A Step by Step Help Guide to Surviving the Loss of your Job

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Being laid off has many euphemisms and, I am sure, as the months of bad corporate and economic news go on, we will add some new ones. But, whether your company has downsized, or you got the sack, or the pink slip or, there was a strategic alignment, the effect on you is the same: You have lost your job and you have to do something about it.

The immediate impact on you is shock and disbelief. Even if you saw the signs all around you, it is difficult to accept, that your loyal service and your skills could be dispensed with. Where, you will ask yourself, have I gone wrong? What could I have done better? Most likely,the simple answer is, that you have not done anything wrong and, even if you had made monumental efforts, the redundancy notice would not have bypassed you. So stop useless and depressing self analysis, or self recrimination, it will not help.

But, what you can do, is analyze where you stand: Assessing you Status Quo! Go home, have a nice meal, go to bed early, sleep well, get up at your normal time, have breakfast and then go and clear your home desk (or a table), prepare some paper (or the computer) and start to systematically look at your position. There are five main areas where you should focus on. We think, the sequence of how you look at them, is rather important. Below are a series of items with appropriate links which should help you, sort out your problems systematically. Each link will lead you to a page that gives you detailed instructions!

1. The Financials

	What is my financial position at this moment. My Networth! and my current expenditure! Go to our page for guidance on completing that task.
	What will my income be for the next 12 months. Do I get unemployment benefit? If so how much? This page will help you!
	How much are my outgoing's. Make a weekly plan for the next 12 months! Our budgeting page will help you! The Budget Page will help.
	What can I do without and how can I immediately put that into effect so that it has a financial impact! Make a List!

Being sure where you stand financially, is the most important aspect that you have to clarify immediately! You might have to cut down on things, but you have to do it with priorities and with a plan. There are three main parts to your financial position: Your networth, what you actually own, net of all debts, your future income, YOUR CASH IN-FLOW, from all sources, and your outgoing's, the expenses, YOUR CASH OUT-FLOW.

2. Know Yourself: Your Self Assessment

Once you have looked at your financial position, you should take a look at your self, your abilities, strength and weaknesses, how you are perceived by other people. Go here and start your self assessment!

3. My Social Network, My Skills and my Future

Social networks ar an important part of life. They assume even more importance when one is under stress, for instance through the loss of one's job.

	Who do I know and what could they possibly do for me? Make a list of your own social network and state how you think people in this network could help you. How can I extend my network? If you do not know where to start, look at this page!
	What are my Strengths and Weaknesses? What psychological, or skill assessment tests, if any, could help me in refining this self assessment. If you want to look at some common HR evaluation and tests, go here!
	Where is my professional future? What would I like to do now?

Once you have ascertained your financial position, you have to determine your skill levels and how you might use those skills in the search for a new position or a new career. Remember, your perception might be rather different from that of outsiders and the more you can cross check and confirm those, where you think you are, with third parties, the more secure you will feel.

4. My Resume and how I present myself

	Do I have a well written Resume? You can find some help and advice here!
	What are my interview skills? There is interview help here! Remember the Ten Rules that you should not break when looking for a job!

This part becomes the key for your future. If you have been in a job for many years, your skills in writing a good resume are not likely to be good enough to survive the scrutiny of people who suddenly have a far larger pool of possible applicants. So get some professional advise and have a resume written. Supply the resume writers with as much information as possible, they will know what is important and what is not and will make the selection. You should also be aware that there is no "one-fits-all-applications-type-of-resumes". Therefore you might have to modify what the professional resume writer gave you. Just read his submission and ask yourself what he wanted to achieve for you.

Once you have been successful with your resume, you will be called for an interview. Again, the longer you have been away from the job market, the more difficult that will be. Present yourself well informed and keen to the interviewer, even if the job is below what you used to have. If you need some help, go to our interview page!

5. My domestic Home Support Network

	How can my immediate family(my wife and kids) help me? e.g. by lowering their spending etc. How do I keep sane, when my world falls apart.
	Do I have the skills to start a business myself? If so what (make a list and rank the possibilities on the basis of how little of your financial resources they use!)?

Being under stress from the outside means that you have to do everything in your power to keep domestic balance and peace. Because your family will feel insecure as well. Probably, even more so than you, since they do not know everything about the process of getting a new job. You have to explain some of the things to them and you need their help and understanding. That does not mean, you have to go into endless self analysis with them. You have to make them understand that not every "opportunity", however often presented on TV or on other media, is a real opportunity, or is even suitable for you. At the same time, the financial limitations will require discipline and cooperation from your family members as well. "Socially necessary expenditure" may have to fall victim to current circumstances. This might require a reiteration of the overall goal, namely that your family stays together and works in the same direction. That will require a lot of explanation!

Having lost a job is not the end. But YOU HAVE TO BE SYSTEMATIC ABOUT COOPING WITH IT! The assessment of your status quo may take you some time and, obviously, you will be able to do things side by side. The importance is, that you address the points indicated above, so that you have continued clarity about where you want to, and where you need to go.

A recession or economic downturn might be prolonged and many of us, might have to look at a whole new range of circumstances. Don't jump on bandwagons and get-rich-quick-schemes, they are soul destroying, because the kindle hope,

that usually only makes the originator of the scheme richer. Look at further education, if you have the money and if you think you need it. But, stay clear of "degree-mills", unaccredited institutions, Internet universities and socalled "for profit universities" that offer financing, for their useless degrees and qualifications. Their fee per credit hour is usually a multiple of what you will pay at a local community college or a state university.

There are a few reputable ones, but most of them are not worth anything. There are good reasons, why education takes time and why reputable education institutions, seek accreditation with reputable organizations.

Some Essential Reading

Remember, you are not alone. Hundreds of people are in the same situation you are. Some have written about their experiences, others make useful suggestions. There are now many books about how to find jobs. A few of them which we reviewed are here.

A Few useful Books from Amazon

We wish you good luck and if you have any questions write us an e-mail, we will try to answer it, if we can!