10 steps for those that got laid off
April 13, 2009
This is going to be a quick, really quick outline on what your first steps should be… follow these really before you do anything else. It’s a numbered format, so literally print this off as a checklist.
1 – file for unemployment. Do not pass go, you will not collect anything until you file.
2 – clean up your resume, you’re gonna need this top notch.
3 – contact all your valid working contacts though e-mail or phone.. let them know you are ready to work.
4 – clean up your linkedin profile, facebook profile, Fire up your twitter feed, start making friends and following people that can help you get a job .etc etc. Social media CAN help you, I know of dozens of people that have landed good paying jobs in this economy using Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin. Log into these every day and keep them maintained.
5 – Start your blog up.. inform the public that you are ready to work, and here is your skillset… blog every single day focusing on your expertise and thoughts in your industry…. you need to be painted as an expert in the field.. reply to all questions, reply to all comments… I suggest a domain name and self installed wordpress ( wordpress.org ) it looks bad with just a free blog…
6 – look at your household expenses, start cutting back on everything you can reasonably do. Your life radically changes when you are unemployed. You have more free time than you can handle… and no money to use during that free time. The reason some companies offer a severance package is because they know that you’re going to be in deep water within months.. if not weeks… one thing you can’t afford to cut back on is Internet Access… 90% of the time this is where you will find your job.. on the internet.. e-mail.. blog posting.. social media site.. whatever.. but don’t cut back here.
7 – avoid credit cards at all costs… unless you need it to pay for a medical emergency … it’s a last option.. you are unemployed… get that though your skull that now is not the time to start participating in the stimulus program. Now is not the time to buy a new iPhone.
8 – After you have done steps 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 … now visit the job boards… there are 12-15 people looking for a job for each job available, in essence if the job is listed on Monster.Com, the chances are your resume will be #19382 for that position.. this is virtually a last step, not a first.
9 – go back every single day, and follow though with 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 … comply with whatever the timeframe is to refile for step one. I hate to say it, but this is your job until you find one that pays… so honestly 8 hours a day allocated to the above is not too much to ask.
10 – For some, they continue to follow this sheet for 1/2 a year until literally it appears that nothing will come though.. at that point… you might want to follow this guide. or follow it sooner if you feel you can pull it off.. just remember.. it’s ugly out there… really ugly… it might or might not be the right time to start a business..
Anyone have any other tips.. leave a comment…
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That’s great advise. I would even say, that everyone should start following this because who knows what will happen next? (knock on wood)
To add to your 10 steps – sell of what you can on ebay or craigslist. People are looking for deals right now!
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Great article …
I would add a couple more …
#11 Create a job … develop an idea
Lot’s of people have great ideas for businesses or could see themselves as an independent consultant. Bulk up your resume & gain real experience by going out and pursuing work for yourself … not a position within another company. It’s not as hard as you think!!
If you have other tips, would love if you could add them to ☁www.layoffmoveon.com.☁
It’s a fun place to let your hair down, share your layoff story, all without potential employers catching wind …
- Jess
Twitter: __LOMO (that’s two underscores)
Excellent post! As someone just starting a new position after having been unemployed for two months, I can tell you that you absolutely must follow these steps.
I would add the following though:
Practice your elevator speech- your thirty-second pitch of all the wonderful things you can do and why someone should hire you. Get it down cold.
Then, find a list of interview questions online and practice answering these – out loud.
The reason for these two steps is that you want to be ready when recruiters and potential employers call you. Being totally prepped when that initial call comes in puts you miles ahead of most people.
Per your comment in step 4, “I know of dozens of people that have landed good paying jobs in this economy using Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin” I am doing my best to champion and promote the use of social mediaexamples?
Per your comment in step 4,
“I know of dozens of people that have landed good paying jobs in this economy using Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin” I am doing my best to champion and promote the use of social media to expand connections, and create brand awareness to increase the chances of getting a job. If you could provide some specific examples of those who obtained jobs and what steps they followed, that would be great.
Thanks in advance for any help or examples I might be able to use to share with others in the Richmond, Va area.
Daulton West, Jr.
Information Systems Director / Webmaster
Richmond Ski Club – http://www.richmondskiclub.org/
daultonw@gmail.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/daultonwestjr
Follow me on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/dwestjr
The number one thing I’d recommend it getting recommendations. From peer, from managers, from reports — anyone who will talk you up. It’s social proof of your value.
Get them to put their name on the recommendation and use that in all your communications. If your potential recommenders are lazy, write the recommendation for them and then ask them to edit it until they’re comfortable with it.
You are your reputation and you have lots of power over it.
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