Fedora 12: Constantine

Friday, October 31, 2008

10 tips on how you can survive despite a layoff

Can you take a guess on one of the most common and scary words doing rounds in the job market as of date? Yes, you got it! It is “layoff”. Getting fired, unfortunately, can happen to the best of us. It can happen even when it's not your fault. There could be a personality conflict between yourself and your supervisor.

Your idea of what the job was going to be like might differ from what management was thinking. You could have simply screwed up. It happens. You're not alone. Experts estimate that at least 250,000 workers are illegally or unjustly fired each year and that's not counting those that were justifiably terminated. Regardless of the circumstances, what to do if you've been fired? Where do you go from here?
Beating the unemployment blues or how to survive a layoff is a major cause of concern for the working class as of now. Here are a few essential tips on how you can survive the layoff financially!
Either you have already been laid off or there is news that you’re company is planning a layoff in near future. Both these situations demand a great deal of action from you immediately. The first and most important ways to handle it would by being well prepared for it.
You just need to ask yourself can I survive this layoff. The attitude of a person plays a very great role during such situations. When he feels confident and believes that he can survive a layoff financially, most of his problems end there.
What are the best ways to get past a layoff?
1. For starters, don't blame yourself for whatever happened. Getting fired can happen to anyone, so it's better not to dwell on it and feel self-pity. Try and focus on what your next course of action is and how to find another job.
2. Knowing well in advance about a layoff will do much good to you. If you know of it earlier you can equip yourself very well to face it. To know if there is a layoff happening in your company, the best thing you could do would be to look out for indications. Some of the indicators that you could look for would be cutting on travel costs, resignations from the top management and so on.
3. If the pink slip has been given to you, do accept it with all grace. Do leave a positive impact on the management and your co workers. Getting a letter of recommendation from your boss stating the reason for your termination. If you were laidoff because of downsizing and not because of your bad performance then this letter will surely come handy when you apply for your next job.
4. Carefully managing all your cash is very important now. Save and invest as much as you can. This will help you and your family in meeting all the monetary requirements till you get your next job.
5. Start your job hunt right from the time you hear of a layoff happening in your company. This will help you in reducing your days of unemployment as far as possible and which will see to it that you don’t get into trouble when you have been given the pink slip.
6. In case you have already been fired don’t worry too much about it. Be on the lookout for better job prospects with a positive attitude. It’s the attitude with which we take things that makes a big difference, if you are confident you will get a better job for yourself then you surely will!
7. Don’t mention anywhere in your resume or cover letter that you had been fired from the company. This might make the next employer doubt your skills. The best way to convey this would be to tell him this during the face-to-face interview.
8. Try not to get over obsessed or panicky about getting the next job right away! Make a schedule to find a job. Some of the best ways which could help you in getting your next job would be by keeping in touch with friends, maintaining contact with HR departments of various companies and searching and applying for jobs on the net. There are some sure shot formulas which would ensure that you get back to your good old days very soon.
9. Do take with you the stuff that you would help you in your next place of work. Take a copy of all those contacts and networks that you have built during your tenure at this workplace. One of the most important things to be understood here is that you should take only those things which you are rightfully entitled to. Leaving behind what actually is the company’s property is a must thing.
10. You can even use those unemployment days to hone your skills. Getting into some training sessions and online work would be of great help. This act you would not only keep yourself updated it might be even open chances of a better career for you!

Source: in.msn.com

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