HOW TO COPE WITH A LAYOFF
By Kimberly
Williams
The January
issue of every newspaper, magazine and newsletter focuses on doing a new thing
— on New Year’s Resolutions or determinations. All things that you choose
to do to make your life better and more fulfilled. I’m sure this issue of An
African American POV is no different.
This article, however, may be a little
different… I’ve spent time online over
the past few weeks trying to collect words of advice to help some POV
readers cope with something you have not chosen, but yet it has made a
difference in your life. A layoff.
Wikipedia.com defines “layoff” as the
temporary suspension or permanent termination of employment of a group of
employees for business reasons… the decision that certain positions are no
longer necessary or a business slow-down or interruption in work. Layoff used
to mean you’d be called back to work shortly after your release. Nowadays,
layoff is synonymous with termination. The down side is layoff is not an
extended vacation. The up side is that prospective employers know that you
haven’t been terminated because of something you specifically have or have not
done. That makes the job search a little easier.
Employmentimes.com provides a top ten
that will help you pick up the layoff pieces:
10. Know
What You Are Worth: You have
enormous amount of talent. You are a valuable player on any team. Embrace the
truth of who you are and what you can and have contributed to your past jobs.
9.
Know What You Are Made Of: Take a full
inventory of what products or services you offer. Similar to a brochure, you
must list each talent and skill as if it were for sale. Put yourself in the
place of an employer (the buyer) and think about what you could offer them.
8.
Brand Yourself: Be a Ben
& Jerry, Baskin Robbins or Eddy’s! Transform who you were at your old job
to the person you always wanted to be. To be a brand, create a portfolio of
your talents, skills, and attributes. Start with a pen and paper.
7.
You, Inc. in 35 Words:
After you have determined what your brand is, explain who you are in 35
words. It’s O.K. to talk about your talents and skills as a product as long as
you have the “goods” to back it up.
6.
Keep Learning: Speaking of the
“goods,” determine if you should upgrade your skills. Take an inventory of your
current skills. Look in the classifieds and notice the skills the ads are
calling for. Make a list of ads that interest you and another list of skills
you need to brush up on or learn from scratch.
5.
Create Your Network Web: Spend time
with people who know how to make things happen. The “hidden” job market is many
times created on a napkin over lunch. Companies are not looking to fill jobs,
they are looking to solve problems, reduce costs and increase profit.
4.
Embrace Change & Understand Transition: Change happens externally, outside of you.
You can’t always control change. Transition is what is happening internally.
Emotions are healthy. Learn to re-group yourself and plant your feet back on
the ground.
3.
Raise Your Standards: You can go
to hundreds of interviews; sell yourself like a pro. Know the kind of
environment that brings out the best in you. Don’t settle for a job that does
not utilize and maximize your skills. Be clear in your mind about what you will
not accept. Ultimately, if you are not happy about something in your job
proposal, you will grow unhappier by the day.
2.
Build Your Emotional Support System: It is important to harness positive energy. Your emotional support
system consists of new contacts, close and trusted friends and family. When
people ask how you are doing, be honest.
1.
Nurture Yourself: Listen for signals
of fatigue, mood swings, and stress. Build in breaks in your day to do and
focus on something other than work. Watch what you are eating.
For more details visit www.employmentimes.com. n