Like millions of other people everyday, you wake up, go to work and proceed with your usual routine. Similarly, at the end of the day you leave work and go home, repeating this ritual day in and day out.
Then one day your usual routine comes to a screeching halt, suddenly and without warning. You have been laid off. With a box of your belonging in hand, you are dazed and confused as you are shown the door.
When reality sets in, your mind reflects on the things you should have done to prepare for this day.
Whom do you call? What other companies can use your skills? These and a thousand other questions come to mind; the questions that come with hindsight.
If your lucky enough to still be gainfully employed, now is the time to prepare for such a day. The preparation that you do now can change the flavor of that day from one of life’s little set backs to an opportunity of a lifetime.
If you have already been laid off, and find your self running from door to door distributing resumes, do not worry. There is still time to do more research and put together a plan of attack.
In either case, you need to identify people and businesses that you deal with on a regular basis. You need to network.
Most experts agree that networking is a critical element of a successful job hunt and is the single most important source of job leads.
If you have been in your field a number of years, you may have collected an impressive number of business cards from vendors, consultants or colleagues working at other companies.
These associates have a history with you, as well as business relationships with many other companies that may need your talents. These same associates along with your previous vendors and consultants may know if anyone has any employment opportunities for you.
(If you are currently employed and don’t foresee a layoff any time soon, take note for when it is your turn. Collect those business cards and build your own personal network now, while you are employed.)
Now that you have identified those resources, its time to pick up the phone and make contact with them and notify them of your availability. Kindly advise them that you would appreciate it if they could pass your name along should they come across another company that is in need of your talents.
If you are lucky enough to still be employed, or have been notified that the end of your employment is in sight, then networking is of significant importance. It is easy to become caught up in the daily grind of your personal life; however, this is your chance to cast a wide professional net. Now is the time to have lunch with that annoying sales person, update your Linkedin profile or take in a trade show. Every opportunity is a potential career contact.
The first thing many people do is to navigate to the nearest online job postings site. For some people this may be fine, but do not make this your only employment resource. You need to investigate your personal network of contacts to find out if employment opportunities exist and if you have the skill set needed for a match.
Research needs be your primary focus when seeking new employment. Research the companies in the area and find out what positions they are hiring for and what skills are needed for the positions available. Research the pay scales for those positions so you know what the national average is for negotiation purposes.
I have seen many people jump into new careers shortly after a layoff simply because they were concerned with a particular salary level, but did not take the time to market themselves for the best price available. Do your research and do not under estimate your skills, and more importantly, do not price yourself out of the market. Research is key in this area.
Do not obsess over being laid off; this will waste time and valuable energy. As Alexander Graham Bell once said, “Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open.”
There are times in our life when struggles are unavoidable. If we were to go through life without any obstacles, our skills would atrophy. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. Give every opportunity a chance, leave no room for regrets and remember, when one door closes, another always opens.
