Ok so I just lost my job. Now what?

When one is faced with unemployment, no matter how it happens, it is best to jump into the action of finding new employment.   It's ok to take a few days and let the shock of a sudden job loss to sink in.  But don't let it sit too long, otherwise it will make it more difficult to keep your spirits up and find the umph to keep the momentum going.  Make job searching be your full time job.  If you have a resume, update it.  Use the internet to get ideas on what to include, what not to include, and how to write it to give it that punch it needs to gain attention.  If you don't have a resume, get busy and write one up.  Pay for a professional service to create one for you if you must.  Or just do it yourself.  Go to the library and check out some books that give you resume and interviewing tips.  There are plenty of sources for resume writing and interview preparing.  


The biggest mistake people make once they are unemployed is to ignore the great resources for jobs that are available.  One of the biggest is networking.  Whether it is through lack of knowlege or pride, people sometime ignore the social networking that is free and available.  Relatives, friends, friends of friends, etc should be contacted in casual conversation and mention you are available in the job market.  Sign up for job boards such as Monster.com and social networks such as Facebook.  Build a profile for yourself that is completely professional and shows that you are intelligent, experienced and ready to work.  The internet is a fantastic modern source of available jobs.  But just remember only about 30% of jobs are advertised on the internet.  The rest are discovered through both pounding the pavement and networking.

Once you have gotten a nice resume ready, signed up for a few job boards and connected with a few business people, then it's time to sit down and write down what you truly want in your next job.  Ask yourself questions such as "Do I mind working weekends?"  "If I were to hire me, what would I be looking for in an employee?"  "Where do I want to be in five years?  Ten years?"  "Am I willing to relocate?"  What sort of benefits do I require?" "What salary am I requiring?"   Those sort of questions.  This will help you weed out jobs that may not be suitable to what you are looking for.

The job market today is very challenging.  So it is so important to present that special, professional image you want to portray to your potential employer.  You are basically selling yourself.  This means take a few days during the week, put on professional attire and go out to look for employment.  You never know what you will find, and first impressions are always important.  Even if it is to just walk in and ask if a company is hiring.

Make sure you register as soon as you can for any unemployment benefits you may be entitled to.  Most states require at sign up to register with their state's job board and periodic visits to their job development office.  This will be a great benefit because it will tap into yet another source of jobs not advertised on public job boards.  Also, if some time has passed and you are still unemployed, most states have a re-training program that will pay you to go to school for a new career.  It's out there, so take advantage of it.

Ready for the adventure

For the past 15 years I have worked in the healthcare industry.  Fortunately for most who are healthcare workers, the national trend of downsizing jobs and increased unemployment rates have not really affected the medical field very much.  So it was surprising when I was called into work on my day off last week to meet with my department director.

I admit, the first moment I was told that my position was eliminated I thought my director was joking.  It was a very surreal moment.  I think it actually took a couple of days for it all to sink in.  Today is one week past, and I've done a lot of thinking about what to do with myself.  So far I've done what most everyone in my situation has done:  Applied for unemployment benefits, updated my resume and organized my finances to cover the lean months ahead.  Of course, it always seems like when it rains, it pours.  The same week my brakes and tires needed replaced, and since I only had ten days left on my health insurance, I got new glasses.  The little bit of severance pay I received was now only visible on my car and my face.  But, as the ever so eternal optimist, I am thankful I did get any severance pay at all.  Otherwise I am not sure what I would've done.

So here I type this blog.  I am 40 something, a single mom who is now unemployed.  Most would say how much that really sucks.  But since I've been thinking about my plans of action lately, I am almost relieved because aside from the fact I will have to live a little lean now, I have the freedom to pursue something new in regards to a career.  I now have many options.  Going back to school, retraining in a new field.  Trying for those positions that have been out there but I never really considered because they were not in my normal job definition. Maybe even working for myself.  I just need to be creative.  As long as I can keep my cash flow to meet my needs, the world is definitely my oyster.

So this brings me to my blog.  I know there must be a ton of people out there in very much a similar situation. Male or female.  Educated (whether by institution degree or life), experienced, smart folk who wake up one day to find that their life as they know it has drastically taken a turn.  Depending on what the attitude is, it can be a turn of doom or a turn of faith in themselves.  I would like to focus on the outlook that what doesn't knock you down makes you stronger.  I know everyone has different circumstances to their job losses, but I also think instead of sitting around feeling down and sorry for yourself, there are tons of things that can be done to make this difficult time much more tolerable.  You might have to look deep into yourself to find that strength that everyone has to overcome this blurp in life.  Life is just stuff to try the soul's strength on. - Anonymous

Be prepared for moments of randomness.  Of humor.  Of insight.  Of observances.  Of something I made and wanted to share the recipe to you all.  Of cool websites that I've found that might help us all.  Of encouragement.  Who the heck knows?  I'm winging things just like the next person, and hopefully by doing so by writing on here it will make a difference in someone's life.

I wish you all the best of luck in your quest for employment.  Cheers!!!!