Job seekers should use a variety of strategies to get back into the game after a job loss. It is worth it to explore all options and do all you can to recover. Financial concerns often demand that a person does not lapse into a depression that keeps them from going forward Here are some tips that have helped people get back on their feet.
Tips
1. Lay aside blame
The truth is many times blame does not lie solely with the employee who was let go. Getting fired especially if there is a feeling of unjustness can lead to bitterness if left unchecked. It may be true that you were treated unfairly, but going forward with a new employer requires making a new start. Employers can smell the bitterness a mile away, and it is not what they desire in an employee. I've written other articles about working through the feelings that come with being fired. Take the time to work through these issues before interview time.
2. Improve your skills
While you are looking for work do things to improve your skills. There are community programs that can help you in this task often free or at a discount. We live in an age where computer skills are always needed. If you can find a course that helps with Microsoft applications you will have an advantage on your resume. Perhaps there is a vocational school that would update your work skills and help you in your job search.
3. Get help critiquing your resume and have your application information readily available
Being prepared with a resume and the information you will need when you fill out an application will help your confidence and give a good impression to employers. Going to a career center recommended by unemployment will help you create an up to date resume that will show your skills. It is important to listen to the advice of those who know how to create these important documents. Also when you go to fill out an application you will need personal information such as your job history, your education history, and the names and addresses of your references. Being prepared at each place of business or when doing an online application helps the process go smoothly.
4. Get leads from a variety of places
Many businesses use the internet to place want ads for employment, however, this should not be your only source of leads. There are still businesses that place notices in store windows and use paper applications. Tell friends you are looking for employment as some employers like to hire based on the references of people they know. Be careful of ads on sites where the potential employer is not required to give their name and simply give a description. Sometimes these types of ads are from scam artist seeking your resume information.
5. Don't lose sight of purpose
It is easy to get drawn into a feeling of despair or lack of purpose. Keep your daily goals before you and determine to accomplish what you set to do. Whether it is a project at home, church or the community or job goals you'll find that maintaining purpose every day will propel you forward. Let God refresh you when it feels like purpose is slipping away.
Friday, December 4, 2015
Friday, January 16, 2015
Getting Fired: The Painful Task of Telling Your Family
The day I got fired the first thing I wanted to do was to tell my husband. I needed to hear his voice and feel his touch, yet something in me just wanted to run and hide. Two opposite forces fought for control. Shame overwhelmed me. The feeling comes to everyone who has experienced being fired no matter how hard they try to escape its clutches. Your mind races to provide a reason for something that may never be fully answered. Since I was fired I identify with the characters in detective shows who hide the fact they were fired from their spouse. It is not that I would really hide it from him, but that I understand the feeling of not wanting anyone to know. Thankfully my husband provided a soft place to fall. Not everyone has that safe place and I feel for them in a way I might not of if I didn't share their experience. We are still recovering even months later as finding a new job has proven to be difficult.
Where to start
Getting into your car and driving away will be hard. You realize you won't be pulling into the parking lot every day and starting and ending your day as you have for the period of time you worked. You may be thinking of the bills or the family vacation that was planned, the doctors visit that may have to be canceled, the braces your daughter just had put in, or simply how you are going to put food on the table. The biggest thing you are thinking about is, "How do I tell my husband or wife?' Truthfully, there is no graceful way to say it and the emotional turmoil you are in is not going to make for smooth transitions or reasoned explanations. Your pain is part of the telling, and yes that pain transfers to your husband or wife. It pours out, sometimes with lots of words and sometimes with just a few. Everyone must have time to adjust. It is a family shock.
What to say
What to say depends on the person you are addressing. Even through your pain you know the emotional makeup of your spouse and how much or little you should give them in details. A spouse may hear the whole story and all of the emotions that go with it while a child may simply hear that there was a problem at work and now Daddy or Mommy have to search for a new job. I hope one of the things you frequently say is, 'God is bigger than my problem, and He will help me' It is important to get yourself up and refuse to fall prey to depression that lingers. I know it does not seem like a positive time, but it is a time when you can find opportunities to stretch your skills and abilities in new ways. That may seem trite, but remember I am not someone who has not felt the pain and sting of job loss. Explain your pain and speak hope for the future.
If you have a family getting fired is a family affair.
I know the strong desire to hide under a rock and not come out. The desire to hole up in your room with the blanket over your head and not talk to anyone is real and hard to overcome. It can even be difficult to go out with friends because of the weight of having to tell what happened. Someone who has been fired surely needs some time to privately reflect on the situation, yet it is important to make a conscious decision and acknowledgment that you are not going through this alone. It is a family affair. Children feel the tension as well. They need to see that you are going to be okay. Remember, even though you are the one who got fired they are along for the ride.
The plan forward
You may need to take a few days to think things through and figure out what you are going to do. When you begin to have a plan in mind telling your family will help them to process the event. Filing for unemployment and then meeting the daily requirements to maintain it should be part of your plan from the start. Keeping yourself productive in this way prevents you from becoming a recluse and hiding in your bed under the blankets. Even small children can see that their parent is working towards a goal even though they may not understand the particulars.
Where to start
Getting into your car and driving away will be hard. You realize you won't be pulling into the parking lot every day and starting and ending your day as you have for the period of time you worked. You may be thinking of the bills or the family vacation that was planned, the doctors visit that may have to be canceled, the braces your daughter just had put in, or simply how you are going to put food on the table. The biggest thing you are thinking about is, "How do I tell my husband or wife?' Truthfully, there is no graceful way to say it and the emotional turmoil you are in is not going to make for smooth transitions or reasoned explanations. Your pain is part of the telling, and yes that pain transfers to your husband or wife. It pours out, sometimes with lots of words and sometimes with just a few. Everyone must have time to adjust. It is a family shock.
What to say
What to say depends on the person you are addressing. Even through your pain you know the emotional makeup of your spouse and how much or little you should give them in details. A spouse may hear the whole story and all of the emotions that go with it while a child may simply hear that there was a problem at work and now Daddy or Mommy have to search for a new job. I hope one of the things you frequently say is, 'God is bigger than my problem, and He will help me' It is important to get yourself up and refuse to fall prey to depression that lingers. I know it does not seem like a positive time, but it is a time when you can find opportunities to stretch your skills and abilities in new ways. That may seem trite, but remember I am not someone who has not felt the pain and sting of job loss. Explain your pain and speak hope for the future.
If you have a family getting fired is a family affair.
I know the strong desire to hide under a rock and not come out. The desire to hole up in your room with the blanket over your head and not talk to anyone is real and hard to overcome. It can even be difficult to go out with friends because of the weight of having to tell what happened. Someone who has been fired surely needs some time to privately reflect on the situation, yet it is important to make a conscious decision and acknowledgment that you are not going through this alone. It is a family affair. Children feel the tension as well. They need to see that you are going to be okay. Remember, even though you are the one who got fired they are along for the ride.
The plan forward
You may need to take a few days to think things through and figure out what you are going to do. When you begin to have a plan in mind telling your family will help them to process the event. Filing for unemployment and then meeting the daily requirements to maintain it should be part of your plan from the start. Keeping yourself productive in this way prevents you from becoming a recluse and hiding in your bed under the blankets. Even small children can see that their parent is working towards a goal even though they may not understand the particulars.
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