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So
you were laid off - what now?
By Christy Nicholas,
CPA
Aka Green Dragon,
Artist
www.greendragonartist.com
I
was just laid off on a Tuesday (Jan 6, 2009), and got a job
offer that Thursday. I was asked to share some of my techniques,
so hopefully it will help others. I'm not an expert, but I am
fairly manic about not working.
Steps I took to find a job:
1. Build a local
network - visit your local Chamber of Commerce meetings, meet
people. Use a LinkedIn page to build an online network.
2. Before you get
laid off, write down your accomplishments as you do them on
your job. Update your resume on a regular basis, it will help
with the pain later.
3. Gather your references
- ask ex-boss, co-workers, previous supervisors, people you
have worked with at other companies. Get letters if you can,
ask for verbal references as well. Make a list of 3 professional
references. Make sure they are willing, and will say something
good! Have this list available upon request on your resume.
4. Sign up for unemployment
as soon as you can.
5. When you get laid
off, immediately update your resume. Research some examples
online, there are lots of great sites
6. Register with
temp agencies. Since I'm in accounting, I started with Robert
Half/Accountemps. There are others in my area as well, like
WalStaf and Kelly Services.
7. Register with
your local job help center, usually government run. Ours is
called EmployFlorida.com
8. Check the listings
- local paper (usually all online now), craigslist (that's where
I found this job, really!), monster.com, careerbuilder.com
9. Check large employers
in your area - I checked University of Florida, Exactech (one
of my old company's major distributors), Shands, CH2MHill, etc.
10. Check local government
entity sites - City of Alachua, City of Gainesville, Count of
Alachua, State of Florida, usajobs.com (does US govt jobs like
IRS and Veteran's Admin)
11. Check these sites
every morning for new listings.
12. I tend to set
up interview days as MWF, and try to find new sources Tuesdays
and Thursdays, so I don't have to dress up and go out every
day.
13. Follow up with
phone calls for any interviews, in a reasonable time frame,
to ask if a decision has been made. Be polite to EVERYONE on
the interview, even the secretary - she will let the boss know
if you are rude. Send a thank you note for interviews afterwards.
14. Interview dressed
sharply and clean. Have a paper copy of your resume and reference
list in case they need it (they may have a fax?) Talk as politely
as you can, but try to relax a little. Don't talk the whole
time, ask questions about the company. They are on interview
as well.
15. Ask for the job
if you want it.
16. Don't ask about
salary and benefits unless THEY bring it up first.
17. Don't burn your
bridges - if you don't want a position offered, be honest and
tell them why, even if it is just that you have a higher offer
elsewhere. You may need them for a job in the future! The same
with your old employer - ask if you are eligible for rehire
if you've been laid off. That goes a long way with a potential
employer.
18. Other ways to
alleviate the pain - find a way to make money on the side of
your regular job. I do art shows, taxes, and teach both accounting
and beadwork. I also do proofreading and tutoring. None of these
will keep me going for a long time, but they sure do ease the
pain of being laid off, knowing I have other resources. Remember,
you don't have to rely on one source of income.
Remember, it's OK
to feel upset, angry, confused and depressed - for a little
while. If you are still feeling like this after two weeks, though,
you may need to seek some counseling help to get you back into
the swing of things.
That's most of it
- hopefully it will help folks in this economy!
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