1. Put the word out that you are newly unemployed - There is no shame in telling people that you are looking for a job. In fact, the more people you tell - the better your chances of getting a referral. Tell people in your network what kind of job you are seeking and what your skills are, and someone may be able to help you land a new job.
2. Apply for unemployment benefits - As long as you were terminated through no fault of your own, you should be eligible to collect some unemployment benefits. Now it’s not equal to what you were earning at your last job, but it is something to help you with gas and food bills while you look for a job. If you find employment before your benefits begin you can always cancel the claim.
3. Tighten your belt - When you suddenly become unemployed you will need to adjust your budget and stretch whatever severance you received as much as you can. It could mean that you have to cancel the cable TV and not go out for dinner, but without your former income those small luxuries may prevent you from paying the bigger bills like the rent or the mortgage. If you do not have an adequate emergency fund to support you through the job search then saving money wherever possible becomes key.
4. Be open to all opportunities – If you are someone that was laid off, you might find that you cannot easily find a job that pays as well as your old job. So you might be faced with the choice of continuing to look for that high paying job or take a lower paying job. You don’t necessarily need to take the first offer you get, but if it is a decent job with reasonable benefits then it does not hurt to take the job and continue looking. Having a lower income than before is still better than having no income at all. And let’s not forget that besides full time employment, there are contract positions out there.
5. Stay healthy - When you lose your job your health insurance usually goes with it. That is why staying healthy is extremely important during unemployment. Sometimes health issues can be beyond our control, but we can all try to sleep and eat well and exercise regularly.
6. Organize your job hunt - You should make finding a new source of income your priority if you need the income to survive. Keeping a log (computer or otherwise) might prove very helpful. Record the dates you submitted resumes and to whom along with their contact information. Organization is important when you suddenly need to keep track of appointments.
7. Don’t mope around - Losing your job hurts, but there is no point in wasting your time feeling sorry for yourself. When you are looking for a new opportunity you need to be confident about your skills and show people your awesomeness. The sooner you can get over the initial disappointment and bitterness the sooner you will be able to move on to something better.
And if you haven't already done so - file for unemployment.
Posted July 10th, 2009 by Anonymous
