it's just business. Few workers land a job in their first couple of interviews. Keep at it and you'll eventually find a good match.

Here's more advice from the Web about how to deal with a layoff.

Guidelines for Thriving During Job Loss
Words of wisdom by Al Siebert, Ph.D., author of The Survivor Personality.

The Emotional Costs
More by Martin Yate.

Unemployment Help
The AFL-CIO offers a variety of helpful tips for surviving unemployment.

Surviving Layoff
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